Quito Attractions for Families and Kids

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, valid October 2026. Ecuador’s government has declared an internal armed conflict with criminal gangs, and states of emergency roll from province to province. Pichincha, home to Quito, is covered until mid-November 2026. A night curfew applied in Quito in May 2026, and another could be announced with little warning. The UK FCDO lists several coastal provinces and the Colombian border strip as “all but essential travel” areas; Quito is not among them. Watch for street crime and express kidnapping: ride only in registered taxis or app cars, particularly after dark and for any trip to El Panecillo. Check the UK FCDO page for Ecuador and travel.state.gov before booking.

Families will find Quito easiest when each day has one main outing and a rest. The city is at about 2,850 m, and children can feel the height as much as adults. Keep the first two days gentle, bring water and snacks, and avoid the highest viewpoints with babies and toddlers. Go back to lower ground and seek medical advice if a child has a headache with vomiting, seems unusually drowsy or is breathless while resting.

Outings by type

Wildlife: Wiwa Quito in Guayllabamba.
Science: Yaku water museum and the Vivarium.
Outdoors: Parque La Carolina and the botanical garden.
Equator: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo.

Wiwa Quito

Formerly the Zoológico de Quito, Wiwa Quito lies in Guayllabamba, about 29 km north of the city. The park presents itself as a wildlife refuge for rescued native animals. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children and $4 for seniors, and visitors with disabilities enter free. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00. Check the park’s website before the drive, and plan on half a day or more including travel.

Yaku Parque Museo del Agua

Yaku sits on the Pichincha slope in an old water-treatment site, with views of the historic centre. Children can try hands-on exhibits about water and the highland páramo. Reported prices are about $4 for adults and $2 for ages 3 to 11. Weekend opening is about 09:00 to 17:30; confirm weekday hours.

Vivarium de Quito

The Vivarium in Parque La Carolina is run by a herpetological foundation and shows live Ecuadorian reptiles and amphibians. Tickets cost about $3.75 to $4, and the guided tour lasts around 45 minutes. Photographs are not allowed. It suits school-age children best.

Parque La Carolina and the Jardín Botánico

The park offers playgrounds, sports fields and a lagoon where families hire pedal boats, around $3 to $5 for half an hour. There are no swimming pools. The botanical garden inside the park charges roughly $4 for adults, and its opening hours vary by source, so check before you go.

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo

Entry is $5 for adults and $2.50 for ages 6 to 12, and under-sixes are free. Children enjoy standing near the equator line and watching demonstrations at nearby attractions, such as egg balancing. Present those as fun tricks rather than proof of physics. The marker is a little south of the true equator, so the line is a photo spot, not a measurement.

Getting around with children

The metro (opened December 2023, 15 stations) costs $0.45 for adults, with reduced fares for ages 5 to 17 and free travel under five.
Busy platforms attract pickpockets, so keep bags in front and hold small hands.
Use app rides or registered taxis for longer trips and in the evening.

Booking

Most family outings sell tickets at the entrance. For a guided option, compare Quito family tours , and check age limits for anything that goes high up.