Get here by car, taxi or public bus; there is the tour bus or you can hire a tour/guide. DO NOT BIKE HERE, DO NOT WALK UP HERE. It is better to go during sunlight. On top of the hill is very safe, unless you go too far at night; climbing there by bike or walking is not safe, but again, it is very safe up there, plus is beautiful.
El Panecillo (little loaf of bread by the Spanish) or Yavirac (temple of the Sun by the Incas... yep, on top of the hill there was a temple to the Sun, the most important one in Quito, but is was destroyed by the Spanish, as well as all the memories from the Shyris, Quitus, Incas and the rest of the tribes in Quito) is a small perfectly rounded hill located exactly on the center of the city, dividing it into north and south (the old town would be considered the north), also on the narrowest part of the city, gives beautiful views of almost the whole city and -on clear days- some volcanoes around. It was formed due to the magma (lava) running underneath it, being the Guagua Pichincha (still active) volcano located to the east of this hill, inside the city. This hill is a little bit more than 3000 meters, 200 meters taller than Quito. The main attractions of this hill are: the statue of the virgin, the "olla del panecillo", the views and now the CACHE; there are also some handicrafts on sell (not recommended as they are more expensive than in other places and they don't have much variety). Do not eat on the street there is a restaurant close to the cache with nice views and decent food and prices.
About the statue: the statue to the virgin of Quito, also called the virgin of Legarda (the original author, XV century. The original sculpture lies on the main altar of the San Francisco church), the virgin of El Panecillo, the winged virgin, the ballarina virgen (because of the position of her hands and feet, seems like she is dancing!), was built almost 40 years ago (1975) and is the tallest one of its type in the world, because of the way it was built (steel structure, concrete parts) and because it is a winged virgin, unique! The author created it based on one of the first passages of the bible (about the serpent), look carefully and you will know which one. Interesting facts: it is facing the north, because of the old town, but also where the bussiness area is located and also where the whealtiest live, so that is why people from the south (lower social classes) have a hillarius saying "even the virgin gives us the back"; disregard the plaque located on the base of the statue that says the original author was a priest from the time they started building it. Note: it is not worth paying the fee to ascend to the statue's feet.
About the Olla del Panecillo: it was built around the same time than the statue, trying to throw a bone to the Inca memories, but it doesn't really represent anything. They made a whole on top, so the sun enters at midday every day since we are on the Equator and the position of the sun doens't vary that much through the seasons. It has a few pictures from the construction of the statue and the entrance is going down through some stairs on the northern side. It is not worth entering there.
About the views: to the south you can see the southern part of the city (industrial and residential) if you see some big buildings they may be an industry or a shopping mall, there aren't tall buildings there. You will most likely see the Atacazo volcano, and if it is clear enough you will see, from west to east, the Cotopaxi, the North and South Illinizas, the most important snow-capped volcanoes. To the north you will see the old town (americas biggest and best preserved one, and the first city declared World Heritage by the Unesco in 1979) with its many churches, plazas and importante builginds (completely worth the visit), its northern limit is the big church: the Basilica del Voto Nacional (not a cathedral, a basilica), to the west of the old town you will see the water reservoir and Yaku museum, to the east the Itchimbia hill and park with its Cristal palace on top. To the north you will also see some important neighbourhoods and the bussiness area with their tall buildings (La Mariscal also called Gringolandia, Gonzalez Suarez, El Bosque, La Carolina, La Floresta, etc.), you will see the metropolitan park, the old airport now Bicentenario park, etc., you will also see the new airport (look for it between 2 hills on the northeast) on the Tumbaco-Cumbaya valley. You will see hills all around the city with tons of neighbourhoods, the city is very long but very narrow. The volcanoes you will see to the north are on the west, the Ruco and Guagua Pichinchas; if clear enough you will also see the Cayambe and the Antisana snow-capped volcanoes.
SOURCE: SEDATE Squad (2013).
About the CACHE: the coordinates will take you to it on the very top of the hill, you will see the virgin's right hand from there. BE CAREFUL OF MUGGLERS! You will have to look for a small white container, from medicin. Has no pen, only a log book and a gift for 3 finders: 3 coins of the extinct currency of Ecuador (5, 10 and 20 Sucres). Recommended during the day.
This is part of the first series of geocaches we have located with my wife and son in the metropolitan park and one on the El Panecillo hill, they are, from north to south:
- Charlie (Memorial)
- SEDATE-1 (Bridge)
- SEDATE-2 (Tree)
- SEDATE-3 (Aspririn)
- SEDATE-4 (El Panecillo)
Note: SEDATE is the name of our family "squad" and stands for our names: SEbastian, DAniel and TEfa.
If you want, we can contact you with a knowledgeable bilingual driver for your geocaching travels (and travels in general) in Ecuador.