September 2, 2023

Cumbayá, Quito, Ecuador – Should You Visit?

I guess

By In City Reviews

Cumbayá is a suburb of Quito, Ecuador, and a place many tourists may not have heard of – much less visit. We are city folk, so we were not interested in visiting Cumbayá. But many locals talk about Cumbayá, and as it is so close to central Quito, we decided to spend a day. Overall, we liked Cumbayá but prefer to stay in Central Quito. We’ll tell you why in this blog post.

Introduction to Cumbayá, Quito

Cumbayá is in the Tumbaco Valley (“Valle de Tumbaco”), halfway between Quito’s International Airport and Central Quito. Most likely, you’ll pass by Cumbayá (and its neighbor, Tumbaco) to and from Quito’s airport if you are staying in the main tourist parts of Quito (Central and Central-North Quito).

We have traveled the Quito airport-to-city route several times and never considered stopping in Cumbayá. We figure most tourists feel the same. But Cumbayá may be worth stopping by if you have more than a few days in Quito for several reasons.

Why visit Cumbayá, Quito?

Cumbayá feels like a suburb compared to the density of Quito, so if you have been in Quito for a few days, it may feel great to get out to somewhere you can breathe a bit. For me, this is the biggest draw of going to Cumbayá. 

Cumbayá has a couple of interesting walking trails throughout the city. They are either flat or an easy-to-moderate climb due to the natural altitude variation of the town. But the paths we walked weren’t difficult – they are very much “urban” walking trails. These trails are easier to walk than trails in Quito proper for another reason: elevation.

One curious fact about Cumbayá is that it is around 700 meters (2,300 ft) below Quito proper. Yes, Cumbayá is significantly less in elevation than Quito, making it warmer most days. It also means that if you have breathing difficulties in Quito – which is over 2,800 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level – it may be easier to breathe in Cumbayá. The elevation makes walking trails in Cumbayá easier to enjoy than those in Quito, which will be a struggle for anyone not in top shape.

Cumbayá and Valle de Tumbaco are off in the distance – and 2300 ft lower – as seen from Guápulo in Quito proper.

You may also want to visit Cumbayá if you like to eat at more upscale restaurants. Cumbayá is a higher-income suburb of Quito, and the local restaurants reflect the choices of its residents. We tend to eat cheaply, so it was harder for us to find places to eat. But if you are into higher-end restaurants – and remember, Ecuador has a low cost of eating, so prices are relative – Cumbayá may interest you.

Finally, you could consider staying in Cumbayá instead of Quito proper, even as a tourist. Quito’s main tourist areas are easy to get to from Cumbayá by taxi or Uber, generally not more than 20-30 minutes and US$5-10 each way. Further below in this post, we discuss more about staying overnight in Cumbayá.

Shops and restaurants along Francisco de Orellana, Cumbayá’s main commercial street.

Getting to Cumbayá, Quito

By far, the easiest way to get to Cumbayá from Quito proper or Quito Airport is by taxi or Uber. Expect fares to be US$15-20 each way from the airport but only US$5-10 from Quito’s main tourist areas (such as Parque La Carolina or the Centro Histórico). And since Cumbayá is between the airport and city center most taxi or Uber rides shouldn’t be more than 20-30 minutes. 

Remember that as Cumbayá is a suburb, and there are only a couple of main routes between Quito and Cumbayá, try to avoid rush hour. If you stay in Quito, don’t go to Cumbayá between 4-6 p.m. If you stay in Cumbayá, don’t go to Quito between 7-9 a.m. But otherwise, you shouldn’t encounter much traffic.

You can take a bus between parts of Quito and Cumbayá. Public buses generally charge US$0.35 per ride, and you may need to make one to two transfers, so budget US$0.70 to US$1.05 each way. Expect the ride to take 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the time of day and where you are coming to/from in Quito. 

Google Maps will be the easiest way to figure out how to get to/from Cumbayá using the bus. However, our strong recommendation would be to take an Uber or Taxi – it is just a lot easier for not much of a price difference. And to clarify, Quito’s subway does *not* go to Cumbayá or Tumbaco.

Things to do in Cumbayá

You will visit Cumbayá because you want a more scenic, natural, and laid-back experience than in Quito. If you are an urban tourist, Cumbayá may be boring, like it was for us. Here are some things to do in Cumbayá:

Walking Trails

As we mentioned, Cumbayá has a couple of walking trails within the city. To be clear, we would not recommend going to Cumbayá solely to walk these trails. That would be a waste. But if you want to go to Cumbayá anyway or want to get out of Quito for a bit, then sure. The main trail goes from “downtown” Cumbayá to the Scala Shopping Mall and Parque Los Algarrobos. You could walk the entire route in an hour or two, but some parts go up and down.

The other walking path isn’t a trail but a good way to explore Cumbayá by foot. Start at Paseo San Francisco and then walk west along Francisco de Orellana until you get to Plaza Central de Cumbayá. This route shouldn’t take more than one hour, but it shows you the central commercial district of Cumbayá. 

Overview of Río San Pedro and Parque Los Algarrobos.

Shopping

If you want to shop, there are two main malls in Cumbayá: Paseo San Francisco and Scala Shopping Mall. Neither is any more exciting than the malls in Quito. Scala Mall is a traditional mall with a large food court and many shops. Paseo San Francisco is a bit weird, on the other hand. It has a more upscale vibe – and has upscale stores – but the mall layout is confusing and is exhausting to walk around.

For more traditional “mom-and-pop stores,” you’ll want to stick to the streets around Plaza Central. Specifically, walk up and down Francisco de Orellana, García Moreno, and Alba Calderón. There are many small boutique stores in this area, especially for clothing.

Paseo San Francisco, complete with a Rolex and high-end automobile ads.

Not be in Quito

If you need a break from the urban lifestyle of Quito – or the altitude – then Cumbayá is the quickest and easiest way to escape. Hang out at a coffee shop, eat lunch at an upscale restaurant, walk the main walking trail, shop at the Scala Mall, and experience suburban life in Cumbayá. Escaping Quito might be the best reason to visit Cumbayá.

Where to Stay in Cumbayá

There are some Airbnbs in Cumbayá if you like staying at non-hotels. Many homes in Cumbayá are in urbanizaciónes or gated communities. This situation is entirely different than in Quito and may be a factor if you are interested in safety. However, it also means that Cumbayá is not that walkable if you stay in an urbanización, as you may not be near shops and restaurants. 

Otherwise, there are no major hotels in Cumbayá as it is a smaller city and not a tourist destination. There are local hotels and hostels, but prices are higher than in central Quito. Again, Cumbayá is a higher-income suburb, so prices are generally higher. 

Overall, there are lovely places to stay – both Airbnb and hotel/hostel-wise – but don’t expect lots of selection. Do expect prices to be higher than you would expect for Quito. And if you want to stay in a gated community – an urbanización – make sure to confirm that your potential Airbnb is within an urbanización.

Final Thoughts on Cumbayá, Quito

Cumbayá is a lovely, upscale suburb of Quito that is off the beaten tourist path. However, that might be for a good reason. We feel the best thing that Cumbayá offers is a chance to escape Quito’s urban hustle and bustle. Plus, as it is over 2300 ft lower than Quito in elevation, it allows you to experience warmer weather and an easier time to breathe (literally, since Quito is over 9,000 ft above sea level).

We wouldn’t recommend going to Cumbayá as a tourist destination, especially if you have less than a week in Quito. It just isn’t worth it. But if you spend more than a week in Quito and need a break, Cumbayá is cheap and easy to get to, especially on the way to/from Quito’s airport. 

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