We stayed for a month in Guápulo, a hillside neighborhood in eastern Quito right adjacent to La Floresta. Originally an Indigenous community, the Spanish incorporated it into the rest of Quito in the 17th century. Guápulo is a very steep neighborhood, built on the hillside connecting Quito to the much lower Cumbayá and Tumbaco. The elevation difference between the two areas is around 2,000 feet, so you can imagine how steep this mountain is.
Guápulo itself is a residential neighborhood with little to do. There are only two real draws. The first is the overlook at the top of Guápulo (see photo above), right off of Avenida González Suarez, the main street. The second is the beautiful Catholic Sanctuary at the bottom of the hill: Santuario Católico Nuestra Señora de Guápulo.
I would not go out of my way to visit either attraction. The overlook is lovely and ideal if you are already on Avenida González Suarez because you are going to or from La Floresta. But you can get better views from Quito’s several parks, especially Parque Metropolitano Guangüiltagua near La Carolina. The church is nice, but ultimately a small, residential church. You would do better visiting Iglesia San Francisco, located in Quito’s Centro Histórico.
Next to the church is a large statue of Francisco de Orellana, built in 1995 as a gift from the Spanish Community of Extremadura. In the 1540s, Francisco de Orellana discovered the Amazon River for the Spanish and founded the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil. If you are in Guayaquil or La Floresta, you’ll also note there is a major street called Avenida Francisco de Orellana.
The residential neighborhood is made up of narrow, winding streets that are pretty steep. If you are going to walk in this neighborhood, make sure you are very comfortable with steep elevations. Do not wear shoes that are unstable, uncomfortable, or high heels. However, walking the streets of Guápulo transported me back to a more traditional and quieter time period. Guápulo is much different compared to the modern hustle and bustle of La Floresta and La Carolina – Quito’s business districts.
Note that, like other Latin residential neighborhoods, it is not 100% residential. There are small grocery stores (quioscos) and restaurants on each street. They cater almost exclusively to local residents. If you are looking for an authentic local experience, you could try out one of the restaurants. Most restaurants in Ecuador offer weekday lunches at a very cheap price – not more than US$4-5. However, if you are looking for a place to eat, we would recommend just walking to La Floresta instead. La Floresta has infinitely more restaurants to choose from than Guápulo.
Overall, I have a distinct impression of Guápulo from the month we stayed there. It has a completely different vibe than La Carolina’s urban hustle and bustle or the upscale—yet old money—feeling of La Floresta. There is no need to visit unless you are already visiting La Floresta and you want to check out the view from the top of the hill (el mirador).
On the other hand, you may want to stay in the area for a short time if you prefer nature and silence while still wanting to be close to the City. I believe this is Guápulo’s best asset. However, you may be better off just staying in a condo on Avenida González Suárez. That way, you won’t have to huff and puff every time you want to walk to go eat or shop climbing up the hill of Guápulo.
