Quito - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
In Campo Alegre, I feel safe walking and running, but not outside of our neighborhood vicinity. Since moving here, I’ve really gotten into hiking and mountain climbing. I take a local guide for mountain summits as I’m newer to the sport and the parking areas and trails are not well-marked. I’ve summited many of the mountains, including Chimborazo, the tallest in Ecuador. A 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle is required to reach many of the trail heads. There are many parks in the city that are very easy to access. The three largest are Parque Carolina, Parque Metropolitano, and Parque Bicentenario. All three are great for walking and running. It is possible to bike, but it is hard to find flat spaces except at the Parque Bicentenario. Potholes are common and there are few bike lanes. On Sundays, some of the main roads close except for biking. Mountain biking is popular and there is an embassy mountain biking club. Quito is a sleepy city without much nighttime activity, especially since COVID. Crime increases at night and there have been incidents of theft at gunpoint or knife, car break-ins, and property theft among the Embassy community since I’ve lived here. - Apr 2026
I don't recommend doing these activities outside by yourself, especially at night, unless you're in a gated community. Quito and the surrounding area are very hilly so it's hard to find a flat place to ride a bike but there's the Bicentenario Park (formerly Quito airport) and road closures on Sunday near downtown. - May 2025
I feel very comfortable walking around our small neighborhood and the larger neighborhood. I wouldn’t do running outside of the neighborhood at least not early morning or night. There have been reported muggings from motorcycle riders. Hiking opportunities are available everywhere, there’s many parks within the city including Parque Metropolitano and up on the mountain using the Teleférico (cable car). There is also supposed to be a nice long bike path in Cumbaya called Chaquinan. - May 2025
This is a great place to be if you love to hike. There are hiking trails everywhere. And everything is uphill, so you can hike in your own neighborhood! Same with biking. You can train for the Tour de France here. Lots of people have mountain bikes though. It is a very difficult place for kids to learn to ride bikes. For flat surfaces, you can go to Parque Carolina or Bicentenario (the old airport runway), but they get very crowded. - Apr 2025
