Riding the TeleferiQo In Quito
Back in the summer of 2015, me and 3 friends went to South America to explore Machu Picchu, Quito and Peru. We definitely wanted to check out the TeleferiQo (or Teleferico) which is one of the highest aerial lifts in the world. TeleferiQo is a gondola lift and is located in Quito, Ecuador which opened in July 2005. It runs from the edge of downtown up to Pichincha Volcano to lookout Cruz Loma. It is also right beside Vulqano Park which is a giant amusement park and Mundo Kart, a go karting place.
Location
Located at Fulgencio Araujo and Av. Occidental, it was about a 20 minute taxi ride from our hotel, Hostal Casa Valladolid to TeleferiQo. Taxis are quite cheap in Quito and since I was with 2 strong buddies, they just transferred me to the front seat of the taxi and the 2 of them along with their grandfather sat at the back. Since there was no room to fit my collapsed manual wheelchair inside the taxi, the driver just secured it in the the open trunk with some cable wires. The driver just made sure not to drive too crazy or bumpy for the entire ride.
was a 20 minute taxi ride from our hotel to TeleferiQo
About TeleferiQo
Once we got to the entrance of TeleferiQo, we noticed how bright, open concept, nice and modern the mostly glass building looked like. There is also a cafe shop and a few food vendors in this building too. TeleferiQo is open from 9 AM to 8 PM on Tuesdays through Thursdays and from 8 AM to 8 PM the other 4 days. Adult tourists cost only $8.50 USD, while disabled persons pay $6.50 USD.
got our tickets and ready to go up the gondola
As of 2018, a photo ID is needed to buy a lift ticket and the ticket stub is required for the return trip as it is a way for staff to monitor who is still up there or not. This is a safety measure since TeleferiQo is also an entry point to hike up Pichincha volcano.
Getting In
Getting in the gondola was an easy process for us. Staff shuts the gondolas from moving and quickly bring in a portable ramp and helps me in the gondola. Once in, the gondola is then restarted and is able to move again. We were told that the ride is approximately 20 minutes long to get to the top.
waiting for the gondola and a staff member to bring in a portable ramp
The Gondola Ride
The one side of the gondola had the seat flipped up so I could fit inside properly. Luckily the remaining seat was able to fit all 3 of my travel companions. With a wheelchair inside, I would recommend only a maximum of 4 people. We all thought that the ride was comfortable and none of us felt uneasy or scared at all.
all 4 of us in the gondola
Even though it was a bit cloudy that day, the views were amazing the whole way up. It was really cool to look down and see how the city was spread out between the mountains. We could even see the few volcanoes that surround the city.
a bit cloudy but awesome view from our gondola
At The Top
Once we made it to the top, we noticed the thinner air because of the high altitude. It did not really bother me, but being up there really high, it was definitely a lot cooler and windy. There was a cafe and a few shops up at the top, but we mostly just spent our time breathing in the fresh air, took some photos and just relaxed and spent time with nature. My buddies just wheeled me around with no issues as we got to see great views looking down.
pic from the top
view of the city
TeleferiQo is a definite MUST see and do when visiting Quito. It was easy to get to, ticket prices are affordable, accessibility and views were great, I would absolutely love to revisit this tourist attraction the next time that I am in town.
fun times
