Timeline
17:13
Grab a coffee at Coffee Romance. It is an eight minute walk from the basilica and open until 21:00, so you have plenty of time to settle in before the light changes.
17:33
Walk to the Basílica del Voto Nacional. Spend twenty minutes climbing the bell towers to get your bearings. The view is spectacular and you will be high enough to see the city stretch out in the golden hour.
17:58
Stay on the upper levels or roof terrace. The sun sets toward the WSW and the golden light starts at 17:58. This is the moment to watch the stone facade catch the last warm glow of the day.
18:28
Head down and walk fourteen minutes southwest to Dulcería Colonial Coffee. It is a good spot to end the evening with a sweet treat and a warm drink as the light fades.
Local tip
The basilica closes at 17:00 for general entry but the towers and roof access are included in the climb ticket. Check if you need to book the climb in advance.
Check before you go
- Basílica del Voto Nacional is open Mo-Su 09:00-17:00.
- Coffee Romance is open Mo-Su 07:30-21:00.
- Dulcería Colonial Coffee is open Mo-Th 07:00-19:00, Fr 07:00-20:00, Sa 07:00-23:00, Su 07:00-22:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Quito (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).