After our tour of waterfalls, lakes, and hot springs in Northern Ecuador, Mark, Maya, and I checked out one more campground, a potential refuge for me when my husband left for the US. We enjoyed the company of Fernando and Evelyn and the center of Puembo, so kept it as an option.

Camped on Fernando’s property in Puembo – I don’t mind staying here for 2.5 weeks during Mark’s absence

Doggie cuddles

Cute façade in Puembo

Lunch with Fernando, Evelyn, and daughter S.

A tight squeeze to enter and exit the property – we did scrape the metal gate on the driver’s side due to the the slope of the driveway…

As a matter of fact, our two-day trip into Quito was squeezed between “skinny” campground stays. I wanted to get my bearings at Hostal Colibri, which sounded promising in iOverlander at only 10 minutes from the aeropuerto. But this meant planes landed over our heads, similar to our Point Loma experience on a three-month house sit stint in San Diego, California. Because of that fact – and the price – we ruled this option out!

Parked on the soccer field in this tight and small “overlanding” place – we’d have to move over the weekend.

Landing plane above our heads

Conversations cease each time a plane lands nearby

First glimpse of another snow-covered volcano, near Quito

Hostal Colibri also has a very narrow driveway, with low-hanging branches and wires…

No way, Mark and I were going to take our “massive” truck camper Thirsty Bella into the center of Quito. Instead, we stored it at a campground under construction, with an amazing view over the city. We paid $8 to leave our home on wheels there, safe and sound. Staying here as campers would set us back way too much money ($10 per person, officially), so we didn’t even consider it.

More view over Quito from Andy’s place

View over Quito from Andy’s place

Taking a cab into the historic center

Why Quito?

There was no doubt that we wanted to visit the historical center of Quito one day, without driving there. When we learned that our motorcycle friends Katherine and Brandon were leaving their vehicles near the border in Colombia and flying out of Ecuador’s capital for a summer stint in the US, the deal was sealed. We would spend their last two nights on the continent together and split an Airbnb.

Four friends reunited at the Airbnb in Quito

Our Airbnb

Well, what can I say? Mark and I did try to find a more modest apartment to rent for those two nights, but they were either more expensive or in an undesirable location. So, we ended up with an entire, 170-year-old house with three floors, funky layout and colors, and ample space. One of Ecuador’s presidents lived here in the 1930s. Once we didn’t get lost anymore, we enjoyed the rooms and courtyards.

Entrance and hallway of this ex-hotel

Cute courtyard

Our Airbnb with three floors

Living area near one of the bedrooms

One of the two bedrooms we had access to

Easy to get lost

Dining room

View over the historic center of Quito from the Airbnb – towards Panecillo Hill

View of our street towards the basilica

Living room area downstairs

In the courtyard

A historic house in the historic center

The historic center