Dark Quito: History of Power and Death

The tour begins at Parque García Moreno, in front of the imposing Basílica del Voto Nacional, one of the most striking landmarks in Quito’s Historic Center. Here your guide will give you a warm welcome and introduce the context of this experience, revealing the first clues to the stories of power, faith, and mystery that will shape this journey through the city’s darkest side.

We will explore the majestic Basílica del Voto Nacional, one of Quito’s most impressive neo-Gothic landmarks. During the visit, you will tour its interior spaces and, if it is open to the public, you will have the opportunity to visit the pantheon of heads of state, where historical figures of the country rest. A place where architecture, power, and memory intertwine in an atmosphere filled with history and mystery.

We will enter the Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum, located in the former seat of the Real Audiencia of Quito. This historic space preserves a solemn atmosphere where you will learn about the events of August 2, 1810 through its striking wax figure display. In addition, you will walk through its old dungeons, where stories of confinement, power, and events that deeply marked the country’s history still echo.

We will visit the majestic Church of the Society of Jesus, famous for its stunning interior covered in gold leaf. Beyond its beauty, we will descend into its underground crypts, a space filled with history where distinguished figures from Ecuador rest. A journey through sacred art, mystery, and legends that reveal the most hidden side of one of Quito’s most emblematic temples.

We will visit the City Museum, located in one of Quito’s oldest historic buildings. It originally served as a colonial hospital and today preserves the imprint of centuries of history in its corridors and rooms. As you move through its spaces, you will discover stories, memories, and episodes that reflect life and death in colonial times, in an atmosphere filled with history and mystery in the heart of the Historic Center.

We end this experience in Quito’s Historic Center with a tasting of Ecuadorian chocolate, world-renowned for its quality and unique aroma. In this final moment of the tour, you will be able to appreciate different flavor notes that reflect the richness of the nation’s cacao. A perfect ending to a day where history, mystery, and culture come together with a sweet and unforgettable touch.