If you follow Avenida 12 de Octubre up the hill from the Mariscal, you’ll reach the Hotel Quito at the top. Behind the hotel, stairs lead steeply down the other side of the hill to the historic neighborhood of Guápulo. The views from the lookout platform are magnificent. On a clear day, you can see Volcán Cayambe and Cerro Puntas as well as the upscale suburb of Cumbayá (there are several good restaurants and bars in the main plaza there).
Look for the statue of Francisco de Orellana depicting the Spaniard looking down into the valley, marking the beginning of his epic journey from Quito to the Atlantic – the first descent of the Amazon River by a European.
