6 Great Pre-Columbian Museums and Exhibitions in Quito

Pre-Columbian Art
Pre-Columbian Art | © Museo Mindalae
Rick Segreda

Cultural Activist

With a history that goes as far back as 10,000 BC, Quito has one of the richest archaeological heritages in all of South America. Here, we take a look at the best museums and archaeological exhibits that cast light on what life was like in the pre-Columbian era in Ecuador, before it was altered forever by the arrival of westerners in the 15th century. Visitors can learn about the religion, rituals, culture, gender roles, and daily life of the Paleoamericans, the first migrants to the continent; the Quitus, who settled the area now known as Quito more than 4,000 years earlier and gave the region its name; and the Caras tribe, who overtook them in 980 AD, before they themselves were conquered by the Incas.

Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

Museum

Ecuador, Quito, registered World Heritage by UNESCO, museo Casa del Alabado, or museum of pr?colombian arts, quipu, or counting mode
© CHARTON Franck / hemis.fr / Hemis / Alamy Stock Photo
Located in Quito’s world-famous historical district, in a 17th-century colonial house, the Casa del Alabado (“House of Praise”) contains around 5,000 pieces of pre-Columbian figures, pottery, tools, and weaponry, with 500 artifacts on permanent display in eight rooms. They are arranged thematically, rather than chronologically, in subjects such as cosmology, ancestral worship, ritualistic ceremony, and the indigenous relationship to nature.

Museo Arqueológico Weilbauer

Museum, University

Museo Arqueológico Weilbauer

Museo Weilbauer | © Weilbauer

Museo Weilbauer | © Weilbauer

Located on the campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), this museum houses the life’s work of German collectors Eugene and Hilde Weilbauer, and researcher Pedro Porras. The material – pottery, metalwork, religious icons and such – is displayed chronologically, highlighting the evolution of various ancient cultures in Ecuador before the arrival of the Spanish.

Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, 12 de Octubre and Vicente Ramón Roca +593 2-299-1700

Museo Arqueológico Santiana

Museum, University

Museo Arqueológico Santiana

Museo Arqueológico Santiana

Museo Santiana | © Santiana

Museo Santiana | © Santiana

The Antonio Santiana Archaeological Museum, located at the Central University, has the distinction of being the oldest archaeological museum in Ecuador, courtesy of founder Dr. Max Hule. The material on display goes all the way back to the Paleoindian period of settlers who crossed the Bering Strait and populated the Western Hemisphere.

Universidad Central del Ecuador, America and Universitaria

Museum Etnohistorico de Artesanias del Ecuador Mindalae

Museum

Mindalae
© Mindalae
The five-story Ethnographic Mindalae Craftsman Museum features rich displays of pottery, weaving, and pre-Columbian religious and mythological iconography, created as a tribute by local craftsman to their ancestors. Mindalae is unique among the archaeological museums of Quito, in that the displays showcase the culture of the indigenous tribes of the Amazon as well as the coast. The museum is a great source of educational information about the pre-colonial history and traditions of Ecuador’s native population.

Parque Arqueológico y Ecológico Rumipamba

Park, Ruins

Parque Arqueológico y Ecológico Rumipamba

In the 1980s archaeologists discovered that this undeveloped corner of the city contained the civic remains (including canals, stone walls, and temple foundations) of the Quitus and other ancient civilizations in the region. Tourists have the opportunity to walk beside the ruins of former Inca walls and homes, as well on historical trails used by the Incas to access the coast. It has since been declared a historical patrimony.
Parque Arqueológico Rumipamba, Antonio José de Sucre and Mariana de Jesus +593 2-224-2313

Museo de Sitio la Florida

Museum

Museo de Sitio la Florida

Opened in 2009, the La Florida Archaeological Site Museum in the northwest corner of the city provides an opportunity to visit some burial grounds of the Quitus that were discovered only in recent years. The museum has recreated the burial chambers, dating as far back as 650 AD, complete with recreations of how the Quitus buried their dead, with figures dressed in the accoutrements – colorful ponchos adorned with Spondylus shell jewelry – that accompanied their internment. Other artifacts are only display too, such as wood carvings that speak of the rites and religion of this ancient culture.

Museo de Sitio la Florida, Antonio Costas and César Villacres +593 02 380 3043

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.