With some great day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to soak up all that Quito, 40 miles away, has to offer. Foch Square ought to be toward the top of your list here. General Rumiñahui Coliseum and Quicentro Shopping are interesting attractions too. Locals are also likely to point you toward Ibarra, 45 miles away. If you only have time for one thing here, let it be La Merced Park. (But we’d also highly recommend Ibarra Cultural Center and Basilica La Dolorosa.)