This is a great hike when the weather is good. Either way, it will likely be very cold and windy near the summit, so dress warm. If you get lucky and the weather clears up, you will be able to see for miles. You can view most of Quito, as well as other mountain peaks across the valley.
There are multiple versions of this hike. I will tell you about the shortest and most direct way to the top.
What to bring: Dress warm, prepare for cold weather and possible showers. Having hiked this twice, this is not usually a big problem, except if you do get wet, you get cold very quickly. Bring water and snacks. Do not over-pack as the hike is moderately difficult (especially the higher up you get as the air gets thinner).
How to get there: Take a taxi at around 7:00-7:30 and ask them to take you to the teleferico. Some taxi drivers are reluctant to do this or will want to charge you extra because it is uphill and burns a lot of gas carrying a full carload of people. The Teleferico opens at 8am and it is nice to be there right as it opens to avoid any lines for the teleferico and/or on the hike, as well as getting the best weather in the first half of the day for spectacular views. If you have a censo, bring it as it will be cheaper to buy tickets as a local than a tourist.
Teleferico: The Teleferico opened in 2005 and is one of the world's highest gondolas. You can take an 8-10 minute ride from roughly 9,800ft (3000m) to 13,200ft (4000m). Once you reach the top you can spend a little time walking around and admiring the views. There used to be a lot of stores and restaurants at the top of the Teleferico but since the global financial crisis of 2008, this looks more like a ghost town. After you admire the view and maybe grab a snack, start heading up the mountain (the trail is pretty easy to find and has wooden rails for the first few miles).
The hike: The hike will take you from 13,000ft to 15,700ft. You will get cold and you will be tired. The air gets pretty thin towards the top and after a few hours of hiking, you will definitely be feeling it. In all though, with a moderate pace and a few breaks, you can make it up and back to the teleferico in about 4-5 hours.
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