Given that this is the official residence of the President and an active government building you can understand they are a bit anxious about security. While admission is free you must get a ticket and you have to have a picture ID to get admitted. They hold your ID until you exit the building after the tour. We had an excellent guide to took care to tell us four English speakers the same story he had just told the majority Spanish speakers in his small group. Ecuador is know for its long stem roses and the palace has many massive arrangements of these flowers in the formal rooms. Very impressive. We learned a lot about the country, its history and the current president, who was educated in the US. Tour took about half an hour.
This plaza houses the home of the President of Ecuador. We were surprised to find that the lower level of the building was full of shops
If you have your passport on you, take a tour see the wonderful things in this place. There are many hidden gems inside this place. On the walking tour it is one of the stops. However you have to come back to go inside. The tour does not take you inside.
it's a photo op if you want pictures with the guards outside. We went into the "foyer" and could peer through the wrought iron gates to see some of the courtyard area. The building sits across from a lovely park and there are many restaurants and shops around that square. We were not offered a tour inside.
You have to book your visit before you go. I haven't done so and I couldn't get in. I've heard that it's interesting inside and that they take a picture of you when you enter and when you leave they give you the picture as a gift.
If you can see the Palace and the changing of the guards on Monday. Wonderful pomp and circumstance and probably the best uniforms that we have seen in any world capital. The quintessential toy soldier look! Bring lots of photo memory. Check locally but be in the square for 11 am or perhaps 10 minutes early. Saw the national soccer team with the president on the viewing balcony.
You have to wait your turn, but the system is well organised as you get a ticket with your time of entry and this is respected. The place is attractive, the exhibits interesting and the hall with the pictures with all the previous Presidents memorable.
we went in the morning to book a time for a visit in the afternoon. First of all they want to see you passport.We arrived on the slot time, the ticket was checked, we have to stand in a row like kindergarten kids and the public officer person who was not connected with his gast told us that we ,"foreigners" needed to give our passports to an admin person. We refused to do, so we left the building and did not see the palacio.
I was the last person in line allowed in for the tour. I missed it the first time because you have to show ID and I didn't have my passport on me. We had a great guide and we got to see a lot of private rooms. The balcony was my favorite because there was a festival in the plaza and we had a great view.
I did not go inside the building, but saw it from the outside as I watched the changing of the guard ceremony. The ceremony was amazing and you can get up close without much trouble. It was definitely worth catching if you are there on Monday when it happens.