Quito is a large sprawling city, so it's hard to do anything truly outdoorsy within the city limits. The large, central Parque La Carolina is the best spot for outdoor sports and activities. Your best bet, though, is to travel an hour or two outside the city, where you'll find an abundance of outdoor pursuits. These include hiking, climbing, trekking, white-water rafting, and mountain biking.
Bullfighting -- The once-popular and -proud tradition of bullfighting is now very rarely performed publicly in Quito, except during the Fiestas de Quito the first week of December. Bullfights are held at the Plaza de Toros (tel. 02/2229-369), north of the intersection of Avenida Amazonas and 10 de Agosto. Tickets can be picked up right at the bullring and run $1 to $10 (55p-£5.50).
Jogging -- The downtown Parque La Carolina is your best bet for jogging. This large, central city park has several jogging paths, and you'll usually find plenty of fellow joggers around. The much smaller Parque El Ejido is another option.
Soccer -- Soccer, or fútbol, is the principal spectator sport in Ecuador. Soccer season in Quito lasts March through December. Most important games take place at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa (tel. 02/2247-510), on 6 de Diciembre and Avenida Naciones Unidas. Game day is usually Saturday or Sunday. General-admission seats cost $2 (£1.10); the good seats go for $10 to $12 (£5.50-£6.60). You can buy tickets at the stadium on the day of the game. To get there, take the Ecovía trolley line to the Estadio stop.
Tennis -- If you're not staying at a hotel with its own courts, the Parque La Carolina open-air public courts are your best bet. They are free of charge, and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. They fill up very fast on weekends, and tend to be busy on weekdays as well.
