The museum is housed in the 'El Placer' plant, which was Quito's first public water supply facility.
It is located at the foot of the Pichincha Volcano, which historically supplied the city's water.
The name 'Yaku' is derived from the Kichwa word for water.
The site features a panoramic 'Sky Path' that offers a 360-degree view of the city's colonial center.
The building integrates original 20th-century water distribution tanks into its modern exhibition galleries.
Yaku Water Museum is an interactive science center built within the repurposed 1913 El Placer water purification plant. It occupies a hillside position overlooking the historic center of Quito, utilizing the city's former primary water reservoir infrastructure. The museum focuses on the ecological, social, and cultural importance of water through permanent exhibits like 'Pumamaki' and 'Water Museum.' Visitors interact with physical models that demonstrate the hydrological cycle and the history of Quito’s water supply systems. The site includes outdoor walking trails that connect the industrial architecture with the surrounding hillside environment. It serves as a pedagogical space dedicated to environmental awareness and sustainable water management. The museum's elevated location provides extensive views of the Panecillo and the surrounding Andes mountains. The facility is managed by the Quito Municipal Foundation of Museums.
The glass-walled terrace providing an unobstructed vista of the Quito cityscape and the colonial cathedral spires.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum grounds include steep paths and outdoor levels.
Bring a light jacket, as the altitude at this location often results in cooler temperatures and windy conditions.
Allocate time to explore the outdoor gardens, which showcase high-altitude Andean flora.
Attempting to walk from the city center base without a map, as the streets leading up the hillside are steep and can be disorienting.
Closed on Mondays.
