Quito Ecuador Travel Guide
Quito Ecuador Travel Guide
Quito, formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador, and at an elevation of 9,350 feet, it is the highest official capital city in the world. Located in Ecuador, South America, Quito is situated in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha Volcano, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains.
Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. It is also the capital of the Pichincha Province and the seat of the Quito Canton|Metropolitan District of Quito. In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR. Quito, a beautiful city and capital of Ecuador, offers great cultural activity throughout its districts and is a great starting point for visits to the rest of Ecuador.
The historic center of Quito has one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas, and is undoubtedly one of the cities main tourist attractions. Quito, along with Kraków, were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978. The central square of Quito is located about 25 km south of the equator; the city itself extends to within about 1 km of zero latitude. A monument and museum marking the general location of the equator is known locally as "Mitad del Mundo" (the middle of the world), to avoid confusion, as the word "ecuador" is spanish language for "equator".
Quito is roughly divided into three parts: the Old City (Centro Histórico) in the middle, with South (Sur) and North (Norte) districts to either side. The South part is mainly industrial and residential, a working class area. The city's main inter-province bus terminal is located here in the Quitumbe district, as well as the main train station. The North part is the modern Quito, with high-rise buildings, shopping centers, the financial district (locally known as the "micro-centro", and upper-class residential areas and some working-class housing areas. This area of Quito is also home to several museums, art galleries and the cities most renown education institutions, as well as home to a variety of restaurants and nightlife options.
The North Part of Quito is also home to the city's largest concentration of parks, with the most new one being Parque Bicentenario. The Old City continues to be Quito's main attraction. Quito's surrounding valleys (Valle de Tumbaco & Valle de los Chillos) also are great weekend get aways, with excellent local ecuadorian cuisine, as well as some great outdoor eco-tourism opportunities.
Orientation is not a big problem in Quito. The city is elongated. The Panecillo separates the South from the Old City, and the areas between Parque La Alameda and Parque el Ejido is generally regarded as the start of the North. To the west, is the imposing Rucu/Guagua Pichincha volcano, that overlooks the entire city, no matter where you are. To the east of the city, is the Valle de Tumbaco, which is also the location of Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport.
Teleferico is the world's second-highest cable car. It's located on the eastern flanks of the Pichincha Volcano which overlooks the whole city. It hoists visitors up to an amazing 4,000 meters (12,000 feet). On clear days, one can spot half-a-dozen volcanoes and spy the entire city below. Calle de la Ronda is a street in the Old Town was restored by Municipality and FONSAL in 2007. It was transformed with the help and cooperation of the local residents. It's a romantic cobbled street just off the Plaza Santo Domingo (or it can be reached via Garcia Moreno by the City Museum).
La Vírgen del Panecillo adjacent to the Old City, El Panecillo is a large hill on top of which is La Virgin del Panecillo, a large statue of the 'winged' Virgin Mary. She can be seen from most points in the city. Local legend has it that she is the only virgin in Quito. Mitad del Mundo just outside of Quito is where the measurements were first made that proved that the shape of the Earth is in fact an oblate spheroid. Commemorating this is a large monument that straddles the equator called Mitad del Mundo or middle of the world. The Intiñan Solar Museum is right next to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the other side of the north fence. Parque La Carolina is one of Quito's most frequented parks. On weekends, thousands of locals go to have picnics, play some sports, and overall just enjoy what the park has to offer. Parque Metropolitano del Sur. Quito's biggest park, at 750 hectares, located in the South of the city, right beside Avenida Simon Bolivar. Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua Quito's second biggest park at 557 hectares, located in the North of Quito. Parque El Ejido This park is located in the North of the city, and right beside the Casa de la Cultura. Parque La Alameda is located nearby the Old City, and is one of the more traditional parks of the city. It has an artificial lake, and a variety of historical buildings and monuments, like Quito's first Astronimcal Observatory.
Explore the Old Town With its gorgeous mixture of colonial and republican/independence era architecture (Late 1500's to 1800's), relaxing plazas and a stunning number of churches. If you happen to be there during Christmas or Easter, you'll be amazed at the number of events, masses, and processions that bring out the crowds. Have lunch in traditional Mercado Quito's population have a tradition of shopping for groceries in "Mercados", which are all over the city. They are usually big buildings that occupy an entire city block. Check out Mercado Santa Clara and Mercado Iñaquito in the north.
A recommended walking tour that could enhance your vision of the Historic Center is as follows. Take the trolley (watch your belongings) south until "Cumanda" stop. Get down, you are on Maldonado street. There you will have an impressive view of what once was the "Jerusalem" ravine, which stands between Panecillo and the core. Walk north past the trolley stop and go down a narrow stairway that brings you to La Ronda street, of Pre-columbian origins. Walk up picturesque La Ronda until you reach Av. 24 de Mayo. This boulevard was built on top of this section of Jerusalem ravine to connect the two sides of town. On Garcia Moreno Street turn north and you will arrive to the Museo de la Ciudad, which provides an easy and interactive history of Quito. Then walk on Garcia Moreno street until Sucre, which is a pedestrian street. La Compania is at the corner and if you go up Sucre street you will reach San Francisco. If you continue on Garcia Moreno you will reach the Main (independence) Square. If you go to San Francisco, then walk to La Merced and down to the Main Square. This itinerary follows a chronological and logical sequence of sites. Most people do it backwards, turning La Ronda and Museo de la Ciudad as distant points where you're usually worn out by the time you get there. In any event, the Historic Center is so vast that you need more than one visit to see it all. The recommended walk provides you with a good overview if you're short of time or want to see as much as possible on a first day.
For Food you name it, and it's available in Quito. Restaurants range from the basic places offering daily lunch specials ("almuerzos") for $2.50 to chef prepared delicacies with very expensive prices. The country's cuisine benefits from an interesting mix, with a variety of dishes inspired by both Coastal and Andean produce. Seafood and fish is fresh and delicious, while meats, particularly pork, are excellent. These are combined with typical ingredients such as potatoes, plantains and all sorts of tropical and Andean fruits. There are also lots of vegetarian restaurants all around town. There are dozens of hostels and hotels in town to accommodate all the visitors. Most people stay in the new town, which is closer to the nightlife.
A lot to see in Quito
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Pichincha
El Panecillo
TelefériQo
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Compañía de Jesús, Quito
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, Quito
Plaza de la Independencia
Historic Center of Quito
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Parque La Carolina
La Capilla del Hombre
Pasochoa
Parque El Ejido
Virgin of El Panecillo
Carondelet Palace
Intiñan Solar Museum
Cathedral of Quito
Guápulo
Santo Domingo Church
Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise
Museum of the City
Cotopaxi National Park
Itchimbia Park
Plaza Foch
Mariscal Foch
Yaku Water Museum
Galapagos
Zoológico de Quito
Vulqano Park
Quito Botanical Gardens
Museo Templo del Sol Pintor Cristobal Ortega Maila
Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana
El Ejido
Metropolitan Cultural Center
Ilaló
Quitumbe
Pululagua
Parque La Alameda
Sucre House
Mercado Artesanal
La Ecuatoriana
Ecological Refuge Molinuco
Plaza San Francisco
Calle La Ronda
QuincheMuseo Numismático - Banco Central del Ecuador
La Ronda
Contemporary Art Center of Quito
Nayon Xtreme Valley
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