Quito

Quito is probably the most beautiful city in South America. Its official name is San Francisco de Quito and it sits at an altitude of 2,811 m (9,170 feet), making it the highest capital in the world. The city center is only 22 km (14 mi) south of the equator. This unique combination of altitude and latitude gives it a spring-like climate all year round. Quito sits at the foot of 4,700 m (15,400 feet) Rucu Pachincha and vistas in the capital are dominated by a mountainous scenery.

Archaeological evidence shows that the area of present-day Quito was already inhabited between 4400 and 1600 BC. In the 15th century, the city was conquered by the Incas and incorporated into their empire. The Spanish then took it in 1534 and that year is regarded as the founding of Quito, making it the oldest capital in South America.

Since Quito's old town was enlisted as a UNESCO world heritage site, modern building is strictly controlled in the city center. The old town boasts numerous beautiful colonial treasures, such as whitewashed houses, red tiled roofs and churches and it is one of the best-preserved old cities in the Americas. There are countless museums, colonial churches and nice plazas, scattered all over Quito.

Historic center

In 1978, the historic center of Quito was, together with the historic center of Kraków in Poland, the first place in the world that was inscribed in the UNESCO lit of world heritage sites. Quito's historic center is to the south of the city's contemporary center. It features 130 monumental buildings, as well as more than 5,000 other bildings of historical value.
The Palacio de Carondelet is the seat of Ecuador's government. It is located in Plaza de la Independéncia (Independence Square), or Plaza Grande. Since Ecuador became a republic, almost all the presidents, including dictators, have governed from the Carondelet Palace. The residence of the president is situated on the building's third floor.
Also in Independence Square is the Hotel Plaza Grande was built in Independence Square.
The Municipal Palace is another beautiful building in Independence Square.

Churches

Quito's Basilica of San Francisco is Ecuador's oldest church. It was built between 1535 and 1650 by the Spanish colonizers.
A building that took a long time to complete is the Basílica del Voto Nacional. It is a monumental neo-Gothic building and it was the largest church in the Americas during the time of its construction, which started in 1892, but it was not inaugurated until 1988. Actually the building remains unfinished and according to legend, the end of the world will come when the basílica is completed.
The Baroque Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario is located right next to the church of Santo Domingo. It was the location, where the largest fraternity of Quito was founded.
The Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco (Basilica and Convent of San Francisco) is another large church adjacent to the Independence Square. Construction of the building commenced in 1550. It features a blend of different architectural styles that were used during the more than 150 years it took to complete it. Inside the church you can see more than 3,500 works of colonial art.
The Iglesia del Sagrario (church of El Sagrario) was built in Italian Renaissance style at the end of the 17th century. its dome features beautiful frescoes of biblical scenes. The church is located in Calle García Moreno, not far from the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Construction of the church and convent of San Ignácio de Loyola de la Compañía de Jesús de Quito, usually referred to as 'la Compañía', began in 1605. The building was finally finished in 1765, when its ornate Baroque façade was added. The was constructed by native Americans who carefully shaped each volcanic stone to fit perfectly.
The Iglesia de Santo Domingo (church of Santo Domingo) was built in Mudéjar style by Dominicans, who arrived in Quito in 1541. Construction started in 1580, but it was not completed until the 17th century. In the 19th century, a beautiful neo-Gothic altar was added. The church features a museum on the north side of the lower cloister.
Quito Metropolitan Cathedral took a long time to build. Construction started in 1545, but it was only completed in 1799. Several of Ecuador's presidents have been buried in the cathedral. The building is on the southern side of the Plaza de la Independéncia.

Around Quito

The Central University Library is one of the oldest and most important libraries in Ecuador. It was founded in 1586 and features more than 170,000 books.
El Panecillo is a hill in the west of Quito. It rises to 3,016 m (9,895 ft) above sea level and provides fantastic views over the city. On this hill stands a huge statue of the Virgin of Quito, which can be seen from all over town. The statue was erected in 1976. It is 41 m (135 ft) tall.
At the foot of El Panecillo is a lively open-air Indian market.
La Ronda is a beautiful alley that has been preserved exactly as it was during colonial times.
The district of Guápulo is set on the side on a cliff. On the opposite side of the valley is the Amazon jungle. The main street in this area is Calle González Suárez. The neighborhood runs down the winding Camino de Orellana to Calle de los Conquistadores, which is the main road out of town. Guápulo is home to numerous local artisans and there are several small cafés and bars. Every year on 7 September, the Fiestas de Guápulo are held there. The celebration includes colourful costumes, a parade, food, drink, song, dance and fireworks.
La Floresta is the neighborhood, where numerous restaurants, theaters, cafés, bars, museums and a cinema are located.
La Mariscal is Quito's entertainment hub. It is an area that features a large number of hotels, bars, restaurants, discotheques and shops, as well as many travel agencies. During the annual Fiestas de Quito, el Gran Desfile de Mariscal (the Great Parade of Mariscal) is held there.
Plaza Foch is usually referred to as 'La Zona'. It is Quito's zona rosa and there are numerous night clubs and bars. Most of Plaza Foch is a pedestrian area and during the evening it is filled with street vendors, selling small items such as chewing gum and cigarettes. It is the busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
The TelefériQo is a cable car system that runs between the city center and the hill of Cruz loma at an elevation of 4,100 m (13,500 ft). The hill is on the eastern side of the Pichincha volcano. There are several hiking trails to explore more of Cruz Loma. The hill provides magnificent views over Quito and offers a cool escape from the bustle of the city. The TelefériQo is part of the amusement park of Vulqano Park, which also includes fine-dining restaurants, go karts, paint ball, shopping malls and an extensive food court, amongs others.

Museums

Casa del Alabado (Alabado House) is south off of Plaza San Francisco. It features a collection of pre-colonial art and it is housed in one of Quito's oldest buildings.
The Casa de Sucre (Museum House of Sucre) has exhibitions on the life of Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, who was a hero of Ecuadorian independence. The exhibitions include weapons, military relics, furniture, maps and other items that belonged to Sucre. The building's second floor has been restored to what it might have looked like during Sucre's life. The museum was established in 1977.
The Centro de Arte Contemporaneo (Contemporary Art Center) is located north of Basilica del Voto Nacional. It is housed in a former military hospital.
La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man) is a museum, dedicated to Ecuadorian Artist Oswaldo Guayasamín and features his works.
The Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum) has exhibitions on the history of Quito. It sits east of the Plaza de Santo Domingo and it is housed in the buildings of the former San Juan de Dios Hospital. It was founded in 1998.
The Museo Nacional de Ecuador (National Museum of Ecuador) has art exhibitions that are divided into five displays, each of which covers a different time period, ranging from prehistory to contemporary.
The Museo Nacional de Medicina de Ecuader (Ecuador National Museum of Medicine) is dedicated to the history of medicine in Quito. It was founded in 1982 by Eduardo Estrella Aguirre. He was the man who visited the Archives of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid (Spain) in 1985 and uncovered lost papers and paintings documenting one of the first expeditions to South America. The museum has exhibitions on Aboriginal Medical Food, nutrition and health, medical archeology and medicinal plants. There is also an exhibition of dential equipment from the late 17th to the 19th centuries, including antique microscopes, antique medicine bottles, medical instrument literature and a complete library of knowledge and language of Andian Medicine Plants.
On Reina Victoria street is the Vivarium, a museum dedicated to the appreciation and study of Ecuador's reptiles and amphibians. As the museum's name suggests, it includes live specimens of boa constrictors, frogs, iguanas, tortoises and turtles, as well as one of the continent's most poisonous snakes, the fer-de-lance.

Parks

Parque Bicentenario is the second-largest urban park in Quito. It was opened in 2013 on the site of the former Mariscal Sucre International Airport after it was demolished. The park has walkways, bicycle paths and playgrounds. There is also an artificial pond. The park frequently hosts cultural exhibits and outdoor concerts.
El Ejido dvivides Quito's old part from its modern one. Every Saturday and Sunday, handicraft-selllers flock the park. Local painters sell copies of famous paintings, while Otavaleños sell traditional sweaters, ponchos, carpets and jewelry there.
La Alameda park features several interesting monuments, including one dedicated to Simón Bolívar. The Quito Observatory is in the center of the park. It was opened in 1873. There are 2 ornamental lakes at the northern end of the park, where rowboats can be rented.
La Carolina Park is bordered by the avenues of Río Amazonas, de los Shyris, Naciones Unidas, Eloy Alfaro and de la Rep&uacte;blica in Quito's CBD. The park is situated on the grounds of the La Carolina farm, which was expropriated in 1939. There is a huge cross on the place where Pope John Paul II headed a mass in 1985.
Quito's Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua is the largest urban park in South America. It is about twice the size as New York's central park and it is located in the north of the city, behind Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, on the hill of Bellavista. It is an excellent place to go mountain biking, walking, running, barbecueing and having picnics. Most of the park consists of eucalyptus forest and it is crisscrossed with trails. There are many nice sculptures in the park and its eastern end offers good views of Cotopaxi, Antisana and the Guayllabamba river basin.

Outside the city

The Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve is focused on nature conservation and a good place for bird watching. There is a lodge in the reserve, as well as numerous walking trails. It was established in 1991 and it is 52 km from Quito.
Cayambe Coca National Park includes the Cayambe volcano and the Papallacta and Oyacachi thermal springs, amongst others. The park is about 70 km (43 mi) northeast of Quito.
Cotopaxi National Park is centered on the Cotopaxi volcano about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito.
The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (The Half of the World City) is a small village, 35 km (22 mi) north of Quito, which has a huge monument that indicates the position of the Equator, although the real position of the Equator is 240 m (790 ft) north of the monument area.
The Illiniza volcano actually consists of a pair of volcanic mountains.
The Intiñan Solar Museum gives demonstrations that show the Coriolis force causing a clockwise rotation of sink water a few meters south of the equator and a counterclockwise rotation a few meters to the north. In reality this effect only manifests itself many kilometers from the Equator, but nevertheless it's a nice place to learn about this. The museum is not far from the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo.
The Maquipucuna Reserve is located in Nanegal. The reserve is home to almost 2000 species of plants and some 400 bird species. It is also the core of the conservation corridor for the spectacled bear (Andean bear). There is a lodge in the norther part of the reverve, where the spectacled bear can be sighted.
The Mindo Nambillo cloud forest is a patchwork of cloud forests, agricultural land and streams. Activities such as rafting, tubing, trekking, mountain biking, canyoning, horseback riding, birdwatching and chocolate making are available there.
The Refugio de Vida Silvestre Pasochoa (Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge) is centered on the Pasochoa volcano.
The Pichincha volcano is adjacent to Quito. It has 2 peaks: Wawa Pichincha and Ruku Pichincha.
The Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve is also in the vicinity. It is centered on the Pululahua volcano, whose caldera (crater) can be seen, a short drive away. It is one of the world's few inhabited calderas.
Quito Zoo is located near Guayllabamba, 20 km (12 mi) outside Quito. It has the biggest collection of native fauna in Ecuador, including several endangered species. The Zoo works in conservation and education in Ecuador and has successfully bred the endangered Andean condor.

All the modern offices, embassies and shopping centers are situated in the northern part of Quito, the new town. The bustling Avenida Amazonas is the major archery in the new town. It is lined with numerous shops, cafés and offices.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Quito. Some of the cheaper accommodation is situated around La Ronda and in the Santo Domingo area, while more expensive hotels and restaurants are located in the new town.

Warning: Be careful when walking around at busy places, such as markets, bus stations and tourist sites, as robbery is no exception in Quito. El Panecillo, El Tejar, Parroquia San Sebastian, Mariscal Sucre, Avenida Cristobal Colón and Gonzalez Suarez require extra attention and especially after dark it is better not to go there.

Quito is located in a valley in the Andes mountains, on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha volcano.

	Temperature	Precipitation
January	13.6°C (56.5°F)	9.9 cm (3.9 in)
April	14.4°C (57.9°F)	17.5 cm (6.89 in)
July	14.2°C (57.6°F)	2 cm (0.79 in)
October	14.7°C (58.5°F)	11.2 cm (4.41 in)

Quito

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