Reasons
TO VISIT
Quito
1 QUITO IS AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD This is the closest capital to the sun at 2,850 meters above sea level, and is the only place where you can simultaneously have one foot in the Northern hemisphere and the other in the South. You can experience the pure energy of the Center of the World while walking the equatorial line, traced by the Geodesic Mission when it determined Latitude 0°0’0’’. This privileged geographic location grants Quito a plethora of virtues that can be seen in its climate and natural wealth.
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ITS “MUST-SEES” Discover the majesty of the Historic District, considered the largest and best preserved in the Americas and the first World Heritage Site. You can find the history of the city in the following spots that are not to be missed: La Compañía de Jesús, Baroque masterpiece of America; La Plaza Grande as the center of important historic achievements, which narrate the history of Quito and the nation; visit the San Francisco religious complex; walk along La Ronda, a street whose charm is found in its workshops and traditional trades.
2 QUITEÑO CUISINE The flavors of Quiteño cuisine deserve to be tasted by any traveler worth their salt. The city’s traditional dishes are a mixture of Andean and Iberian influence: Locro (potato soup), seco de chivo (braised goat stew), fritada (fry-up), empanadas and helado de paila (copper pail sherbet) are some of the city’s dishes that are not to be missed. Additionally, Quito offers cuisine from every corner of the world at several restaurants that cater to visitor’s tastes. Vegetarians will also be at home here.
PEOPLE AND THEIR TRADES During the colonial period, Quito was an important cultural and artistic center, a virtue that is preserved to this day. It is not uncommon to find several artisans who continue to ply their century’s old trade today. Traditional locksmiths, carpenters, hat makers and herbalists, still hold on to their knowledge and expertise, and exhibit them in their workshops. Some of the houses and workshops of important contemporary artists such as Oswaldo Guayasamín or Eduardo Kingman are open to the public.
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OUR MUSEUMS, THEATERS AND CULTURAL CENTERS Quito has great places that narrate the stories of times gone by, and where culture is promoted through exhibits, as well as theater, music and cinema. The City Museum, the Casa de El Alabado Museum, the Wax Museum, Sucre Theater, the Contemporary Art Center and the House of Music, are some of those places that cannot be missed.Visitors will also find location museums in the city’s surrounding areas, such as the Tulipe, Rumipamba and La Florida museums. Children also have spaces to enjoy in the Yaku Park Museum, the Interactive Science Museum, and the Train Museum.
4 AT NIGHT There are several options when it comes to restaurants, cafĂŠs, bars and dance clubs throughout the Mariscal, La Floresta, GuĂĄpulo and La Carolina neighborhoods. There, visitors can find music, local and international cuisine, parties, and above all, the joy of Quito.
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7 GET ON THE TRAIN Begin your trip on “the most difficult train in the world”, starting from the popular Chimbacalle neighborhood in Quito. The train has now become part of the nation’s cultural heritage. A train that joined Ecuador’s coast with its Highlands through this impressive feat of early XX century engineering. Today, tourists can travel the coast and the highlands by train. Visit the station, walk the museum and get on board this great adventure.
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SHOPPING Visitors can find a wide variety of shopping options for all tastes and budgets in Quito. From modern shopping malls like Quicentro Shopping or Mall el JardĂn, to the La Floresta neighborhood, or the Mariscal, where they can find contemporary design shops and galleries; likewise, in the Historic District, tourist can visit specialized traditional art shops like El Quinde. Quito is also an ideal destination for buying art. Visitors can find paintings, sculptures, etc. at the El Ejido park. The Mariscal is also filled with galleries and antique shops.
8 THE MOORLANDS AND THE CLOUD FOREST An hour’s trip away, in the surrounding areas of Quito, visitors can enjoy a series of activities at different haciendas located in the Moorlands of the Andes: hot springs, horseback riding, hiking, mountaineering, rural tourism, and more. In the Northwest, visitors can discover the beauty and wealth of the Cloud Forest, a true paradise for bird watching where there are over 500 different species of birds, particularly hummingbirds.
10 CLOSE TO EVERYTHING As the doorway to Ecuador, Quito is strategically located to access: The Pacific coast with beaches, fishing towns and exquisite cuisine; the Andes with its Volcano Avenue, which dazzled the expeditionary Humboldt; the Amazon with all its green and extraordinary magic, home to ancestral people; the Galapagos Islands, unique in the world, which narrate the evolution of the species before the very eyes of visitors, and where Darwin elaborated his famous theory of evolution. Quito is your starting point.