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Quito | What to Expect
The capital and largest city in Ecuador, Quito is charming delight full of treats and
wonders. Tucked away high in the Andes, it is the second tallest city in the entire
world. Thanks to one of the largest and best-preserved colonial cores in Latin America,
Ecuador’s capital was named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site.
One thing you simply have to do when you visit Quito is ride the Quito cable car up 12,000
feet (4,000 meters) for unparalleled vantage points overlooking the city of Quito in all
directions. On a clear day, you can see Cotopaxi and several other volcanoes surrounding
the city.
The city of Quito, the cradle of Pre-Colombian cultures and an important witness of
Spanish colonization maintains, for the time being unity and harmony in its urban structure
despite centuries of urban development. One element of history that is dotted within the
city are several historic churches are within old town each with their own distinct style.
From the Plaza Grande, make your way to the 17th-century La Compania de Jesus. The
church is completely covered in gold.
Perhaps the biggest attraction in Quito is the chance to stand in the very middle of the
world. For a measly fee, take a bus to the outskirts of Quito where you can visit the
equator. Mitad del Mundo is a monument and museum marking the hemispheric divide.
You can even have your passport stamped showing you’ve stood on the equator. If you
rather keep it simple, organized tours bring groups to the monument and museum daily.
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