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Quito
Travelers worldwide are drawn to Quito for its spectacular mountain setting, its colonial historical center, near-by adventure travel opportunities, international cuisine, and the gentle, generous Quite帽o culture. The city is known for being home to some of the best Spanish schools in South America; there is a great backpacker community; and, the area offers plenty of activities to help you escape the typical tourist crowds. Don't miss out on socializing with the locals, Quite帽os tend to be relaxed, friendly and eager to make friends.
Planning a trip from Quito to other parts of Ecuador, or to neighboring South American countries, is also fairly easy. Most Quito hotels, travel agencies and tour operators can be found in the neighborhood of La Mariscal and are within a five block radius of each other. Transportation by land and air is also plentiful and generally inexpensive, depending on the time of year.
This rapidly growing capital city has a past that stretches back to before the Incas made Quito the second capital of their empire. It appears that only the mountains that cradle the city remain unchanged. The historic Old Town features colonial architecture which the Spanish constructed over the charred remains of the Inca city. Just north of Old Town, towering concrete and glass structures show off the modern structures of the business and tourist center of the city.
Quito's Neighborhoods
Divided into different neighborhoods (sectores), most tourists spend their time in La Mariscal or the area north of Parque el Ejido and south of Avenida Orellana. The Centro Hist贸rico, hosts a diverse and rich colonial history with some beautiful plazas, churches, museums and pedestrian walkways. Other noteworthy neighborhoods include Gu谩pulo, La Floresta and the North part of Quito. The capital itself was originally contained within the limits of what is now called the Centro Hist贸rico. Today it is about 50 kilometers long from north to south (30 miles) and on average 8 kilometers (about five miles) wide east to west, hosting a population of just over two million.
Neighborhoods in Quito: Checa, Mitad del Mundo, Calder贸n, Pululahua Volcanic Crater, La Mariscal, San Marcos, Gu谩pulo, Cumbay谩, La Floresta, Plaza Foch and Centro Hist贸rico.
Other places in Ecuador: Guayllabamba, Salinas, Chamanga, Bulcay, Cuenca, San Clemente, Same, Tulc谩n, Saraguro and Papallacta.
| Ecuador and Custom Galapagos Tours Live a great vacation in a small country that has it all. www.andeandiscovery.com |
Quito Highlights
La Bas铆lica del Voto Nacional
A relatively new addition to the Quito skyline, and now one of its most striking landmarks, is the Basilica del Voto Nacional, or simply \"the Basilica.\" Consecrated in 1988 (though still
...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
El Palacio Arzobispal (The Archbishop's Palace)
Opposite the cathedral in the Plaza Grande, the former Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop鈥檚 Palace) now houses a row of shops, ranging from delicatessens to clothing stores. During the last few years,
...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Palacio del Gobierno
The building on the northwestern side of the plaza above the row of arched, hole-in-the-wall shops, is the Palacio del Gobierno (Presidential Palace), also called Carondelet. The palace is open to
...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Hotel Plaza Grande (formerly Majestic Hotel)
Originally the mansion of Quito鈥檚 founder, Juan D铆az de Hidalgo, the Plaza Grande was Quito鈥檚 first luxury hotel. Renovated and restored in 2005, it now plays host to visiting dignitaries, ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Iglesia San Marcos
Compared to the ornate extravagance of many churches in the Centro Hist贸rico, Iglesia San Marcos is relatively quaint. Constructed over an 87-year period that began prior to the 17th century, the ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Iglesia de Santa B谩rbara
Three blocks from Plaza Grande, the shimmering white Iglesia de Santa B谩rbara stands out among the surrounding drab gray buildings. Although attractive enough with its stained glass windows and ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Iglesia San Roque
Tucked away in the bustling back streets of Quito\'s Centro Hist贸rico, among the cevicherias and traditional tiendas, sits the understated Iglesia San Roque. A white-washed colonial building first ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
La Compa帽铆a
Carved entirely out of volcanic stone, the ornate Baroque fa莽ade of this Jesuit church is probably the most exquisitely executed in Quito. From the arresting outside, walk inside and you鈥檒l be ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
San Agust铆n - Museum and Monastery
Constructed by Spanish architect Francisco Becerra in 1573 and then rebuilt after the earthquake in 1868, this beautifully designed church and monastery holds political and artistic significance to ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Iglesia de La Merced
With its plain white exterior, handsome bell tower (the highest in colonial Quito) and tiled domes, the church of La Merced is a good example of the Moorish influences in Spanish architecture in the
...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Restaurants in Quito: Savory Spots to Eat
Caf茅 Mosaico
Ecuador goes international at this lively restaurant and caf茅, perched high above the city, having one of the best restaurant views in Quito! Originally from New York, the owners clearly packed ...Centro Hist贸rico, Quito, Ecuador
Zaz煤
Offering a modern interpretation of Peruvian cuisine, this stylish restaurant is filled nightly with diplomats, oil expats and Quite帽o high society. Stand out appetizers include thinly sliced ...Northern Quito, Quito, Ecuador
Pizzeria Anank茅
A small converted bungalow that feels more like a hipster\'s home than a restaurant, Anank茅 has a stunning view of Gu谩pulo from its upstairs outdoor patio. This artsy dive specializes in ...Gu谩pulo, Quito, Ecuador
El Pobre Diablo
El Pobre Diablo is a well-decorated jazz bar, popular with artsy intellectuals and local bohemian types. Live music lights the place up most Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, with jazz and ...La Floresta, Quito, Ecuador
Sake
Its hard to say which is better at Sake: the excellent Japanese cuisine or the view of Quito. A huge picture window up on a hill overlooks the city as you munch on fresh maki, sashimi, cooked ...Study Spanish in Quito: Top Schools
Vida verde school
Learn spanish with a conscience! Vida Verde is a green-life Spanish language school offering intensive Spanish language instruction and Spanish immersion programs. The school is involved in many ...Andean Global Studies
Andean Global Studies is a Spanish school based in Quito and offers foreign students a wide variety of programs, such as: spanish immersion, medical Spanish, and volunteering. The school facilities ...Quito, Ecuador
Apu Inty Spanish School
Although there are tons of Spanish schools to choose from while staying in Quito, it is the little things that make the difference. With a variety of 鈥渆xtras,鈥 Apu Inty stands apart from the
...Sim贸n Bol铆var Spanish School
Located just three blocks from the center of the Mariscal area, Sim贸n Bol铆var Spanish School offers a wide range of extra services such as free Internet, airport pick-up, city tours, two salsa ...Quito, Ecuador
Amazonas Language School
Amazonas Language School features private or group Spanish classes for 20 to 35 hours per week. Since the school is paired up with a travel agency, students have the advantage of learning about the
...Quito, Ecuador
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