La Mariscal

The Mariscal Sucre neighborhood in Quito, or "Gringolandia" as it has become to be known, is the main tourist hub of Quito. It runs from Parque El Ejido in the south up to Avenida Orellana in the north, and is centered around the roads Juan Leon Mera and Reina Victoria. Most of Quito's budget hostels are located here, as well as every tourist service you could possibly want.

A five-minute walk through this area will take you past countless restaurants featuring every cuisine under the sun. It also features popular bars, music venues,?and nightclubs that stay open until dawn. For the tech-savvy travelers, Mariscal has many internet cafes offering speedy connections and Skype. The neighborhood also offers other basic services like banks, laundromats and mini-marts. In Mariscal you will also find one of Quito's best bookstores, LibriMundi.

Most Quito travel agencies have their offices in Mariscal, so it's a good place to find a tour, whether you're looking for an international or domestic flight from Quito, a Galapagos cruise, an Amazon lodge stay or an Andean hiking adventure. Quality and prices vary a lot, so be sure to shop around before making any final decision.