South & Central America

Quito

The capital of Ecuador has a setting that few cities can match. During the 13th Century it was the prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitus. It later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire and in the 16th and 17th Centuries, colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Quito’s artistic creativity awaits the visitor in cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.

A stay in Quito must include a visit to the Colonial sector, the old and charming city with 400 years of Spanish heritage. Plaza de la Independencia is the principal square in the city and is home to the Presidential Palace, which is a beautiful white building flanked by handsomely uniformed presidential guards. The cathedral is also on the plaza and is a delightful building with a variety of interesting statues, paintings and artistic features. There are also a number of even more richly decorated churches, chapels and monasteries in and around the centre such as the Church of La Merced, the Monastery of San Agustin, the Church of Santo Domingo and the Church of La Compania de Jesus.

El Panecillo (‘the little bread loaf’) is the small rounded hill that dominates the old town and it has a huge statue of La Virgen de Quito with her crown of stars, eagle’s wings and chained dragon and this is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Also from the top of the hill you can enjoy panoramic views of not only the city, but also of the chain of volcanoes that are the backbone of central Ecuador.  The Quito Teleferico takes you to 4,050 meters and offers further spectacular panoramic views over the city and the surrounding mountains.  Further pathways from the top can take you up to 4,600 meters.

There are a number of interesting museums in both the new and old parts of the city such as Casa de Sucre, which was the home of Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre, the hero of Ecuadorian independence who lent his name to the country’s old currency. Antiguo Cuartel de la Real Audencia is a lovely old building with a fascinating colonial art collection as is the Museo de Arte Colonial, a delightful 17th Century property full of many famous works. Casa de la Cultura is a museum with a large collection of contemporary Ecuadorian work within a circular glass building.

Parque La Alameda is on the edge of the old town and is a popular spot for families to visit and enjoy a picnic in the sun. There are a number of ornamental lakes as well as a few statues and monuments to important historical figures such as Simon Bolivar, the man who achieved independence for Ecuador by defeating the Spanish. The Quito Observatory is also in the park and this is the oldest on the continent and still used for astronomy and meteorological purposes.

You can also visit the Middle of the World, the very center of the earth, at latitude 0°, and enjoy a performance of the Jacchigua Folklore ballet featuring a troupe of brilliantly costumed dancers reenacting traditional rituals and celebrations.

Our prefered hotels include:

Plaza Grande
Patio Andaluz
Villa Colonna
Swissotel
Casa Aliso
Mansion del Angel
Hilton Colon