The magnificent city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, was born in the valley surrounded by majestic mountains and volcanoes. A city full of history and beauty, it got its name from the millenary tribe of the Quitus, and it was the first city chosen by UNESCO as World Heritage in 1978. In many different ways, every corner of the city invites visitors to have fun getting to know it from North to South.
The North of Quito is full of modern infrastructure. One of the tourist’s most visited places is the neighborhood of La Mariscal and its main street, the Amazonas Avenue. This is where many tourists choose to stay because there are plenty of hotels, restaurants and travel agencies to plan the day’s activities that offer visitors endless options. If you want to have a pleasant evening or a night out, this is the area you must go to. If you take a cab to the Plaza El Quinde, better known as Plaza Foch, you will find the tourists’ and locals’ favorite recreational area.
In downtown Quito, you will find yourself face to face with history. It is a place that has survived through time and that is now the best preserved of all Latin American historical downtowns. It still shows its colonial past that started with the fall of the Incan empire, whose baroque and gothic architecture mixed with ancient indigenous techniques is reflected in its churches, plazas, monasteries and cobbled streets.
Downtown is the perfect place to take a walk through its streets and squares, visiting one of its numerous museums and churches, enjoying the panoramic views over the city from the San Juan viewpoint, or taking a 10 minutes ride on the cable railway 4050m (13287ft) above the sea level where you can appreciate the beauty of the city surrounded by the Cayambe, the Antisana and the Cotopaxi volcanoes.
The South of Quito, on the other hand, is a tribute to Nature. This is the area that gives the city the condition of being biologically diverse, thanks to its large surface with heights going from 500m to 4800m (1640 to 15748ft) above the sea level. Here, you can find various ecosystems like cloudy forests, subtropical forests, mountainous high forests and high plateaus, home of 2330 flora species among which 254 are endemic. Places like the Lloa Valley, located at the skirts of the Pichincha Volcano, and the area close to the Cotopaxi Volcano, known for its beautiful ranches, are characteristic of the region. Activities such as hikes and horseback rides can be done during your visit to this area.
Definitely, Quito has it all. It is a place for everyone’s tastes that offers visitors to learn about history in a fun and different way. The city mixes Nature and modernity, fun and relaxation, past and present. It is an experience like you couldn’t imagine. Visiting Quito is going to a place which is unique and full of contrasts, a place as high as your imagination.
Photo: Shoestring
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