South America's highest capital – an unrivalled colonial old town suspended among the Andean volcanoes.
South America's highest capital – an unrivalled colonial old town suspended among the Andean volcanoes.
Quito sits at 2,850 metres above sea level, nestled in an Andean valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. It is the capital of Ecuador and, after La Paz, the second-highest capital in the world. Its Historic Centre, the best-preserved and least altered in Latin America, was the first site in the world declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1978, together with Kraków.
Walking through the cobbled streets of the old town means crossing centuries of history: Plaza Grande, the Church of La Compañía de Jesús clad in gold leaf, the San Francisco monastery and the lively La Ronda neighbourhood all tell the story of a meeting between indigenous tradition, Spanish colonial heritage and contemporary daily life. From El Panecillo, the hill topped by the statue of the winged Virgen de Quito, you can enjoy one of the city's most iconic views.
Just outside the city stands the Mitad del Mundo monument, marking the point where the equatorial line crosses the country and gives Ecuador its name. Here you can place one foot in each hemisphere and visit the Intiñan interactive museum, dedicated to ancestral cultures and phenomena linked to the equatorial line.
For nature lovers, the TelefériQo cable car climbs to almost 4,000 metres on the slopes of Pichincha, offering an extraordinary view over the city and, on clear days, the snow-capped volcanoes surrounding the capital. Quito is also the ideal starting point for exploring the Avenue of the Volcanoes, the cloud forest of Mindo and the Ecuadorian Amazon.
If you're considering a trip to Ecuador, a stop in Quito is the best way to begin!
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