Ecuador, especially the mountainous area where Quito is included, has a very conservative society. This is reflected in the way you wear it. People from all economic classes tend to dress well in Ecuador. For men, this means a pair of pants and a shirt. For women, some pants or a dress. Both women and men rarely wear short trousers in the city, although recently casual clothes have become more widely accepted in the city, especially among young people and on very hot days. Some night clubs and restaurants have a dress code. Finally, remember that Quito is known to have "all four seasons in a day." Even if the day is too hot, when the sun sets, it can get cold. Always take a haircut to guard.

Speale

You need to speak some Spanish to communicate with other people. Quito is an excellent city for learning it, before going to other places in South America. It is very easy to understand the Spanish from Quito, who is spoken very pausely, compared with coastal areas. There are many excellent Spanish schools where you can get private or group lessons at a low price. These schools can also provide accommodation, which is a convenient and inexpensive way to absorb culture and taste local food.

English is spoken by very few places, except in the Northern tourist area, which includes the ‘La Mariscal’ district, where most tourist businesses are located.

Districts

Quito is located between two ridge ranges and is at an altitude of 2 800 meters. It may take a while to get used to altitude.

Quito is divided into three parts: the Historical Center in the center, with a district north and one south. The largest concentration of tourist services is in the north, including the airport. The Historical Center of Quito is the largest in the Americas. It has undergone an intense restoration and revitalization program in the last decade, mainly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. It contains no more or less than 40 churches and convents, 17 squares and 16 monasteries and convents. He was named the "Relicary of the Americas" for the wealth of his colonial heritage and the era of independence. It's a beautiful district for visiting and admiring, with lots of excellent museums and lots of restaurants and cafes to rest from seeing the views.

The modern northern part of the city is a fun place to explore, with several museums and parks, as well as restaurants and night life. The north and south districts are not very tourist.

History

Quito's origins date back to the first millennium, when the Quitu tribe occupied the area, establishing a trade center there. The Quitu were conquered by the Caras tribe, which founded the Kingdom of Quito around 980 BC. In 1462, the Inca conquered the Kingdom of Quito. In 1533, Rumiñahui, a war general Inca, burned the city to prevent Spanish advance, thus destroying the possible traces of the former prehispanic city.

The indigenous resistance to the Spanish invasion continued during 1534, with Diego de Almagro founder of Santiago de Quito (on the current days Colta, near Riobamba), on August 15 of the same year. On August 28, the city was renamed San Francisco de Quito. The city later moved to its current location and was refounded on December 6, 1534 by 204 settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar, who captured Rumiñahui and effectively ended any organized resistance.

Rumiñahui was then executed on January 10, 1535. On March 14, 1541, Quito was declared a city, and on February 14, 1556, Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de San Francisco de Quito was named. In 1563, Quito became the seat of a royal Audiencia (administrative district) in Spain and became part of the vice-reign of Peru in Lima with its capital (see Real Audiencia de Quito).

The Catholic religion is soon established in Quito with the first church (El Belén) built before the city was officially founded. In January 1535, the São Francisco Convento was built, the first of the close to 20 churches and convents built during the colonial period. The Spaniards actively evangelized the indigenous peoples and used them as slave labor for construction, above all in the first colonial years. The Roman Catholic Church of Quito was created in 1545 and was elevated to the archdirodiroman of Quito in 1849.

In 1809, after almost 300 years of Spanish colonization, Quito transformed itself into a city of around 10,000 inhabitants. On 10 August 1809, a movement was launched with the aim of quito's political independence in Spain. On that date, a government plan was established that placed Juan Pío Montúfar as president with several other prominent figures, in other positions of the government. However, this initial movement was defeated on August 2, 1810, when Spanish forces came from Lima, Peru, and killed the revolt leaders, along with around 200 inhabitants of the city. A chain of conflicts concluded on May 24, 1822, when Antonio José de Sucre, under the command of Simón Bolívar, took soldiers to the Battle of Pichincha. His victory marked the independence of Quito and its surroundings.

Just a few days after the Battle of Pichincha, on May 24, 1822, the city's leaders proclaimed their independence and allowed the city to be annexed to the Republic of Great Colombia. Simón Bolívar went to Quito on June 16, 1822, and was present at the signature of the Colombian Constitution on June 24, 1822. When Gran Colombia was dissolved in 1830, Quito became the capital of the recently formed Republic of Ecuador.

In 1833, members of the Quito Inhabitants' Free Society were murdered by the government after a conspiracy against the Ecuadorian government on March 6, 1845, the Marcist Revolution begins. Later, in 1875, the country's president, Gabriel García Moreno, was murdered in Quito. Two years later, in 1877, Dom José Ignacio and Czech Barba was killed by poisoning.

In 1882, insurgents appeared against the regime of the dictator Ignacio de Veintemilla. However, this situation put an end to the violence that was taking place throughout the country. On July 9, 1883, Liberal Commander Eloy Alfaro participated in the Battle of Guayaquil, and later, after further conflict, became President of Ecuador on September 4, 1895. When his second term of office was completed in 1911, he moved to Europe. When he returned to Ecuador in 1912 and tried to return to power, he was arrested on January 28, 1912; thrown in prison; and murdered by a crowd who had invaded the prison. Her body was dragged down the streets of Quito to a park in the city where it was burned.

In 1932, the "Four Day War" broke out. This was a civil war that followed the election of Neptali Bonifizer and the subsequent realization that he carried a Peruvian passport. Workers from a large textile factory went on strike in 1934, and the agitation continues to be similar to today. On February 12, 1949, the realistic soap opera by H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds" caused panic to the city and the death of more than twenty people died in fires.

In recent years, Quito has been the focal point of the major demonstrations that led to the removal of Presidents Abdalá Buaram (5 February 1997), Jamil Mahuad (21 January 2000), and Lucio Gutiérrez (20 April 2005).

More Info

• The South American Explorers Club [2] is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping independent travelers in Ecuador and South America. Its headquarters at Jorge Washington 311 y Leonidas Plaza (in the Mariscal neighborhood, near the 6th of Diciembre) is a great place to stop, to meet people and to receive information about where to go, what to avoid, among other things.
• The Quito Visitors' Bureau [3] has several stations all over the city, including the airport, in the International Arrival section, in the Gabriela Mistral Park in the Victoria Reina in the Mariscal district; the Central Bank Museum, also in the Mariscal district; and finally, in Old Town, in the R/C of the Municipal Palacio on one side of Plaza Grande — the main post. These have helpful employees, lockers to leave whatever they want, maps, leaflets and books for sale, and an Ecuadorian craftsmanship store. These offer city-guided and neighboring visits with several routes available. The Quito's Visitors' Bureau also publishes a useful A3 map with all the attractions of the city. You can get it in one of your posts. It also has pocket guides with various themes, including walking guides, a guide to the city's nurseries, a guide to the Mariscal district, among others. Contact details for main post: (+593 2) 2570 - 786 / 2586 - 591, [email protected]
• The Ministry of Tourism [4] has offices in its building on Eloy Alfaro Avenue and Carlos Tobar, near the El Jardin Commercial Center.

By plane

The International Mariscal Airport Sucre.

The International Mariscal Airport Sucre (IATA: UIO) (ICAO: SEQU) [5] is located 8 km from the center and is the main, best and easiest way to enter the city. There are (almost) daily flights from Amsterdam, Atlanta, Houston, Madrid, Miami, New York, Buenos Aires, Bonaire, Caracas, Bogotá, Lima, Medellín, Cali, Panama City, Punta Cana, Santiago and San José. The airlines serving the airport include KLM [6], Continental Airlines [7], Cup Airlines [8], AeroGal [9], TAME [10], Icarus [11], Club Vip, SAereo [12], Aeropost [13], Air Plus Comet [14], Delta Airlines [15], TACA [16], LAN Ecuador [17], Avianca [18], Iberia [19], Santa Barbara [20], and American Airlines [21]. Some of these flights come from or stop at Guayaquil. Some of these companies also charter flights from/to San Andres, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Havana, Aruba, Curaçao, Cancún, Rio de Janeiro, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo.

You have to pay an airport fee of EUR 31.50 if you leave Quito by plane (December 2009).

Near the baggage section, you can buy vouchers that can be used for a taxi trip. In 2007, the price for going to the hotel area was €3.80.

If you want to take a bus instead to the Mariscal district (it is not advisable to have a lot of luggage or if you are not familiar with Quito), which is often referred to as "gringolandia" by tourists and "la zone" by the places. Get out of the airport, cross the main street, and get on any bus that says "J.L. Mera or Juan L. Mera" on the signal. The cost is €0.20, but if you are a student under 18 or an elderly person over 65 it is €0.10.

A new international airport is being built in a valley in north-east Quito. It will be located outside the city, between the towns of Tababela and Puembo, approximately 25 kilometers from the city. You'll have one of South America's top lanes: 4 100 meters long and 45 meters wide, which will allow an average of 44 departures and arrivals per hour. It is expected to start operations in mid-2011.

By bus/bus

The former Terrestrial Terminal, located in Cumandá (city center) has been replaced by two new terminals.

• The Quitumbe Terminal (located in the far south of Quito) serves all the buses that go to any destination south of Quito: basically all coastal provinces, all amazonian provinces, and all mountainous provinces except Carchi and Imbabura (where Otavalo and other tourist attractions are located).

• The Carcelén Terminal serves Carchi and Imbabura (where Otavalo and other tourist attractions are located), and is located in the far north of Quito.

Prices depend on where they go. The price of a long-distance bus in Ecuador is around €0.80/hour, but usually the price is already predefined. So if your car takes twice as long to reach its destination, whatever the reason (road damaged, traffic, etc.) you don't have to pay the extra hours. The price for Guayaquil (July 2009) is around €7.

At the bus terminal, do not forget the safety measures: as long as you don't show off your belongings and don't walk around at strange times, you probably won't have any problem. Often people scream and ask where they're going. They either work for a bus company and they want to sell you a ticket, or they want their help finding their bus in return for a tip. If you arrive with a lot of baggage, you'd better avoid the public transport system in Quito and get a taxi to your hotel. Ecuadorian long-distance buses usually let him go when he wants to along his route.

By car

Rent a car in Quito, like anywhere else in Ecuador, is expensive — it's much cheaper to go by taxi or bus than to rent a car. Leaving a car is useful for visiting remote areas that do not have frequent bus services (in this case, it is better to buy a jeep, more expensive).

Some of the companies you can find in the city are:

• Avis (244 0270) [22] - At the airport.
• Budget [23]. - Two locations: on the corner of Av Amazonas with Av. Cristóbal Colón (223 7026); at the airport (224 0763, 245 9052)
• Ecuacar - On Av. Cristóbal Colón 1280 (252 9781, 254 0000) and at the airport (224 7298)
• Hertz [24] - At Swissôtel, Octubre 120 (256 9130) and at airport (225 4257)
• Locates (250 5974, 250 5986) on Avenue 6 de Diciembre 1570.

You can contact Ivan Segovia da Edivanet (264 6460, 09-379 1889, 09-824 5152), who can drive you anywhere in the country (provided there are roads) in a van with a capacity of up to 10 people. The cost is about €46 ($R106) per day, plus the driver's hotel room price. You can split the price with a group to lower the expense.

By train

Although most of Ecuador's rail system is in ruins, it can go by train if it is determined to do so. There's a weekends tourist bus leaving the city and heading south for about three and a half hours to the National Area of Recreación El Boliche, and the neighboring Cotopaxi National Park.

The Quito Train Station (265 6142; around the corner of the streets Sincholagua & Pedro Vicente Maldonado) is about 2 km south of Old Town. buy tickets in advance at the office for train tickets (258 2927; address: Bolívar 443; return trip per person costs $4,60; 8:00-16:30 (Monday-Friday). Trains are old-fashioned and have primitive toilets, and many passengers go on the roof.

By bus/bus

The station of Simón Bolívar, Ecovia.

There are three different bus systems, with very few common stations. They are very cheap (only USD 0.25 for one trip). These lines follow north-south routes through the heart of the city, and there are stations near La Mariscal, where most hotels are located. It's likely that you're used to letting someone leave before you start getting in, but that tradition doesn't exist in Ecuador, and it might take a while to get used to it. The buses are among the cleanest in South America, but don't forget, watch out for the writers!

• The El Trole or The Trolley (green stations, multi-color bus) runs from the La Y station in the north to El in the south. In the downtown, it passes through the stations closest to Plaza Grande.

• The Metrobus (blue stations marked with a Q, bus of various colors) runs from the Central University on Avenida America, near Prensa Avenue, and continues to Diego de Vasquez Avenue to Carcelen, the last station. It is useful for tourists who want to see the monument of Mitad del Mundo Monument, because public buses that go to Mitad del Mundo wait at the Ofelia station. The cost is USD 0.25 to the Ofelia station and USD 0.35 to the Mitad del Mundo.

• Ecovia (red buses and stations marked with an e) runs from Rio Coca station in the north to La Marin station in the Old City. It serves stations near the House of Culture and the Olympic State, as well as the Quicenter Commercial Center.

By bicycle

It can also circulate by renting a bicycle on the Yellow Bike (Lizardo Garcia 512, La Mariscal) [25]. Quito offers a single bike lane, which runs through the north, through Av. Amazonas to La Carolina Park. If you rent a bike to run around Quito, it is recommended that you be careful and wear a helmet. It's a fun and cheap way to move, but it can be a little dangerous because of Quito's traffic.

By car

By taxi

A taxi trip costs a minimum of USD 1 during the day and a minimum of USD 2 in the evening. Use only official taxis (yellow with a number painted on the door). Make sure the driver turns on the taximeter, as it is likely to be stolen if this does not happen. If they say you're broken, look for another taxi. At night, or if you refuse, negotiate the price before you enter, or wait for the next one. Take change and have the exact change for the price of the taxi. If you don't have money exchanged, the taxi drivers (very conveniently) will probably not be able to get change and will try to convince you to make the change a tip. Most hotels have taxis they approved as safe and legitimate.

Rental of cars

You can rent a car in Quito, but it's not recommended to drive around the city. It's much easier to use a taxi, much cheaper. Leaving a car is a possibility for exploring places outside the city, more isolated, such as Cotopaxi, Otavalo or the Papallacta area, for example, but it is only recommended for those who speak a little Spanish and can handle the code of the Ecuadorian road.

Convenient San Francisco.

Churches, Convents and Monasteries

Basilia del Voto Nacional

• San Francisco Covenant, San Francisco Plaza. — The church dates back to the 1570s and is dedicated to São Francisco, since the Franciscan order was the first to establish itself in the area. Hence the official name of the city: San Francisco de Quito. The church contains masterpieces of syncretic art, including the famous "Virgin of Quito" by Legarda. The sculpture represents a winged virgin stepping on the head of a devil (in the form of a snake) and is exposed on the main altar. The virgin would later be copied (imprecisely) to the top of the Panecillo hill. The Convento museum occupies the entire monastic complex and includes access to the choir.
• Church of the Company of Jesus (Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus), Gabriel García Moreno (near the São Francisco Convent - see above). — Located in the Old City, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the Americas. Partly destroyed by fire, it was restored with the help of the Getty Foundation and other benefactors. Amazing.
• Convento and Museum of São Domingos (Convento y Museo de Santo Domingo) - This is a sixteenth century building in Old Town. The predominant architectural styles are plateresco and the mudéjar. The extraordinary chapel of the 18th century, dedicated to Virgen del Rosario, can be found in the right-hand part of the church. The museum has several paintings that illustrate the martyrs of the Dominican Order. Other interesting pieces are also exposed, belonging to the period of the Clothes Quiteña School, one of which is the Virgen de Legarda created by sculptor Bernardo Legarda.
• Convento and Museum of Santo Agostinho (Convento y Museo de San Agustín), Ruas de Chile & Guayaquil. — This imposing cathedral includes two great paintings from São Augustine by Miguel de Santiago and a picturesque source reminiscent of the colonial era. The San Agustin Convent also contains more paintings representing the life of Santo Agostinho.
• Basilica del Voto Nacional, Calle Venezuela — This basilica has the highest sinewer towers in Ecuador, from which you have an unforgettable view of the city. For $2, you can buy a ticket that gives you access to church, including parts unlikely to see in other churches, including the interior of the ceiling and the towers. The basilica is lovely, and if you don't want to pay you can walk through the calm inside of the basiliac, very beautiful.
• Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito), Plaza de la Independencia - Located in the heart of the Old City, in Plaza Grande or de la Independencia, in the sixteenth century it was just a field church, with a straw ceiling. The cathedral in the true sense of the word only began to be built in the sixteenth century, having been completed in 1565 and consecrated in 1572. In the church there are several tombs of important people, including all the bishops of Quito and some Ecuadorian presidents.

Squares, Streets and Avenues

Plaza Grande, with the Cathedral of Quito in the background.

• Calle de La Ronda - This Old City street was restored by the City Hall and FONSAL in 2007. It was transformed with the help and cooperation of local residents. It's a romantic street near Plaza Santo Domingo (or it can be reached through Calle Garcia Moreno, from the City Museum). There are shops, yards, art galleries and modest cafés-restaurants, all managed by residents. Cultural events are common on weekends.
• Plaza Grande or Independence (Plaza Grande/Plaza de la Independencia) - The beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, better known as Plaza Grande, in the heart of the historical center, is surrounded by some of the best known symbols of the city: Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop Palace and the Municipal Palace. True heart of the city, although it is not the first square to be built in Quito, it is a lively and crowded space. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Monument to los Héroes de la Independencia was erected, a symbol of the country's independence. It's a great place to watch the everyday lives of the places.

Museums

Central Bank Museum.

Museo de la Ciudad

• Museum Nacional of the Central Bank (Museo del Banco Central), Patria (Across the street of Casa de la Cultura and adjacent to Parque El Ejido; leave at the Casa de la Cultura station in the Ecovia line). - The most renowned museum in Ecuador, dedicated to pre-Columbian, colonial and gold art, among other objects. Some of the most famous pieces include Whistle bottles with animal shapes, made up of gold hats, and miniatures that recreate scenes of life throughout the Amazon. The museum is well organized, and it takes about 3-4 hours to see everything. The entry costs USD 2. You can hire a guide, who speaks several languages including English, French and Spanish at a reduced price. NOTE: The Central Bank also has a small exhibition in the downtown, across the street from the Church of La Compañía. This exhibition usually shows coins or stamps. Entry costs USD 1.
• Casa da Cultura Ecuador (Casa de la Cultura), Patria (Casa de la Cultura station in the Ecovia line) - Shows a mass of local artists.
• Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad), Gabriel García Moreno (in Old Town, in front of the Carmen Alto Monastery) [26]. — A good museum with two floors, whose rooms are available around two yards. The City Museum devotes itself to a more social perspective on the history of Ecuador than other museums in the city, with scenes reproduced from the daily lives of Ecuadorian citizens through the years, including a sixteenth-century home, a scene of battle against the Spaniards, and illustrations of the San Francisco Convent building.
• Museum Mindalae (Museo Mindalae), Reina Victoria & La Niña (located in the northern part of the Mariscal district) - An extremely original project in the northern part of the Mariscal district, this museum provides an ethnic and historical point of view of the amazingly rich cultural diversity in Ecuador. It can learn about the different peoples of the country, from the coast to the Andes and the Amazon, and its crafts in a structure specially built and designed for that purpose. The museum has a reword, a coffee shop and a shop.
• Museum Guayasamin (Museo Guayasamin), Calle José Bosmediano 543, [27] - This museum exposes the works of one of the most famous contemporary painters in Ecuador, Oswaldo Guayasamin. It also has a good collection of pre-Columbian, colonial art and the period of independence. It can also visit the neighboring Capela do Homem (Capilla del Hombre) [28], which was made up posthumously to keep some of the many screens about the conditions of the Latin American man.
• Centro Cultural Metropolitano, García Moreno 887 [29]. — It has a rich collection of colonial art. In the middle of a 400-year-old complex, it has extensive libraries, a museum and venues.

Parks and Gardens

Night in town, seen since Itchimbia.

• Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico), La Carolina Park, Rio Amazonas. - Jardin Botanico is located in the southwest part of La Carolina Park. It's a great way to escape the agitation of the city, with all the Ecuadorian ecosystems represented with a wide variety of flora. You can go on a guided tour or just wander. For many people, the high point of the gardens is the two orchidariums.
• Cultural complex and Itchimbia Park, Simón Bolívar (east of the Old City). — This hill is situated in the east of the Old City, in the heart of the city. It has splendid views of the center and north of Quito, as well as of the distant Cayambe peak to the northeast. The hill was transformed into a park and impressive cultural center, established here in 2005. The center has temporary exhibitions. At weekends, there are workshops and activities for children. A restaurant, Pim's, opened in the complex in June 2007. The complex closes at 6:00. Once closed, you can go to the neighbor Cafe Mosaico to see the sunshine until approximately 7:00 p.m. It's a great place to see the sun disappear behind the mountains with the spotlight of the churches in Old Town.

Others

La Vírgen del Panecillo

• La Vírgen del Panecillo, Gral Melchor Aymerich. Adjacent to the Old City, El Panecillo is a large hill on the top of which is La Vírgen del Panecillo, a huge statue of the Virgin Alada. This can be seen from most of the city. Local tradition says she's the only virgin in Quito. Never climb the hill, always take a taxi or a bus, because the walk can be dangerous.
• Government Palace (Gobierno Palacio), Plaza de la Independencia. - This building was built between the 17th century and the early 19th century by the "President of the Royal Audiencia de Quito" (President of the Royal Council), Barón Héctor de Carondelet. You can only visit R/C, the other floors are banned.
• Palacio Arcebispal (Palacio Arzobispal), Plaza de la Independencia — Located in Plaza Grande, in the heart of the city, in front of the Palacio de Gobierno, this building has a beautiful set of columns, long corridors and inner courtyards. Palacio Arzobispal was the bishop's residence since 1700. In 1858 and between 1975 and 1978, the palace was reconstructed.

Teleholidays.

Ciclopaseo in one of the city neighborhoods.

• Walk from "Teleholidays" (Near Mariscal Sucre) — This is the second highest cable in the world. It is situated in the eastern part of the Pichincha Volcano, looking towards the whole city. It elevates its passengers at a height of 4 kilometers. In cloudless days, you can see half a dozen volcanoes and the whole city at their feet. It can also climb from here to the Guagua Pichincha Volcano Volcano Volcano Volcano Volcano Volcano, which is active. See the Teleholidays website for details [30]. The price is $4 for places, but $8 for foreigners. The best way to get to the cable car is by taxi.
• Explore the Old City - With its magnificent mixture of colonial and Republican architecture (the late 16th century), relaxing plazas and an impressive number of churches, it also has a large number of events, crowds and processions that attract crowds to the streets during Christmas and Easter. You'll find crafts, cafes, restaurants and hotels all over your endless streets.
• A walking visit, very recommended if you want to have another perspective from the Old City, is as follows. Take Trolley (care for belongings) south to the "Cumanda" stop. Get off that stop, you're at Calle Maldonado. Since then you will have an impressive view of what was once the ravine of Jerusalem, which lies between El Panecillo and the center. Walk north and go down a narrow staircase that takes you to Calle La Ronda, of pre-Colombian origin. Walk through the pitoresca Calle La Ronda until it reaches Mayo's 24th Av. This avenue was built above the Jerusalem ravine to connect the two sides of the city. At Calle Garcia Moreno, he will turn north and arrive at the museum de la Ciudad, which teaches him the history of the city in an interactive and simple manner. Then walk through Calle Garcia Moreno to Sucre, which is a pedestrian street. Iglesia de la Compañia is on the corner and if you climb Calle de Sucre, you will arrive at the San Francisco Square and Convento. Go to La Merced and then go down to Plaza Grande. This itinerary follows a logical and chronological sequence of sites. Most people do it backwards, considering La Ronda and the Museum of La Ciudad distant points that take a long time to arrive. Anyway, the historical center is so big that it's going to need several visits to see it all. This tour gives you a general view of the Old City if you have little time and want to see as much as possible on the first day. You can visit the Quito Visitors' Bureau (see More Info) and see the city-wide walkouts they provide.
• Watch the elderly play the Ecuadorian version of the bocha in El Ejido Park. You can also see some professional games of Ecua-volley, the local volleyball version, on a Saturday or Sunday.
• Cycling — Every Sunday the Cyclone takes place. 30 kilometers of roads are completely closed to the cyclone traffic. Crowds ride a bicycle or run along the route. More than 30 000 people participate. Several bicycle rental shops provide bicycles for visitors to participate in the race, such as Yellowbike (Lizardo Garcia 512 y Almagro, La Mariscal) [31]. Even if you don't go to Cyclopapeo, a bike ride across the Old City is always pleasant.
• Practice BTT (Flying Dutchman Mountain Biking Tours), Foch E4-313 (on the corner of JL Mera, La Mariscal), ☎ (02) 2568 323, [32] - It has many offers, from one-to-several-day trips to practice BTT on volcanoes, the neighboring valleys and valleys. Biking Dutchman is one of the oldest and most respected companies in the city.
• Green Horse Ranch [33] - Pululahua Crater is one of the best places to ride a horse. Astrid, the owner of the farm who has come to Ecuador since Germany about 15 years ago, will come to pick him up from the city to take him to the farm (a journey of about 45 minutes). There's multiple-length walks available, and there's a wide variety of horses, for apprentices or professionals.

The Craft Market in the Mariscal neighborhood.

There are many craftsmen working on unique objects in the capital. These include guitar makers, candles, tanners, shelves, ceramists and carving machines. You can find them in your workshops, published in a guide by the Quito Visitors' Bureau. Here are some examples:

• , Foch E4-298 and Av. Amazonas. Shoes made by hand. You can choose between a wide variety of shoes, or have a couple if you have eight days of travel in town. 
• , Chimborazo and Bahia, Quito. This little guitar shop at the Virgen del Panecillo base sells great guitars, economically or for experienced guitarists. 

There are also several Fair Trade shops, which promise to pay a fair price to craftsmen for their products. The two of Tianguez (Plaza San Francisco), El Quinde (Plaza Grande) and Museo Mindalae are all very good.

There are also several shopping centers in the city, such as the Quicentro (United Naciones Avenue and 6 de Diciembre) [34], Mall el Jardin (Av. Amazonas N6-114 and Republica), Iñaquito Commercial Center (Av. Amazonas N36-15 Ciudad Comercial El Bosque (Av. El Parque e Alonso de Torres) [36], Megamaxi (several sites: Av. Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre and Pedro Capiro; Calle Pinzón and Calle La Niña; Av. Eloy Alfaro N44-110 and Río Coca; amongst others - full list on site) [37], Ciudad Comercial el Recreo (Ave. Pedro Vicente Maldonado), etc. and almost all streets have small shops or stalls with some objects for sale. If the shopping list is too large, you may have to spend the whole day looking for the stores with the objects in your list.

There are many informal clothing shops, such as MNG, Benetton, Lacoste, Guess, Fossil, Bohno, Diesel, etc., so if you need clothes, Quito is a good place to buy relatively low-cost clothes.

The natives of Ecuador include very gifted weavers. Almost everyone who visits the country sooner or later ends up buying a sweater, a scarf or a carpet. In Quito you can find the salesmen on the rides in more tourist neighborhoods. It can also travel directly to some of the craftsmen's markets, such as the famous Otavalo market, over the short distance from the city. If you don't have time to go to Otavalo, you can find the same things in the market on the streets Jorge Washington and Juan Leon Mera in the Mariscal neighborhood. Mariscal is full of dozens of souvenirs, crafts and T-shirts that make a very easy gift.

Sweet.

Whatever you want to eat, you can find him in Quito. Restaurants range from the most basic ones, which serve chicken and rice for $1.50 to world food restaurants at very high prices. The country benefits from all kinds of food, with a variety of dishes inspired by the coastal products and the Andes. The shellfish and fish are fresh and delicious, while the meat, especially pork, is excellent. They combine with typical ingredients like potatoes, banana-to-earth and all kinds of tropical fruit and Andean.

A good area for looking for restaurants is Plaza El Quinde (or Foch), which is located in the Mariscal district on Foch and Reina Victoria Streets. There are dozens of restaurants in this area. La Floresta, located around Octubre 12, also has many good restaurants. The La Floresta area is transformed into a night market from 5 p.m., and the most popular dish is the mishqui casing (grilled beef or pork intestines).

The barbecue is also very good. Tallarin is a popular dish of dough mixed with chicken or beef. Chinese restaurants are known as "horns" and are very abundant. Chaulafan is the local term for fried rice, a very popular dish. Ciche is also a very popular dish in which mussels or shrimps are marinated in a broth. It's worth a try, but look for a popular restaurant with a lot of people to make sure you're eating fresh seafood.

When you go to restaurants or cheap stores, if you only have grades bigger than $5, it's a good idea to get money swapped in the bank first.

Economic

• , Diego de Almagro y La Niña, ☎ (02) 256 9254NOCC. If you don't mind eating raw fish, you can come here and try the local traditional dish: ceviche. Its Ecuadorian version is a cold soup, with shellfish sliced in lime juice. It usually comes with a bowl of popcorn that's supposed to stick in the soup. It's a simple, cheap place that attracts lots of tourists and places. 
• , Foch E5-08, ☎ (02) 256 6181NOCC. This is the ideal restaurant for economic travelers, where you can find breakfast menus, beats, smoothies and sandwiches. It's also the ideal place to find other travelers or to see email — the Internet is free here. Finally, it's a good place to drink a coffee, which could be a good idea after an exhausting visit to the city. 
• , Salinas (near the intersection with Riofrio). Vegetarian lunch for $2. Juice, soups, snacks, soy milk, vegetarian steaks, etc. Good vegetarian food in a very clean environment. They also sell soy milk powder, and some diet supplements. 
• (Mongolian Gril), Calama 469 and Juan Leon Mera. "Eat-whatever-you-want" bubbles (vegetarian $3.99, meat $5.99. It includes salad or soup and a free drink. Great quality meat. 

Medium

• , Plaza San Francisco (Near the San Francisco Convention), ☎ (02) 257 0233NOCC. Located near the Church of San Francisco, he is one of the most famous in the Old City, which serves many traditional childbirths, with an emphasis on potatoes, beans and banana-da-terra [unclear]. The tables are on the plaza, which once was a tribal market, hence the name — Tianguez, which means "market" in Quichua. 

Esbanje

• , Reina Victoria 1721, ☎ (02) 254 2476NOCC. The place bursts at night, when the band rings and the employees move around the restaurant serving delicious Cuban dishes. The presence of many Cubans in the restaurant gives the place an air of authenticity. 
• , Avenue 12 of Octubre 1955 and Luis Cordero (In front of the Swissôtel), ☎ (02) 256 668NOCC. Located in front of the Swissôtel in the heart of the city's business center, Pavarotti is a simple but elegant and a little expensive restaurant. The menu includes a variety of Italian dishes. A great place to see the rich and famous in the city. 
• , Av. González Suárez N27 142 (On the 7th floor of the Hotel Quito), ☎ (593)2 254 4600NOCC. 8:00 AM - 12AM. A luxurious restaurant with a spectacular view, located at the five-star Hotel Quito, with international and Ecuadorian food. 

There are several Ecuadorian beer brands, but the most common in the country is Pilsener. There are also other types of alcoholic drinks in the city, such as Mistelas, etc.

Look at the Guapulo neighborhood in Quito, it's a steep area with several good bars and coffee shops.

• , Av. America y Naciones United. Located on the third floor of the Plaza de las Americas, it's the Ecuadorian version of Hollywood Planet. The view from the sky at night is great, and so is the food. 

• , La Niña 626 and Amazonas. An English-style bar that sometimes has live music. They make their own beer, but they also have others available. It also has billiard tables, kills, darts, etc. It's also open in the suburb of Cumbaya. 

• Plaza Foch, La Mariscal. A very elegant bar. It's in Plaza Foch, so it has access to a wide variety of neighboring bars. 

• , J Calama 380, Mariscal Sucre. A great place to drink some drinks and talk a little bit, or just to spend time. 

• , Isabel La Catholic E12-06 y Galavis. It's one of the oldest coffee bars in town. Almost every week there is some kind of cultural activity or live concert. Food and drink are cheap. It is recommended that Vino caliente and canelazo be used. 

Disco

La Mariscal offers many places to dance or just drink something.

• Varadero, Reina Victoria 1751 and La Pinta - Small, local and very hot, this restaurant is full of people who have come through the energy of Cuban music. The entry price is low and the drinks are priced moderately.

• El Aguijon, Mariscal - A favorite of the places and tourists. If you like ska, new punk and all kinds of alternate rock this is the place to visit, the best place in the city to listen to the merger between the Latin and Ecuadorian rhythms, like parsley, merengue vallenatos, cumbias, etc. and reggae, trip hop, trance, skapunk etc.

• Seseribo, Ave. Victim & 12 of Octubre - Famous for being the first "Salsoteca" in Quito. Here you can hear tropical rhythms and on Wednesday you have live parsley. The club also acts as a cultural space for Caribbean live music, art exhibitions and book presentations.

• Blooms - A walk from Reina Victoria. It's more of a bar than anything else, a good place to start the exit.

• Bungalow 6, Calle Calama - The place where the "gringos" mix with the places. It's a fun place to visit — the Wednesday is Ladies Night, and it's the best time to go there.

• On Bar, Calle Calama & Juan Leon Mera - One of Quito's oldest sites.

Outside La Mariscal there are other night clubs and clubs that are more famous among the places:

• Blues Disco, Av Republica - A popular electronic music club.

• Strawberry Fields Forever Calama and Juan Leon Mera - a single bar, with rock and roll and more.

There are dozens of motels and hotels in the city to accommodate visitors. Most people stay in New City, which is closer to bars and clubs.

New City

Economic

• , Juan Rodriguez E7-48 y Almagro, La Mariscal, ☎ +593.2.2509669FORMAT, e-mail: [email protected]. In a central position in the heart of the La Mariscal neighborhood. The bedrooms and toilets are very clean. A good common kitchen, free internet and WiFi. Common rooms, large and comfortable filled with fun things in a welcoming environment. Since $6.50 for one night in a dorm. Free parking available at no additional price. 

• , General Veintimilla 531 and 6 de Diciembre, La Mariscal, ☎ 02 222 6013NOCC, e-mail: [email protected]. An old, but well preserved, large mansion where every room is different, but all are nice with a lot of light. Most are shared bathrooms. Full kitchen available for use; nice courtyards, roof decks, and bdoor speaces. Breakfast and laundry available. German and English spoken. Free wifi and a computer for use. Friendly, relax staff. Quiet and tranquil, perfect for those 30 who want to be in La Mariscal but away from the crazy college crowd. Single $16, double $26, breakfast ~$5. 

• , Calle Andalucía 559, ☎ 02 223 4570NOCC. Aleida's Hostal is a family hotel just a block away from the five-star hotels in La Floresta. The building is a magnificently restored three-story house, built in the 1950s, with friendly employees and a single courtyard. Employees speak Spanish and English and hotel services include wireless Internet, laundry, and more. Rooms from $15 including breakfast at the restaurant.. 

• , Calama 127 (La Mariscal district. Near Diciembre Avenue 6), ☎ +59 3 22230798. A colorful and welcoming pension in the best part of the neighborhood, near shops, night life and entertainment. There's a coffee shop and a library with books of various languages. Good breakfast at a sunny restaurant. A walk from the Metro Bus station. 20 USD. 

• , Cordero 1124, La Mariscal, ☎ 02 223 4862NOCC. Clean rooms, a popular coffee/restaurant and a quiet courtyard in a magnificently decorated building in the La Mariscal neighborhood. The motel has six bedrooms and prices start at $7USD (June 2009) for a dorm bed.. 

• , Andalucia 213 y Galicia, La Floresta, ☎ 2 254 4036NOCC. Single, double and triple rooms. Every room has shared toilets and the price is $10 per person per night. 

• , Isabel La Catholic N24-679. Motel with a family environment. It's a short distance from the Mariscal neighborhood. Bed for $6 and breakfast for $1.50.. 

• , Lizardo García E7-26 (Between Diego Almagro and Reina Victoria), ☎ +593.222.9050FORMAT. You have rooms at reasonable prices, and it's a great place for anyone who wants to save. Rooms with free television and rum. The showers aren't very hot. USD 5.60.. 

• , Anteparra N-413, ☎ +593.2.295 6235FORMAT. It has a roof with great views of the city, rooms with TV, DVDs and SNES, free washing machines, free internet, tea/free coffee, two minutes from Itchimbia park. Six dollars per person per night. 

• , Foch No 681 (E5-08) and Juan Leon Mera, ☎ +593-2-2566 181. Little motel over the restaurant. Friendly clerks and an excellent breakfast, but the area is very noisy. 

Medium

Sierra Madre Hotel.

• , Joaquin Pinto 150-E4 y Cordero, la Mariscal, ☎ +593.2.2553658FORMAT, fax: +593.2.2554936FORMAT, e-mail: [email protected]. The hotel (founded in 1997) is located in a lovely old house near Avenida Amazonas. He has 19 rooms and offers free breakfast. They can come pick him up at the airport. Individual $35.50; double $52.00; triple $68.00; $79,00. 

• , La Rabida 227 and Santa Maria, ☎ (5932) 222-1720NOCC. There's a great restaurant in the hotel. Friendly employees. Prices are between $46-$70 a day.. 

• , Av. Veintemilia # 464 and Luis Tamayo, ☎ 2224 950NOCC. A good hotel with average prices, comfortable beds, quiet rooms, near La Mariscal (2 minutes) but much quieter. Breakfast is expensive, go to a neighboring coffee first. $60.78. 

Esbanje

• , Av. Orellana 1172 y Av. Amazonas, ☎ +593 2 2972000. Luxury hotel, with spacious and luxurious rooms, first-class convention rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden, an SPA and renowned restaurants. 

• , Av. González Suárez N27 142, ☎ (593)2 254 4600NOCC. This hotel offers casino, restaurant, bedroom service, Wi-Fi, pool, garden, SPA, convention center, stores, parking lot, clothes cleaning, and babysitter. 

Between the New and Old Cities

Economic

• , Av. Colombia 1138 y Yaguachi, ☎ (593) 2 2 552 912NOCC, fax: (593) 2 2 569 886NOCC, e-mail: [email protected]. A good basis for the visit. Clean but basic rooms, internet and a big, cheap breakfast. There's also a little bit lower. 

Old City

Closer to the bus terminal, the Old City is a good basis for anyone who wants to see all the historical attractions of Quito.

Economic

• , Calle Antepara E4-60 y Los Rios, San Blas, ☎ (593)2956 704 or (593)3160 949FORMATNOCC. It offers a terrace with a great view of the Old City of Quito. It has a travel agency, Carpedm Adventures [38]. Employees cook three-course meals every night, and they also offer $2 breakfast. 

• (near the crossing of Flores and Sucre.), Calle Flores 308, ☎ +593 2 2957 327/+593 2 2956 535FORMAT, e-mail: [email protected]. A clean hotel in Old Town with helpful employees. Some of the rooms with street windows are a little expensive. Singles from $10. 

Medium

• , Sucre 217 y Guayaquil (Walk northeastern from Trolley station from Santo Domingo to Sucre, turn left, the hotel is on your left.), ☎ +593 2 2951 241/+593 2 2287 75 8FORMAT. A lovely and comfortable mansion converted into a hotel at reasonable prices. The price includes breakfast, which can be improved at a price. Some rooms facing the courtyard and the street are a little noisy. Most rooms have no windows. individual/double $23/$42. 

Esbanje

• , Calle García Moreno N5-16 y Chile, ☎ +593 22 566497, fax: +593 22 566497, e-mail: [email protected]. Located in a magnificent building in Plaza Grande, he was one of the first hotels in the city, recently renovated and remodeled. It's a great base for a visit to the city. 
• , Benalcazar 1128 y Esmeraldas, ☎ (593-2) 2955805NOCC, fax: (593-9) 7572208NOCC, e-mail: [email protected]. This Boutique Hotel offers six magnificent suites with honestly decorated fireplaces and large toilets. All the suites have wireless Internet, on a walk from Plaza Grande. Breakfast is great. 
• , Venezuela 1041 y Olfriar, ☎ 00593-2-228 9120NOCC, e-mail: [email protected]. El Relicario del Carmen is in a historic 18th century house. Magnificently renovated is one of the best hotels in the city, one block away from Plaza Grande and near many of the main monuments. $95-$123. 
• , García Moreno N6-52, ☎ (593-2) 2280830NOCC, e-mail: [email protected]. Located in the heart of the Old City, near many of the main attractions, in a beautiful colonial building. 

General Tips

Quito's reputation as an unsafe city is becoming increasingly apparent and, as in any other city, tourists must be careful in certain areas.

Do not walk to El Panecillo; use a taxi even in the day. Not only does this neighborhood have a bad reputation, but the road that takes him to it has narrow, or even non-existent, walks. This can lead, at least, to smoked buses up the road or at most to be run over.

As the Old City becomes very empty after dark, it is better to avoid walking alone. However, many of the central squares of Old Town are patrolled by police and are well lit, so you can go for a group tour at night. During the day it is perfectly safe, full of places, shopkeepers, tourists and street vendors, and well patrolled by the police, especially in the main tourist attractions. Even so, postman and bag theft can be a problem, so take the normal precautions. The San Francisco Plaza, and the main Trolley station near Plaza Domingo, are areas particularly well known for this. The postman is practiced by groups of three or four people, very "experienced" in the area. It's better not even to bring a wallet - it's better to bring some notes spread through your pockets. Beyond that, be careful with the buses in Old Town! On many streets, the rides are very narrow, so be careful to be able to pull over the wall and cover your face (smoke!) if you need to let one pass, especially when the rides are full of people.

Mariscal Sucre and all parks, among other areas, may be unsafe at night, so it is advisable to take a taxi, even for short distances. have your belongings as close as possible and if you feel in danger, run to a bar or shop and then make a cab. Watch out for credit card fraud, which is an increasingly worrying problem in Quito, especially for tourists in the Mariscal district.

The area near Military Hospital is dangerous, even early morning. The road of Solano, where the House of Bambu Hostel is, is especially dangerous. Armed robbery has become increasingly common. Be very careful going to and from your hotel. There are several taxis on this road so if you can spend $1.50 to get to Mariscal Sucre, do it. Neighboring parks are also dangerous. Better walk around a park than cross it.

The main bus terminal is an area known as robbery (to tourists or to places). You need to be careful with your baggage before departure, during departure, and even on the bus. You better not put your luggage under the bank or on the shelves above it, because you can distract it and steal anything you have in value even before you realize it. Always have your eyes in your luggage. There are two main blows that can suffer on a bus:

1. One that is very common involves a thief pretending to be an employee of the bus company (this is easy because many of these companies have no uniform) who goes directly to his place and finds an excuse to put his bag in the compartment above his head or under his place where you cannot see it; an accomplice sitting behind you will then open your bag and steal your belongings. Getting the bag between your legs is also not safe, because some children are used to crawling under the seat behind you, stealing the bag and removing their belongings without you feeling anything. Always have your bag on your lap.
2. Another common blow involves an accomplice that distracts him, pretending that he wants to sell sweets and then letting them fall on him, for example, while the other robbs him of his belongings. Don't leave your belongings out of your sight. If anything suspicious like this happens on the bus, refuse to cooperate and keep the belongings near you. Robberies of this kind are common, especially in buses leaving town. Maybe you should consider paying another $3 or $4 for a safe bus trip to avoid theft. On an urban bus, you better not bring a backpack or a bag. If you really have to bring a backpack with you, keep it in your chest, not in your back.

Finally, several neighborhoods in the far north and south of the city have a bad reputation for having +troubles with gangs and/or delinquents. "La Bota" in the north is especially dangerous, as even locals try to avoid this neighborhood wherever possible.

Integrate and avoid bullshit

Wearing gringo clothes (for example, fishing clothes, colorful pants and sweaters, sandals) will make you a target. Kenyans normally dress conservatively; some black pants and a white T-shirt with nothing will make it look like a tourist.

Most likely at some point in your trip you'll be approached by some drabby. Ignore that kind of person and be careful if someone asks you for money, whatever the pretext, including children asking for money. If you're feeling caring, Ecuador has several legitimate charities that can help.

Illicit Drugs

Avoid associating with any kind of drug smuggling in Ecuador. Ecuador has strict laws against possession, transportation and use of illegal drugs, and all foreigners found with drugs at the airport can be sentenced to long periods of imprisonment. Unfortunately, any foreigner with an unusual appearance or a hippie (for example, men with long hair) has, for the police, the appearance of those who seek drugs. If you're approached about drugs in any context, that conversation won't lead to anything good.

One exception is the use of certain drugs by indigenous people. Growing numbers of Americans and Europeans are interested in ayahuasca, and many travel to South America to take part in the traditional ceremonies.

Local Laws and Ecuadorian National Police

All Ecuadorian citizens and visitors are obliged to carry identification with them at all times. If your stay in the country is a few months or more, sooner or later you'll have to stop and show police identification. can show the passport; but always walking with the passport is not a good idea because it can lose it or it can be stolen. One better option is to have a copy of the embassy-certified passport and walk with it. Long-term students and residents will receive a census card that can be used instead of a passport to identify themselves.

If you are the victim of a crime, report it to the Ecuadorian National Police (according to the law, you must report it within 72 hours of the crime) and to your embassy.

In 2009, two offices of the Visitors Security Service were opened or renewed. This service can help you with forms, embassies, passports, etc. Employees speak English and other languages.

Mitad del Mundo

Quito is surrounded by a variety of interesting places, like Mitad del Mundo, a few minutes from the city in San Antonio. It was in this place north of Quito that for the first time measurements were made that proved that the shape of the Earth is in fact a sphere. Celebrating this is a huge monument near the equator, called Mitad del Mundo or a half from the world. However, the real equator is not in Mitad del Mundo. Through modern technology, it was discovered that it is only 240 meters away - where the Indians said that it was located before the French had come and built the monument in the wrong place. The entrance to the park costs $2, and for most attractions it has to pay an extra price. The Intiñan Solar Museum is just following the monument, across the north fence. For $3 you can visit this little museum. This shows the effect of Coriolis and a lot of other interesting things. It looks like a trash can and lies at the end of a dirt road, but it's much more interesting and informative than Mitad del Mundo. To get there you can take a bus ($0.40), or go with an organized visit, or go by taxi. The price of the taxi per hour is $12 or less. The buses leave Occidental or Av America and there's Mitad del Mundo written in big letters in front of them. This is the most economical option and a tour of the Intiñan Solar Museum costs $3. Entry to the neighboring monumenyo costs $2, but it's only worth seeing the equator — which is the royal equator, near Intiñan.

Apart from the equator, there are several other points of interest:

A square in Otavalo.

North

In the north, it is essential to visit the province of Imbabura, which has beautiful lakes such as Yaguarcocha and San Pablo. Climbers and walkers can also go to the National Park of Cayambe, with the third largest Ecuadorian volcano. He's asleep. For tourists who want to go shopping, they must go to Otavalo City, because their Indian market is known worldwide for the quality and variety of products for sale. Don't forget to haggle the price!

Northwest

The northwest is the Mindo region, a subtropical paradise, full of rivers, imposing cascades, abundant wildlife and more. The region has a large number of natural parks, and is famous both nationally and internationally for its beauty. At a slightly higher altitude than Mindo is in the Cloud Forest. The variety of plants, birds and butterflies is magnificent. The guides have binoculars of good quality so that they can see the stunning variety of birds. After your home guided visit you can go back to the hostel to eat. Near the main buildings, there are many colibris feeders that attract many colorful birds. Housing is simple but very clean and pleasant with balconies with magnificent views for the forest. You can visit the neighboring butterfly and colibris farm for three dollars. The trout is a specialty of the region, and a dish of this must cost about six dollars.

To

This is Papallacta, a thermal town. If you like spas and relaxation, bathing in one of the swimming pools of thermal water for a few hours should not be a problem. Here they serve very good trout dishes for about $5,000.