(2850 amsl, 1.8 Millon people)
Quito is the Ecuatorian capital and the first World Heritage from UNESCO since 1978. This title was assigned because Quito has the bigger, most preserved and beautiful historical centre in America. Additionally, Quito's center is located just 25Km from the equinoccial line or equator. This makes Quito the highest country capital in the middle of the world. As most of the Ecuadorian cities, Quito has a constant weather with temperatures from 5C to 23C, 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night all year round. The best time to go is between June and September which is the dry season. Quito is in the middle of a valley, surrounded by volcanos and mountains. This makes Quito an strategic point to daytrip towards Cotopaxi volcano, Quilotoa Volcano, Mindo, Otavalo, Papallacta. Furthermore, from Quito you can move practically to every city in Ecuador. Thus, Quito probably is the perfect point to start the Ecuadorian adventure.
The historical center is constituted by beautiful churches and convents, patrimonial houses and colonial architecture. After many years and huge investments, the roads and house facades shows a colonial era. Similarly, other attractions are the Panecillo at the top a hill close to the city center, The Cableway which take you up to 4300 meters above see level and where you can see all the city and the middle of the world monument.
Most of the city life is between the historical center and the financial center (Carolina park). This area is know as "Mariscal" and it is the best place to look for accomodation. Also, in Marisca are most of the restaurants, transportation, banks, nightlife (Foch square), hotels,etc.
BY PLANE:
FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY:
Quito's airport is located a little more tha 20Km away from the urban area. There are three ways to come to the city. First, the easy and faster but more expensive is by a cab or taxi. Airport cabs have a fix rate depending on the area in the city. Normally between $25 to $35, 45 min.
Second, the airport bus ($8, 1 hour). This bus departs every hour 24/7 and even every 30 min or 15 min in peak hours. They have A/C, WIFI, luggage compartment and they go straight from the airport to the old airport at the north of the city without stops. From the old airport you can pick up a cab for $5 to most of the center and north of the city.
Third, is by local urban bus which is the cheapest but the longest way ($2, 2 hours). You can pick these buses after leaving the airport building at the left hand in the second carril. There are two lines to the city. The fist one go to the north bus station "Rio Coca" (5:30am -10pm). From Rio Coca station you can pick up a local bus call ECOVIA which crosses all the city until the south station for $0.25. The second line (5:30 - 7pm) takes you from the airport to the biggest state bus station (Quitumbe bus station) at the far south of the city. This is good if you wanna go directly to take a bus to another city. Quitumbe bus station is the biggest station and you can take a bus to virtually all the capital state cities in Ecuador. The only problem with this lines are that they stop on the way picking up and dropping people. this can be difficult in peak hour because these buses don't have luggage compartment.
QUITO AIRPORT (UIO)
They have direct flights from:
Colombia - Bogota ($230, 2 horas; $375 return)
Aruba - Oranjestad ($280, 2.5 horas; $400 return)
Perú - Lima ($400, 2.5 hours; 400 return)
Estados Unidos - Miami ($340, 4 hours; $430 return)
Estados Unidos - Atlanta ($480, 5 hours, $750 return)
Estados Unidos - Dallas ($900, 6 hours; 1100 return)
Estados Unidos - Huston ($800, 5 hours; $930 return),
Panamá - Ciudad de Panamá ($480, 2 hours; 480 return)
México - Ciudad de México ($520, 5 hours; $520 return)
España - Madrid ($700, 10.5 hours; 850 return)
El Salvador - San Salvado ($900, 3 horurs; 1100 return)
BY BUS:
Quito has two interstate bus stations. The biggest in the country is probably the one at the south called Quitumbe bus station ($0.25 by urban bus, 45 min; $10 30 min by cab from the city center). From here you can take a bus virtually to all of the main cities in Ecuador. The second interstate bus station is at the north of the city and its called Carcelen bus station ($0.25 by urban bus, 45 min; $10 30 min by cab from the city center). This terminal serves the north part of Ecuador. In peak hours the transportation time to this stations can easy double the time.
Cascada río Pita Wednesday 30 July 2025
Tourism
