Quito

Quito is Ecuador's capital, set high in the Andes at about 2,850 metres above sea level. Its compact colonial core is among the best preserved in Latin America and was one of the first places named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the surrounding Pichincha volcano and mountain slopes give the city a dramatic natural backdrop.

Founded in 1534 on an earlier Inca settlement, Quito blends Spanish colonial architecture with Andean heritage. Landmarks such as the San Francisco church and convent, the gilded interior of La Compañía de Jesús, Plaza Grande and the neo-Gothic Basilica del Voto Nacional tell the story of the city's religious, political and architectural history.

Different neighbourhoods offer distinct experiences. The Historic Center is known for churches, museums and the traditional street of La Ronda, while La Mariscal concentrates cafés, bars and nightlife and La Floresta has galleries and creative spaces. The Mitad del Mundo monument marks the equatorial line north of the city, and the TelefériQo cable car climbs Pichincha for panoramic views.

Quito is also Ecuador's political and economic centre, hosting government institutions, conferences and international events. Its Andean location makes it a practical base for day trips to Cotopaxi, the Otavalo market and the Mindo cloud forest, and a gateway for travellers continuing to the Galápagos Islands or the Amazon.

For both leisure and business visitors, Quito combines history and museums with a lively food scene, from locro de papa and empanadas to modern restaurants and markets. Its year-round springlike climate and central position in the country make it a distinctive and convenient Andean destination.