Date of trip: August 2009

Will and I didn’t set out to visit Quito but, when we booked a trip to the Galapagos, our group met up and spent a few nights there. It’s not the most popular and cosmopolitan city in Ecuador, that would be Guayaquil, but it is the capitol and the center for the country’s government and business. It’s a busy place full of traffic and crowds and, at over 9,000 feet above sea level, it’s one of the highest cities in the world. Will and I woke up with altitude headaches the first night but coca tea, plenty of water and some chocolate helped us to get back to sleep and through the next day. Although we felt safe, there was definitely a dodgy feel in the center and shopping areas and we did have to stay alert.

Highlights:

-The Basilica del Voto Nacional sits high on a hill near the old town and is the tallest church in Ecuador. Although its size is impressive, it’s when you get up close that you see what really makes the cathedral special. Like most churches, it’s adorned with many statues but, instead of the usual gargoyles, stone grotesques of animals jump out from the sides of the building. The animals represented are native to Ecuador and include iguanas, turtles, monkeys and jaguars. The cathedral is technically unfinished and locals believe that its completion will mark the end of the world.

-The Plaza de la Independencia is the main square in Quito’s old town. It’s busy and loud with people everywhere and live music. It’s a great place to people watch, but you also have to keep a close watch on your belongings as there are many pickpockets in the area. The plaza is filled with monuments and gardens and surrounded by buildings including the President’s Palace.

-The most popular tourist area in the city is called La Mariscal. It offers plenty of shopping with everything from handmade goods at the handicraft market to items like art and jewelry at more upscale stores. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.

-The equator, or imaginary line that cuts through the center of the earth, goes right through Ecuador and, in fact, gave the country its name. A visit to Quito would not be complete without standing on the line and visiting the monument and museum set up where it’s located. Since the word for equator in Spanish is ecuador, the area is called the Mitad del Mundo, the middle of the world.

-Quito is surrounded by volcanoes and some are quite spectacular because they are capped with snow. You can get a glimpse of many of them while driving around or through a plane window when flying in or out of the city.

-A popular day trip from Quito is to Mindo, an area known for its cloud forest. A cloud forest is a rainforest but, when you look at it from a distance, clouds sit over it and cover it. It takes about two hours to get to Mindo but it is a wonderful escape from the city. There is a beautiful botanical garden with waterfalls and an orchid garden and a butterfly sanctuary where the pretty insects often land right on visitors. Our favorite part of our tour through the cloud forest was seeing so many different birds up close. I have never seen so many hummingbirds in my life! In Mindo they buzz around like little bees in the hundreds around hanging feeders in all different sizes and colors. If you stand close to the feeders they zip right past you at impossible speeds. We also saw finches, tanagers and even several toucans.

Like most of South America, Ecuador is a country in transition. All over Quito there are construction projects and the locals seem motivated and anxious to improve their lives and their city. All this growth makes South America one of the most exciting areas to visit. Whenever I am there, I feel like I am watching history unfold and I know that whatever I see during my visit will look completely different in 5-10 years. Quito may still be somewhat gritty, but it is definitely a city in progress.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Quito Links:
Quito Official Site