By Terry Philips
When it comes to going to Ecuador, there is plenty to see. Whether you’re heading off the coast to find the Galapagos Islands or sticking inland at Quito you need to know what you are doing. Here we will look at how to experience Quito.
Finding Ecuador’s cosmopolitan side is found in Quito while Ban;os serves as an ideal jumping off point for a variety of more adventure-based types of tours. If you’re flying to Ecuador, you’ll probably land at Quito and Baños is located less than four hours away, making these locations perfect for combining together in one vacation.
As with many cities in South America, Quito presents an interesting blend of Spanish colonial and modern architectural styles. Set in a valley in the Andean mountains with a nearby volcano and river canyon, there surrounding countryside offers much more beautiful scenery than you find in many modern cities around the world.
This unusual combination makes the city a great place for experiencing the metropolitan culture of the country; enjoying the many restaurants, museums and nightlife; and also for taking day hikes and tours into the area surrounding it. It is located centrally in the country so it is easy to get to other places from here.
The city’s full name is San Francisco de Quito, the name Quito being taken from the Quitus, one of the many groups who once lived in this area. From the beginning of the 16th century, it was the capital of the Incan empire’s northern sector. It was destroyed by an Inca general in 1533 rather than allow the Spanish to take it. These remains were built on a year later by the Spanish. Now, it serves as the capital city of Ecuador.
The city is actually divided into two halves, one old and one new. The old party of the city offers a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for what colonial Quito was like as it is largely just as it was when the colonial period ended. When looking for the information that comes with the highlights, you can get a tour or simply walk around the city at your own pace. There is a newer space in the city where you can get to know the modern Ecuador with some great places to see.
Once you’ve have left Quito, there are so many things to do including rafting, horseback riding, paragliding, mountain biking, climbing and hiking. About 2 hours away lie the hot springs at Papallacta, a better bet during the week when less crowded. Saturdays are a great time to see the cities that surround the capital so that you enjoy the markets that they have. Here you can find all sorts of artisan wares. There are also several archaeological sites nearby as well as La Mitad del Mundo… the Middle of the World… marking the line of the equator and hosting a museum, restaurants and a planetarium.
Quito is located at a high altitude of 9252 feet or 2820 meters. Therefore, visitors do need some time to acclimate to this height. An average temperature of 15 C means that you get fairly mild weather. The rainy season is quite long, lasting from October to May, but within those months there are still a fair number of sunny days. It does cool down at night so bear this in mind if your flight arrives at night.
Galapagos touring should be on everyones list. If it isn’t, why not? You get to see the most beautiful place in the world. So, what are you waiting for? There are so many Galapagos tour operators, find the one for you.