In the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes and 22 km from the equinoxial line, Quito is the second highest capital in the world (2,850 m altitude, behind La Paz, Bolivia, located at 3,600 m). The capital of Ecuador stretches over a 12,000 m plateau at the foot of the colossal Pichincha volcano and its snow-covered summit (4,747 m), which seems to watch over it. We can imagine very well a small fortress that still houses the trifles of some 2 million Quiteños, its inhabitants.Quito, beyond being a real open-air museum, has many assets. From the most festive to the most historical. First, it is the best preserved South American capital and a great example of the fusion between Ecuadorian and European cultures. Its historic heart, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been kept intact and sublimated thanks to the efforts of the various governments that have succeeded one another at the head of the country. The repeated earthquakes in the capital could also have brought everything to earth, but this is not the case.The city is also famous for its festive aspect! We will then turn to the modern part of the city, located to the north, around the "Mariscal" district. This is where most of the bars, restaurants and hostels are located. A place where cosmopolitan youth from all over the world come together to spend the night. This beautiful city is also surrounded by green spaces made up of the San Juan hill and the Carolina park in the north, the hill of the Virgin of Panecillo in the south, the slopes of the Pichincha volcano in the west and the Itchimbia hill in the east. Before the Spanish conquest, the three Quiteitean hills - Panecillo, San Juan and Itchimbia - were crowned with temples dedicated to the sun, the moon and the dead.A bourgeois megalopolis with a colonial scent, Quito often wakes up under a capricious sky and a warm, driving rain. And sometimes, the equatorial sun appears majestically above the peaks of volcanoes and shines brightly all day long. Its clear nights allow you to contemplate the constellations of both hemispheres, north and south. Traffic makes it difficult for air to breathe during peak hours, and oxygen is already scarce at this altitude. It may be interesting to allow 2-3 days upon arrival or departure to devote yourself to visiting Quito and its surroundings. Because there is already a lot to see but also because it will probably take you a little time to adapt to the climate, altitude and recover from your favorite time difference!The surroundings of the city are not the least of them. Already, take the opportunity to be there to get to the Mitad del Mundo, accessible by bus from Quito in less than an hour. This will be the opportunity to take a memorable picture of a stay in Ecuador. And then the region offers a wide range of activities that can be enjoyed by the day from the city, such as a magical excursion to Mindo in the heart of the tropical forest or the Valle de Los Chillos. You will be far from finding the time!In short, Quito is a cheerful city - the Quiteans are warm and hospitable - and busy: from the early morning, the streets are invaded by a mixed population, like many large cities in Latin America, where wealth meets poverty (caution and vigilance are therefore required, especially at nightfall in the Mariscal district and the historic centre). A city full of contrasts, like the country, between a glorious past, cultural and social dynamism and poverty. A capital on a human scale where life is good. Any trip to Ecuador cannot be considered without a few days spent in this city.

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Vue générale de Quito. Author's Image
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Rue colorée du Quito colonial. Stéphan SZEREMETA
Vue générale de Quito. Author's Image
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