Quito, Ecuador Travel Guide - What To See & Do

Our illustrated travel guide will take you to Quito, Ecuador.

Quito was founded in 1534 on the ruins of an ancient Inca city. Today, two million people live in Quito. It was the first city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 (along with Krakow in Poland).

Quito is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations.

The elevation of the city's central square (Plaza de la Independencia or Plaza Grande) is 2,800 metres (9,200 ft), making Quito the second-highest administrative capital city in the world (after La Paz, Bolivia).

Finding Internet access when out and about can be problematic so carry your mobile guidebook in the palm of your hand. We include a fully linked Table of Contents and internally to access context-specific information quickly and easily when offline. Many web links are included as well for additional information.

Contents:

Welcome To Quito
Key Districts
Overview
Arrivals
By Plane
By Bus
Local Transportation
Sightseeing Highlights
Fun Activities
Shopping Highlights
Dining Guide
Bars, Clubs & Drinking
Dance Clubs
Guapulo
Accommodation Guide
New Town
Budget
Mid-Range
Splurge
Between the Old and New Town
Budget
Old Town
Budget
Mid-Range
Splurge
Safety & Security
Crime
Con artists
Drugs
Police
Communications
Local Help
Embassies
Local & Day Trips