Travel Eye on Quito (Ecuador)

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Overview:

Located in the Andes, Quito is the perfect base for exploring the mountains. Big mountains like Pichincha, Cayambe and Cotopaxi are very close by and also Andean towns like Otavalo and Papallacta are popular daytrip destinations. Some travel agencies in Quito organise guided trips to the national parks like Cotopaxi. Hiking and climbing gear can be rented in Quito.

Many travel agencies organise trips to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are world famous for its wildlife (penguins, many beautiful birds, reptiles, turtles, sea lions, dolphins etc.). Darwin was already fascinated by the Galapagos wildlife and did research here. A trip to the Galapagos is not cheap: expect to pay roughly a 1000 dollars for a four-day trip.

The jungle at the west of Quito (el Oriente) is another popular destination. Jungle expeditions can be organised at the spot or booked in one of Quito's travel agencies . Trips can include guided tours, white water rafting or boat trips. Make sure you know all the details before you book.

Locality:

Quito is located in the Andes towards the N end of Ecuador.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Quito, the capital of Ecuador , has many attractions for all kinds of visitors. The Andean City, at an altitude of 2850 metres, is located in a valley at the foot of the active volcano Pichincha. Although Quito lies only 13 km south of the equator, it always has a springlike climate.

Visit Quito's old city (El Centro historico), which has been declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Old Quito has many colonial buildings and a huge market with a lot of hustle and bustle. Go north and you end up in the new centre (La Mariscal), where tourists will find most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and nightlife.

As a capital city befits, Quito has a wide variety of hotels and hostels (in Spanish also called hospedaje or hosteria). Most hotels can be found in the new city centre. The area around the Amazonas/Colon-junction, which is called La Mariscal, is the place where most foreigners hang out, since it also has many restaurants, internet cafes, travel agencies and bars. For this reason La Mariscal has 'Gringolandia' as a nickname.

Quito has many first class hotels with luxury and business facilities. Many cheap hotels can be found in the old city, but many foreigners prefer to stay in La Mariscal for safety reasons. This area has also many hostels for the budget traveller. Expect to pay 3 or 4 dollars for a reasonably clean hostal with shared bath. Add a dollar or two for a private bath. Sometimes it is possible to negotiate a lower price if you're staying longer than a week.