QUITO

TRAVEL IN QUITO

Take a journey of colour and culture nestled by the Andean foothills, where diverse neighbourhoods and vibrant plazas are set to a dramatic volcanic backdrop. It’s not hard to fall in love with the charm of Quito Ecuador, found most notably in its crumbling colonial mansions and handicraft markets, where local crafters sell all manner of hand-woven goods in bright colours and Aztec patterns. Spend some time mapping out your activities in this capital city and you’ll find there are a great number of things to do here, not least of all visiting the Mitad del Mundo where you can learn of the country’s natural history whilst hopping from the northern to southern hemisphere in a matter of seconds. Two of the city’s most popular things to do involve a sizable ascent, the first being to the Virgin Madonna statue of El Panecillo hill, while the second will see you taking one of the world’s highest air cable gondolas along the edges of an active stratovolcano. Those who like to stay at a more comfortable height can find plenty of things to do in Quito, walking through the old hospital of City Museum and learning of ancient mythology and artistic history at Museo Casa del Alabado. If all this feels a bit too historic for your likings, a more contemporary take on Quito can be found in the graffitti covered streets of La Floresta. It is here that you might truly cement your love for Ecuador and its capital, strolling through enchanting boutique art galleries and admiring the area’s many wildflowers by day, before slipping into a moody jazz bar to waste a night amongst Ecuadorian locals.