Quito

Quito Travel Guide

Ecuador's capital is scenically situated in a long, narrow valley at the foot of the restless Pichincha Volcano. Quito lies only 24 km (15 mi) south of the equator, but because of its altitude it has a mild climate all year. Quiteños are fond of saying that their city gives you four seasons in one day -- a statement supported by the springlike mornings, summery afternoons, autumnal evenings, and wintery nights. After the weather, Quito's other surprise is its preserved, vibrant Old City, a maze of colonial mansions, cathedrals, and crowded cobblestone streets. UNESCO has declared the Old City a World Heritage Site, banning the destruction of colonial buildings and limiting new construction, which is why Quito's colonial sector is one of the best preserved in South America.