7 Best Sights in Quito, Ecuador

Construction of this neo-Gothic church has been going on for more than a century, but it still isn't completed, and never will be: Local susperstition holds that the world will end when basilica construction is finished. Here the traditional gargoyles found on such structures are representations of Ecuadoran jungle animals. The structure bridges the Old and New cities—literally, figuratively, and stylistically—but falls into neither. Its 115-meter (380-foot) towers are one of Quito's best-known lookout points.

Ecuador's most famous contemporary artist, Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919–99), held court at a workshop and beautiful museum in the residential neighborhood of Bellavista, befriending everyone from the Rockefellers to Fidel Castro during his long career. This is the starkly modern vision the artist never lived to see completed: a secular chapel of art dedicated to the history of mankind, housing a collection of his cubist works on the theme of social injustice in Latin American history. Take a guided tour in English or Spanish. It's included in your ticket price and will prove invaluable for understanding what you're seeing. On display here are pre-Colombian ceramics, colonial sculptures, and paintings from his private collection, as well as a permanent exhibit of his own paintings. Original works by Guayasamín, as well as prints, posters, and T-shirts, are sold in the gift shop.

Nestled in a secluded valley below the Guayasamín museums, the village of Guápulo is a preserved pocket of colonial architecture only 2 km (1 miles) from Quito's New City. Early September brings Guápulo's annual festival, which features food, drink, and marching bands. To reach Guápulo, walk downhill via the steep staircase directly behind the Hotel Quito, east of the city at Avenida Gonzáles Suárez 2500. To return, make the uphill trek, or take a taxi for about $4.

The settlement, with narrow cobblestone lanes lined with two-story white houses trimmed in blue, grew up around its impressive 17th-century church, the Santuario de Guápulo. The Guápulo Sanctuary contains pieces by some of Quito's most exceptional sculptors and painters; the paintings in the central nave are the work of Miguel de Santiago, and the side altar and pulpit—completed in 1716 and considered masterpieces of colonial art—were carved by Juan Bautista Menacho.

The Central Bank Museum, Quito's most modern museum, features an astonishing collection of pre-Colombian archaeology and Inca artifacts. Brightly lighted cases containing sculptures from different regions of Ecuador stand next to large-scale dioramas detailing the minutiae of pre-Colombian life. The first floor includes an unparalleled collection of gold artifacts; journey upstairs to an excellent exhibit of colonial paintings and sculptures. Up one flight more you'll find an impressive collection of modern Ecuadoran paintings.

One of Quito's largest parks, El Ejido is popular for its extensive playgrounds and courts for ecuavoli (three-person volleyball). Theater groups regularly hold impromptu performances here, and there are often open-air art exhibitions on Saturday. You can also usually find a handicraft market in progress on weekends. As pleasant as it is by day, Parque El Ejido should be avoided once the sun goes down.

The elongated triangle of La Alameda Park lies between the Old and New cities, near the Asamblea Legislativa, a large, modern building that houses the nation's congress. This is a pleasant, shady park where pedal and row boats can be hired and Quiteños enjoy cycling and jogging. At the center of the park stands the handsome, yellow El Observatorio, the oldest astronomical observatory in South America, though it's rendered useless by the bright city lights. Within is a small, free museum showcasing vintage astronomy equipment. A monument to Simón Bolívar dominates the southern apex of the triangle.

Quito's flashiest attraction whisks you from the foothills of Volcán Pichincha to its height (4,050 meters [13,300 feet]) courtesy of a fleet of six-passenger gondola cars. Ascending the 1,100 meters (3,620 feet) to the top is accomplished in just 10 minutes. (Lines are long but move quickly; your $8.50 admission [double what Ecuadorans pay] gives you access to an express queue.) At the base you'll find a complex containing a shopping center and an amusement park called Vulqano Park. At the top is a small snack shop as well as a first-aid station with oxygen in case you develop problems with the high altitude. The volcano's summit lies another 215 meters (700 feet) higher; when the sky is clear, the views are breathtaking (literally), but you'll need to be fit and in hiking shoes to take this on. Note that while safety up here has improved, a few robberies have been reported on the trail to the top. The cable-car trip is worth it, but retain a healthy respect for the altitude.

Don't head up here unless you've already become acclimatized to the altitude by having been in the highlands for a few days continuously---and even then, take it easy at the top.

Be sure to bring a jacket: it can get cold and windy. The vistas are stupendous, although mornings can be foggy and obscure your view. We recommend an afternoon or evening visit.