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- Destinations
- South America
- Ecuador
- Quito
Quito
Quito, the capital city, is the central hub of Ecuador, and the
starting point for all other destinations in the country. In a
beautiful setting at an altitude of 9,350ft (2,850m), nestled in
the Andes Mountains and the snow-capped 15,728ft (4,794m) Pichincha
volcano, the city of Quito is a vibrant amalgam of modern business
executives and the traditional culture of the 'indígenas', or local
Andean people.
The city is divided into two areas: the Old Town, declared a
World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, with its history and the
architectural influence of the Spanish evident in its red-tiled
roofs lining steep, cobblestone streets; and the more
tourist-oriented New Town, with its shopping centres, hotels,
embassies and travel agencies.
Quito is the cultural centre of the country. Indígenas make up a
large proportion of the population and evidence of their culture is
all over the city, from the handicrafts displayed on street corners
and ramshackle shops selling traditional everyday goods, to the
women in thick woollen clothing and felt hats queuing for bus
tickets. Quechuan language pervades the streets and central plazas
(squares) throughout the city.
A city rich in historical churches, monasteries and convents,
containing a wealth of religious paintings and sculpture dating
back to the 16th century, there are also a few museums worth
visiting in Quito, like the Museo del Banco Central with its
beautiful pre-Colombian artefacts, the ethno-historical Museo
Mindalae, and the contemporary art museum Museo Guayasamin.
Quito is a beautiful city with natural settings to enjoy, like
the tranquillity of the Botanical Gardens with their glassed orchid
houses; and the magnificent views from the Pichincha Volcano, which
can be accessed by hiking or via the Telerifico, the world's
second-highest cable car.
Also a popular base for learning the Spanish language, Quito has
over 60 language schools dotted about the city.
Information & Facts
Climate
The weather in Quito is consistent to that of a subtropical
highland climate. The city has a fairly constant cool climate due
to its elevation and proximity to the equator. The average
temperature during the day is 66°F (19°C), which generally falls to
an average of 50°F (10°C) at night. The average temperature
annually is 64°F (15°C) There are only really two obvious seasons
in the city: dry and wet. The dry season (summer) runs from June to
September and the wet season (winter) is from October to May.
Getting Around
Getting around Quito is easy and very cheap. The long, narrow
city is served by three types of buses. The 'populares', light blue
in colour, cost only around 18 US cents a ride, but are generally
very crowded. Pink "Interparroquial" buses carry passengers to the
outer suburbs, and bright red 'selectivos' are the more luxurious
option which cost around 25 US cents a ride and allow no standing
passengers. Eco-friendly electric trolley buses, called 'troles',
follow two north-south routes along the Av. 10 de Agosto and the
Av. 6 de Diciembre. Taxis are plentiful and also inexpensive,
costing only a US Dollar or two for an average ride in the
city.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but Quechua is the main
language spoken among the indigenous people.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency in Ecuador. In 2000
the sucre was replaced by the dollar as the legal currency, but
despite dollarization, the sucre will likely persist in rural areas
for a while longer. It is recommended that travellers bring both US
dollar notes and travellers cheques as other foreign currencies are
difficult to exchange outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Small
denominations in good condition are the easiest to exchange outside
of the main cities. In the main centres most currencies can be
exchanged at banks and exchange houses (
casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are
available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in
tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6-8% is
often charged.