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Your travel guide to Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador

Quito, Ecuador: City at the Equator Line

Details on Quito’s historic center and its location near the volcanic Pichincha await full coverage.

Weather
Currency
USD $
Language
Español · Quechua
Best time
Jun–Sep · Dec–Jan
Timezone
ECT · GMT-5
Visa
Visa-free · 90 days
At a glance

Fast facts

Country
Ecuador
Region
Andes / Pichincha Province
Elevation
Approx. 2,850 m
Known for
UNESCO-listed old town, volcano views, Andean culture
Best for
Culture, viewpoints, food, day trips
About Quito

Quito sits at 2,850 meters above sea level on the Eastern slopes of the Pichincha volcano.

Its historic center is one of the best preserved in Latin America, with colonial architecture dating back to the 16th century.

The city experiences mild weather year-round, with a wet season from October to May. Notable sites include the Plaza Grande, La Compañía church, and the TelefériQo cable car that rises above the city to Cruz Loma ridge for views of the Andean valley.

01 · HISTORY

Historic Center

Walk around Plaza Grande to see the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the San Francisco Monastery complex from the 1500s.

02 · NATURE

TelefériQo Cable Car

Take the cable car to 4,100m for a vantage point over Quito and surrounding volcanoes, weather permitting.

03 · CULTURE

Local Markets

Visit Mercado Central for fresh produce and traditional Ecuadorian foods like hornado and cuy.

Things to do

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On the map

Explore Quito

The neighbourhoods, landmarks and places that make Quito Quito. Tap a pin for a quick note on each one.

Places to Stay

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