Quito

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Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It was founded in 1534 on the ruins of an ancient Inca city. 2 million people live in Quito today

	quito Travel Guide : 1 Districts 2 Understand 2.1 More information 3 Get in 3.1 By Plane 3.2 By Bus 4 Get around 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 9.1 Dance Clubs 10 Sleep 10.1 New Town 10.1.1 Budget 11 Stay safe 12 Contact

Districts

Quito lies between two mountain ranges and its altitude is about 10,000 feet. It may take you a couple of days to get accustomed to the altitude. Because of its topography and the lack of any real air pollution control on the buses, breathing can be a problem and your eyes will be very irritated at first.

Quito is roughly divided into two parts, the Old City and the New City. Visit the Old City if you are into very old cathedrals and public buildings. Don't miss the presidential palace.

Quito is also divided between North Quito and South Quito. Most of the newer buildings and tourist areas are in the North. Most of the poorest people and the older historic buildings are in the South.

Understand

Be prepared to speak some basic Spanish in order to get along. Very few locals speak English except in the very touristy areas of North Quito and in an area called "La Mariscal" in South Quito. La Mariscal occupies several square blocks in South Quito and is the place to be if you wear a backpack. Bars, restaurants, hostels and internet cafes abound. Young people from many countries tend to congregate there.

In the poorer areas, don't be surprised to see men urinating in public. This is a very common accepted practice.

More information

• http://www.quito.gov.ec/ City of Quito Municipality website
• South American Explorers a travellers club with office in Quito. 1 (http://www.saexplorers.org)

Get in

By Plane

• Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre, 2 (http://www.quitoairport.com/). Located around 8km from Quito's center and is the main, best and easiest way to get into the city. There are (almost) daily flights from Amsterdam, Madrid, Miami, New York with KLM, Continental Airlines, Iberia and American Airlines.

Near the baggage area of the Quito airport, it is possible to buy vouchers that can be used for a tax ride. As of June 2005, the cost to go to the tourist hotel zone was $5.

If you wish to try taking a bus instead of a taxi to the "gringo" section of Quito (it is not advisable if you have much luggage or are not familiar in Quito), which is often referred to as "gringolandia," you can exit the airport, cross the main street, and board any bus with "J.L. Mera" or "Juan L. Mera" on the sign. The cost is USD $0.25, but if you are a student under 18 or a senior citizen over 65 then it is USD $0.12 as of August 2004.

By Bus

The Terminal Terrestre is the dirty and chaotic bus terminal in Quito. If you arrive with a lot of luggage it's best to avoid the public transportation system in Quito and take taxi to your hotel.

There are frequent connections to all mayor destinations in the country, including Sto Domingo (3 hours and around $2.50), Guayaquil (8 hours), Baños, Otavalo.

Get around

• El Trole (The Trolley) and the Ecovía follow north-south-lines down through the heart of Quito. Take note that there is no tradition of waiting for people to disembark before people board, so this may take some getting used to. Be aware of pickpockets!

• The easiest way to get to most Quito hotels from the airport is to buy a taxi ticket, available after the baggage area before exiting the airport. Cost to the hotels in the main tourist area is $5 (June 2005).

• Taxis, trains and buses are everywhere and very inexpensive. A bus trip costs in Quito $0.25, including Trole and Ecovía (January 2005). Don't even think about renting a car. There are no traffic rules in Quito but—amazingly—very few wrecks. A taxi ride can be very exciting. Only use official taxis (yellow with a number painted on the door). they should have a meter (taximetró) and use it. If they refuse to, negotiate the price before getting in.

See

• La Virgin del Panecillo. Adjacent to the Old City, El Panecillo is a large hill on top of which is La Virgin del Panecillo, a large statue of the Virgin Mary. It is difficult not to see the statute. It is visible from miles around. Local legend has it that she is the only virgin in Quito. Never walk up the hill, always take a taxi or a bus as the road up is dangerous.

• Mitad del Mundo. Just outside of Quito is where the measurements were first made that proved that the shape of the Earth is in fact an oblate spheroid. Commemorating this is a large monument that straddles the equator called Mitad del Mundo or middle of the world. Note, however, that the true equator is not at the Mitad del Mundo monument. Through the magic of GPS technology, we now know that it is only a few hundred feet away -- right where the Indians said it was before the French came along and built the monument in the wrong place. The entrance for the park is $1.50 and for most of the attractions you have to pay extra. The Inti-nan Solar Museum is right next to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the other side of the North fence. For two dollars you can have a tour of this little museum. They demonstrate the Coriolis effect and several other interesting things. The place looks like a total dump and is at the end of a dirt road, but is much more interesting and informative than the Mitad del Mundo. When you go to the middle of the world, it is best to go with a tour, or hire a taxi driver by the hour. The hourly rate should be in the $12 or less range. Busses leave from the Occidental or Av. America for $0.40.

• Museo del Banco Central. Located across from the Casa de la Cultura and adjacent to the Parque El Ejido, you'll find perhaps Ecuador's most renowned museum with different Salas, or rooms, devoted to pre-Colombian, Colonial and gold works of art, among other topics. Some of the famous pieces include whistle bottles shaped like animals, elaborate gold headdresses and re-created miniature scenes of life along the Amazon. The museum is well-organized, and it takes about 3-4 hours to see everything. Guides who speak several different languages including English, French and Spanish are available for a small fee. The museum is a also a nice stop if it's hot or raining outside.

• Museo de le Ciudad. Wander around the Old Town, and you'll find the Museo de la Ciudad, directly opposite the Carmen Alto monastery. A lovely museum with two floors encircling a quiet courtyard, the Museu de la Ciudad provides more of a social history of Ecuador than other museums in Quito. Re-enacted scenes from daily life of Ecuador's citizens through the years include a hearth scene from a 16t-century home, a battle scene against the Spanish, and a re-enactment of the building of Iglesia San Francisco.

Do

• Explore the Old Town. With its gorgeous colonial architecture, relaxing plazas and a stunning number of churches. If you happen to be there during Christmas or Easter, you'll be amazed at the number of events, masses, and processions that bring out the crowds.

• Watch the old men play Ecuador's version of bocce at Parque El Ejido. You can also see some serious games of volleyball on a Saturday or Sunday.

Buy

There are very few large stores, but every street corner has several small Mom and Pop "stores" or stands where only a couple of items are for sale. If your shopping list is very long, you may spend all day looking around for the stores that happen to have the items on your list.

There are also at least a couple of shiny shopping malls a short bus ride from La Mariscal. These are quite expensive when you've got used to your backpacking budget.

Eat

You name it, and it's available in Quito. Restaurants range from the basic places offering chicken and rice for $1.50 to international food with very expensive prices

Drink

Soft drinks and bottled water.

Dance Clubs

La Mariscal offers many places for dancing or just drinks.

Varadero - Reina Victoria 1751 and La Pinta; Small, local and super sweaty, this bar-restaurant packs in the crowds for high-energy live Cuban music. Small cover to get in and drinks are moderately expensive.

Sleep

There are dozens of hostels and hotels in town to accommodate all the visitors. Most people stay in the new town, which is a little bit safer and closer to the nightlife.

New Town

• Hostal de la Rabida, La Rabida 227 y Santa Maria. Beautiful and comfortable hotel in central Quito. Rates range from $46-$70 a day. There is also a very good restaurant on the premises.

Budget

• La Casa de Elize, Isabel La Católica N24-679. Hostel with a family atmosphere. Dormbed $6 and breakfast $1,50.

Stay safe

Avoid travelling up El Panecillo on foot; use a taxi even during the day. The Old City, Mariscal Sucre, and all parks among other areas can be unsafe at night so taxis are advised for even short distances. Pickpocketing is very common along with purse and backpack grabs. Keep your belongings as close and as secure as possible. Beware of cr card fraud, which is an increasingly serious problem in Quito as tourists are being targeted in the Mariscal area. Ensure nobody attempts to discover your pin when using ATMs and cover your hand when entering your pin number in case of sophisticated cameras. The police are almost certainly part of this regularly occurring scam - don't "tip" them if they fill out subsequent reports for you.

Contact

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