That the climate of Quito is very versatile is the first thing you will learn when you arrive. In this city, you never know what will happen throughout the day. In general, the Ecuadorian capital wakes you up with a warm and dim sun. At noon the rays begin to burn your face and to blind you. In the afternoon, several drops fall and in the shade, it is necessary to put on a coat. When you go to visit Quito, should not be strange to you that the sun comes out or it rains from one minute to the next.   [caption id="attachment_4202" align="aligncenter" width="675"]visit-quito Quito's weather can vary a lot during the day. The vegetation, the cloudiness from the Amazon and the microclimates are some of the factors / Photo: Vince Fleming[/caption]
  Quito, little by little, is gaining its place within the essential places to visit in South America. As the capital of Ecuador and the oldest in South America, it is a city with centuries of history, full of buildings of colonial architecture and churches of different styles, beautiful natural landscapes, and street markets. Located at 2,800 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by huge volcanoes and mountains that you can observe from its incredible look-out points. In this article, we tell you about the 5 activities that you can not miss during your trip to Quito. We advise you to dedicate at least two full days for your visit.

1) Visit its historic district and its churches

A first visit to Quito, without a doubt, should focus on a walk through its historic district, declared World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, for being the largest and the best preserved in South America. The streets of the Ecuadorian capital meander through colonial and contemporary Quito. Here the new and the old converge: the narrow, steep streets made of volcanic stone, the colonial houses of pastel colors with their flowery balconies and tile roofs that resemble the buildings of the old areas of Europe and the luxurious restaurants and hotels proudly display the flag of Ecuador. In the historic district, you could spend hours observing not only the way of life of the people of Quito but also admiring the buildings around them. Plaza de la Independencia, also known as Plaza Grande, is the Plaza Mayor of the capital, the political and historical center of Ecuador. The locals also call it the Plaza de los Jubilados (the Plaza of the Retirees), because of the large number of elderly people who gather to chat on the banks and play cards between street musicians and street vendors. One of the buildings to visit in this square is the Carondelet Palace, the residence and workplace of the President of Ecuador. It was built in the 19th century by order of the Baron de Carondelet and since 2007 it has been a museum with guided tours in which you can admire works by Ecuadorian artists. Just a few steps from the Palace, you will find one of the most important religious buildings in the city: the Metropolitan Cathedral. But it should be noted that the Ecuadorian capital is famous for its large number of churches; in the historic district alone there are 54. To know some of them, we recommend walking through the Siete Cruces, a steep street that is characterized by having seven churches: Church Santa Barbara, Church of the Conception, Quito Cathedral, Church of the Tabernacle, Chapel San Lázaro, Carmen Alto Church and Church of the Society of Jesus. The latter is known as the great Jewel of America because although it has a baroque facade made of volcanic stone, the columns, altars, and ceilings inside are completely covered in 23-carat gold sheets.   [caption id="attachment_4204" align="aligncenter" width="675"]centro-quito The historic district, declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, is the largest and best preserved in South America / Photo: Putneymark[/caption]
  The religious-tourist circuit also includes the Church of San Francisco, which was built in the seventeenth century with different architectural styles. This church is located in front of the square that bears its name and was one of the most representative urban settings of the city in the colonial period when its central source supplied water to the neighbors for centuries. Another must-see in the historic center is the Basilica del Voto Nacional, located in the area known as Santa Prisca, on the Carchi and Venezuela streets. It is considered the largest neo-Gothic temple in America and what catches the most attention during its visits are the gargoyles and carvings that represent the flora and fauna of the country. With just a glance to the top, you can see turtles, iguanas, blue-footed boobies and other species from the Galapagos. Also, do not miss the opportunity to climb one of its towers where the look-out was built to appreciate the historic district and the parks and volcanoes in the background, with a 360-degree view. Travel tip: Discover the corners of the Ecuadorian capital with the Quito City Tour.

2) Admire the city from the heights of its lookout points

The best place to appreciate the view of a city is from high up, and the Ecuadorian capital is a city full of lookout points. ON of the best things to do in Quito is take the Cruz Loma Cable Car, one of the highest in the world that in 10 minutes goes up from the base of the Pichincha Volcano, reaching 4,100 meters above sea level and allows you to see Quito with the whole chain of volcanoes and snowy mountains such as Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. Once on top, you can go hiking, mountain climbing, paragliding, cycling, and horseback riding. Another point to see Quito from high up is at El Panecillo, a natural elevation that divides the city between north and south. Located at 3,000 meters above sea level, from the Panecillo peak lookout you will get beautiful panoramic views of the historic center as well as the most modern area of ​​the city. In addition, El Panecillo is crowned by a giant sculpture of the "Virgen de Quito", made from 7,000 pieces of aluminum. With 30 meters of height, this work is the largest representation of the image that exists in the whole world. Other lookouts from which you can see Quito are the Guapulo lookout, the peak of Freedom, the Itchimbia Park and the Yaku.   [caption id="attachment_4205" align="aligncenter" width="675"]panecillo From the lookout of Panecillo peak, you will get beautiful panoramic views of the historic center as well as the most modern area of ​​the city / Photo: Diego Delso[/caption]

3) Enjoy the vibrant life on La Ronda Street

It is located on the south side of the historic district and is one of Quito’s most traditional streets, not only because it is one of the oldest, but also because it was the wellspring for painters, writers, and poets from the 1930s. Romantics and Bohemians would get together in the cafes to talk, read, write songs and poems. Nowadays it is a picturesque street for being a narrow and cobbled colonial alley where you can find galleries, craft shops, and charming cafes. In its eight blocks, you will find many workshops located in the old colonial houses that sell handicraft products of gold, iron, or wood as bargueños, an old safe to store jewelry, money, and valuables. In the cafes you can taste artisan chocolates with high-quality cocoa and in the bars or street stalls you can taste the delicious Ecuadorian gastronomy as the "morocho" empanada (dark maize dough stuffed with pork or beef) and toast with the famous "canelazo", a drink of aguardiente, sugar and cinnamon that will help you to warm up the body during the cold nights of Quito. When the sun goes down, especially during the weekends, La Ronda is lit up and filled with people looking for fun. It is one of the most vibrant areas of Quito, with a cheerful and colorful atmosphere where several restaurants and bars with live music are located.   [caption id="attachment_4207" align="aligncenter" width="675"]calle-la-ronda In the picturesque street La Ronda, you will find many workshops that sell handicrafts of gold, iron or wood / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]

4) Visit the markets and experience street food

The street markets are one of the best places to discover the culture of each place. There you will experience the daily rhythm that is perceived in the variety of flavors, smells, colors, and textures and is where you learn about most of the local cuisine. San Francisco Market was founded in 1893, being the first official market in Quito, and today it continues to play an important role in the daily life of its people. The vendors seem small in comparison to all the fruits piled around them. Here you will find some of the 60 varieties of Ecuadorian fruits such as babaco (Mountain Papaya), guanabana (Soursop), guaba, papaya, cherimoya, capulí or achotillo (rambutan). Here you can also try the "chochos con tostado” which are legumes with fat and salt that are eaten as snacks and the great variety of juices such as blackberry or tree tomato. At night, it is best to go to the park La Floresta, in the north of the city, to discover the classics of Ecuadorian popular cuisine such as the "Mishqui tripe" which is the small intestine of the beef, roasted with spices and "Morocho", a thick and sweet milkshake made from dark corn, which is also added milk, cinnamon and sugar. The menus are offered by street vendors who gather each day from the afternoon until midnight, with no pretensions of any kind but yes, with very high-calorie dishes! When shopping for handicrafts, it is recommended that your stay in Quito coincides with a Saturday so that you can get to know the largest indigenous market in South America: the artisan market of Otavalo. It is located a little over 100 kilometers north of Quito, about two hours away and there you will find, above all, textile products such as hats, ponchos, rugs, and carpets with bright colors and hand-woven.   [caption id="attachment_4208" align="aligncenter" width="675"]otavalo Find the most authentic textile products in the largest indigenous market in South America: the artisan market of Otavalo / Photo: Viaja Primero Ecuador[/caption]

5) Live the experience of being in two hemispheres at the same time at the Middle of the World

An hour's drive from the center of Quito, in Pichincha, is the Middle of the World city. It is a complex composed of several museums, a planetarium, a room with work by the Ecuadorian artist Guayasamín and the replica of a small Spanish colonial city with a chapel and bullring, as well as a large number of craft shops and restaurants. Also here is the most important: the imposing monument to the Middle of the World, 30 meters, which divides the northern hemisphere of the southern hemisphere of the planet, built in the eighteenth century when the French scientific expedition defined the exact position of the equator. However, although this represents a very photogenic place, 20 years ago it was found with a GPS that the 0-0'-0 "latitude does not pass through this place, but 240 meters to the north. In this place, a new theme park was built, called the Solar Intiñán Museum, where there is an anthropological museum about the different ethnic groups of the region and the equator passes through it. The guided tours are very fun as several experiments are carried out to verify that gravity acts very differently in this part of the world. If you dare, you can try placing an egg completely balanced on a screw. If you succeed, they will give you a certificate to presume. Travel tip: Book our Tour to the Middle of the World.   [caption id="attachment_4209" align="aligncenter" width="675"]mitad-del-mundo-quito The impressive monument from The Middle of the Earth measures 30 meters and divides -literally- the northern hemisphere of the southern hemisphere of the planet / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]

Useful information to visit Quito

- To walk around the city, you should dress like an onion - several layers of clothing - and always carry sunscreen, sunglasses and a waterproof coat in your backpack. - The official currency is the US dollar. The 50 and 100 dollar bills are not accepted, so it is always recommended to take small bills or break them in banks and in some hotels. - Up to TelefériQo Cruz Loma costs USD $ 4.90 for nationals and USD $ 8.50 for foreigners. - Most churches charge admission to visit them, approximately USD $ 5. - The entrance to the Middle of the Earth City costs USD $ 5 and the access to the Solar Museum Intiñan costs USD $ 8 with a guided tour. - To get around Quito by public transport there are three integrated services: the Metrobús Q, the Ecovía and the Trolleybus. The three systems travel through the city longitudinally, that is, from north to south and vice versa. - Travelers who ascend rapidly to altitudes above 2,500 meters may suffer from altitude sickness. The symptoms are headache, vomiting, malaise, nausea, loss of appetite, etc. To reduce the risks, we recommend doing the access moderately, do not make great efforts during the first day to acclimatize to the height of Quito and eat light meals.
Written by: Gilda Selis, journalist specializing in travel. Author of the blog Mi Bitácora de Viajes and the book En Movimiento, geografía interna de una chica que viaja de acá para allá.