Sign in with Facebook"b1bob does Quito big time" Top 5 Page for this destination Quito by b1bob
Quito Travel Guide: 1,051 reviews and 2,264 photos
As soon as I got back from my last trip to South America (January, 2002), I knew somewhere in South America would be my next foreign destination. For the longest time, I thought my next South American adventure would be similar to the last- back to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Alexandre was all set to have me back and I was eager to go. However, I needed to renew my Brazilian tourist visa (they still required that persnickety bit of bureaucracy 6 years later, but one thing had changed: the price went up from $45 to $100 and I would have to go to Washington to get it done- for at least another $100 or so between petrol, lodging, and food).
Meanwhile, in 2006, my friend Sergio moved from Spain to Ecuador with his wife and daughter. From day one, they invited me to come out there and see them. The ideal time for me to travel in 2007 was between the American elections (we do have local elections in odd years in Virginia) and Thanksgiving. I want to thank Sergio for his hospitality showing me around the town and the countryside of north-central Ecuador.
Even before you factored in the visa expenses, the flight to Rio de Janeiro was $100 more than that to Quito. Besides the tightwad factor (I almost picked the nickname travelntightwad when I joined VT), I had been to Rio before, but not to Quito. I had wanted to visit Ecuador since July, 1984 when I met some friends from there (whose daddy worked at the Ecuadorian embassy in Washington) on holiday in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. So, on 6 August 2007, I finally pulled the trigger and organised my trip to Quito.
Researching a trip is almost as much fun as actually taking it. In doing the research, I found out that Quito is some 2800 m. (9184 feet) above sea level. I had never been that high on land before. I also read where guinea pig (cuy) is a local delicacy. I was somewhat less conflicted on whether to try that than the tronquitos (a soup made of various key parts of the bull).
From day one, I was determined I would eat, buy, and even try to think locally in order to get as much from the culture as I could in the little time I had there. That is exactly what I did. However, all is not great in Quito. You will not get a chamber of commerce whitewash job from me here (I even find faults in my own hometown.), but rather you will get an honest accounting of my trip there. I hope it helps!
- Pros:Friendly folks, good food, and cheap prices for most things.
- Cons:Bad drivers, bad roads, and grinding poverty in spots.
- In a nutshell:Quito is a friendly and fun city with its share of problems.
Reviews (80)
empanadas anyone?
Restaurants
(11)
Sometimes the best restaurants are small, hole-in-the-wall places like Empanada Boliviana. Restaurants like these that... more travel advice
Ají
Local Customs
(12)
Folks down here add a sauce called ají to about everything short of their Fruit Loops at breakfast. This sauce contains... more travel advice
Cheaper, for the most part
Favorites
(18)
In general, things are cheaper in Quito than they are in the United States. One exception is blue jeans. Before I left,... more travel advice
I was treated well
Favorites
(18)
I was treated very well by the strangers I met in Ecuador. It helps that I speak Spanish fluently, but I don't think you... more travel advice
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What to Pack (3)
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Things to Do (11)
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Transportation (2)
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Quito Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "b1bob does Quito big time"
- "Quito"
- "Thinking of South American Cities? Think Quito"
- "¡Bienvenidos a Quito!"
- "The heart of the country"
- "Quito, Ecuador"
- "Connected with nature at the middle of the earth"
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- 80 Reviews
- 123 Photos
- 4 Forum posts
- 40 Comments
- 14,563PageViews
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Food and Dining
Historical Travel
Museum VisitsLatest Quito hotel reviews
- Hotel San Sebastian
- 55 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 28, 2012 - Swissotel Quito
- 123 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 23, 2012 - Hotel Quito
- 143 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 23, 2012 - Best Western Plaza Hotel Casino Quito
- 35 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 6, 2012 - Nu House Boutique Hotel
- 118 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2012 - B&B Tumbaco
- 22 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2012 - JW Marriott Hotel Quito
- 227 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2012 - Republica Hotel Quito
- 2 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2012 - Hosteria San Jorge Quito
- 2 Reviews & Opinions
- Sol de Quito Museum Hotel
- 35 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2012 - Hostal de La Rabida
- 94 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 11, 2012 - Cafe Cultura
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Latest: Mar 16, 2012 - Casa Agua Canela
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Comments (40)
Nice and informative pages. We enjoyed our brief stay there too.
Wow, great detail on the restaurant reviews - you'd know exactly what to expect :)
It must have been a fascinating time to take in the culture. You did a nice job of picture taking and the complementary comments to tell the reader what it is all about.
very thoughtful!
I love these, I make them all the time at home and actually have another recipe for them on my blog... I would just add that they're typically steamed in achira leaves but since you can't get them in the US, you can use banana leaves in their place.
Stunning updates!! Gosh heading to above 4000 m - almost good enough for an oxygen tank. This bloody departure tax :-) Michael
This tip sounds like the drivers here in korea. Thanks for the good stuff on the other pages, and for the good detail on many of them.
Yes, they do have bad drivers in Quito! Norman :)
all the best information about this fascinating city. good information. I want to stop one month at least.
Thanks for your great pages and travelogues, fellow traveler!
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