"Connected with nature at the middle of the earth" Quito by mikey_e

Quito Travel Guide: 1,040 reviews and 2,770 photos

The Andes from Plaza de Santo Domingo - Quito

A bit of mystery

I came to Quito, as with a few other destinations, for reasons of work rather than pleasure. As a result, I seemed to focus much more on preparing for the job I had ahead of me rather than on what sights the city had to offer. Successive warnings about security and the difficulty of engaging in business relationships left me somewhat reticent with respect to my visit, but the my first 24 hours in the city proved to me what a great destination Ecuador’s capital really is. Overshadowed by her two larger neighbours, Peru and Colombia, Ecuador seems like a sleepy, provincial corner of Latin America that occasionally makes the news thanks to its changes in government or stormy entrances onto the global political scene. In truth, Quito is a vibrant, dynamic city, working hard to overcome several years of political turmoil and regain its place amongst Latin American’s leading capitals.

Las Américas at their best

Monasterio de San Francisco

Many cities bill themselves as being diverse. Quito, on the other hand, does not really need to work hard to make that impression on visitors. Whether you look at the people or at the architecture of the city, you are immediately struck by the incredible range of colours, shapes, sizes and origins of the various aspects of the city. The historic centre, very well preserved compared to other Latin American cities, looks like it has been plucked right out of Andalucia. Farther to the north, the office towers and shopping malls remind visitors of the rapid growth spurred by oil revenues and a general desire to ensure that Ecuador opens itself to the world’s businesses. These are complemented by a population that is largely split between indigenous peoples, mestizos, creoles (Europeans born in Latin American), Afro-Latinos and mulattos, with a smattering of immigrants from India, China and the Mid East. A new open-door policy is helping to reinforce this diversity, ensuring that Ecuador remains connected to the world in a variety of manners.

Ever changing, ever evolving

Quito from Pichincha

Ecuador, however, is not without its problems, some of which are on the rise. Crime is growing quickly in the country, with a particularly alarming jump in contract killings and violent crimes in the capital and in the southern and northern border zones. The country may have ended its period of revolving Presidents (four in two years at one point), but that does not mean that the political situation has stabilized. Tensions with neighbouring Colombia, which are sometimes fed by Ecuador’s alliance with Venezuela and ALBA, can result in hostility to Colombians and violence on the border. It is a regional trend against which Ecuador is not immune. However, it’s hard to focus on the country’s ills and tensions when hiking up Pichincha, the volcano overlooking Quito, and feeling the cold, Andean winds as you gaze over the city from a height of 4100 m.

Last visit to Quito: Jul 2010
Intro Written Aug 9, 2010
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Reviews (54)

Radio Católica Off The Beaten Path (17)

Unlike many other Latin American countries, where the Evangelical movement is not only making huge headways, but also... more travel advice

A view from the TeleferiQo parking lot - Quito

Views of the city Off The Beaten Path (17)

Obviously, anyone who wants to get great views of Quito and the valley will have to go to the TeleferiQo and get shots... more travel advice

Birds Local Customs (7)

Ecuador is trying to build its image as a destination for eco-tourism and, while continued violence and border disputes... more travel advice

Arco de la Reina Off The Beaten Path (17)

I'm not exactly sure of the story behind this feature of Quito's colonial architecture, but it does look like this was... more travel advice

Comments (4)

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Roadquill Dec 27, 2012 at 4:57 PM

Nice Quito page... I will be there in January.
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  mikey_e Dec 27, 2012 at 6:19 PM
  
  Thanks Karl. Quito is one of my all-time favourite destinations. I wish I had had more time to visit more of the country. Enjoy Ecuador!
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Paris92 Jan 31, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Congratulations on your Barney nomination! Well done!
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MalenaN Nov 29, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Exellent tips about Ecuador Mikey! I'm looking forward to visit next year and if I'm near Almacenes Yerez I will defenitly try one of their juices.
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dth012649 Nov 9, 2010 at 3:07 PM

Do the flowers, specifically the roses, have a scent?