"Quito, Ecuador" Quito by malianrob

Quito Travel Guide: 1,038 reviews and 2,728 photos

La virgen del Panecillo

It is said that the Indians used to make human sacrifices here and under the hill where the virgen del Panecillo stands. There are tunnels that the Indigenous people used for their sacrifices located under the hill.
I have been traveling to Quito since I was a little girl. Practically all my family is here so Quito has a special place in my heart. Or I should say Ecuador has a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite cities in Ecuador are Otavalo, Mindo, Cuenca and Guayaquil.
Quito is the capital of Ecuador and of the Pichincha prov. It is Ecuador's largest city behind Guayaquil and lies between two mountain ranges, a southern extension of the Colombian ranges-the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Central. Its altitude is 2,800 metres or about 10,000 feet. Quito contains 19 volcanoes, and the eastern part of the basin in which Quito lies is surrounded by eight of them: Cotopaxi, Antisana, Sincholagua and Cayambe (volcano) to the east; Illiniza, Atacazo, Pichincha and Pululahua to the west.
Legend says that a Saint (forgot which one) appeared to the people of Quito after a volcano erupted and said that Quito will not be destroyed by a volcano but by corrupt government.
Before the Spanish arrived, Quito was an important Inca settlement, and before the Inca, other tribes lived at the site, Like the Quitu tribe (from the Quechua civilization), and the Caras tribe who conquered the Quitu people. The Caras tribe were later conquered by the Inca. They controlled the area from 1450 until early in the sixteenth century.

The city; colonial Quito

You can split Quito into three areas; South of Old Town is mainly residential, a working-class housing area. North of Old Town is modern Quito with high-rise buildings, shopping centers, the financial center and major business centers. North of Quito is Mariscal Sucre airport, through which most visitors to Ecuador arrive and depart.

In colonial Quito, the streets are cobblestone and the walls are whitewashed. Quito is considered to have one of the oldest and best preserved colonial sectors in South America. The Spanish designed Quito in typical European pattern where the the people lived centered around the government buildings, cathedral and central plaza. In 1978 the United Nations declared the city a World Cultural Heritage Site.

These are some important churches and sights to see while in the old Quito:
La Basilica
Capilla Maria Auxiliadora
Convento de Santa Catalina
Convento de la Concepcion
Convento Del Carmen Alto
Convento y Museo de San Fransisco
Convento y Museo de Santo Domingo
Iglesia El Belen
Iglesia La Compania
Iglesia de chimbacalle
Iglesia de El Giron
Iglesia de San Agustin
Iglesia de San Blas
Iglesia de San Fransisco
Iglesia de Santa Teresita
Iglesia de la Catedral
Iglesia de la Merced
Palacio Arzobispal

Avenida Amazonas

This is the "new" part of Quito. It is modern with shops, and cafes, record stores, restaurants, discos and hotels. The northern part of Quito is where the main business district of the city is located. It also contains upper-middle class neighborhoods. The area around Avenida Amazonas has most of Quito’s modern business and tourist area.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beauty of old and new mixed together
Cons:Polution, congested

Intro Updated Sep 9, 2010
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Reviews (26)

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Get tattooed Things to Do (17)

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Rob and Carlin at the tattoo shop - Quito

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layer up, changing weather

Local Customs (3)
See All The New Years Widows

Travelogues (7)

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Comments (9)

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Roadquill Dec 30, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Nice Quito page...
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BruceDunning Nov 28, 2010 at 3:08 PM

There look to be so many nice buildings, especially the cathedral and Basilica. YOu depicted the city very well, and the comments and pictures are well done.
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Herwig1961 Dec 6, 2008 at 9:30 AM

Very interesting page!Thank you!
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Sagespot Dec 5, 2008 at 1:38 PM

Glad you had a good birthday. Things here are well, busy with holiday stuff, but that's the way winter is! Hope everything is good with you and yours. Cheers - Sage
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shrtcake20 Oct 6, 2008 at 12:13 PM

I really liked the tattoo that Rob got. When are you going to take me to Ecuador with you? Or anywhere for that matter! take care Ambiee!
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sparkie11 May 15, 2007 at 7:53 PM

Rob you crazy brah. Get u a tattoo in Ecuador. Not surprised though. Stay strong bruddah! SHAKA!
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micky-d Jan 4, 2006 at 5:36 PM

I loved new years in Ecuador, its so much fun!
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kevostyle Jan 1, 2006 at 9:41 PM

Iliked the tips on the local customs, good info.
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ribbs Jan 1, 2006 at 4:24 PM

Hey! I have tried the Puntas. It is along the same lines as tequila!