Travel Guide > South America > Ecuador > Quito
Quito is the capital city of Ecuador. It is high up (2800m) in the Andes mountains and the altitude may take some getting used to. The city hosts many wonderful sights including an amazing colonial centre built by the Spanish during colonial times. The old town has several stunning churches that rival those of any other major Latin American or South American city.
The old town is full of colonial buildings and elaborate churches. Take great care, especially after dark, to avoid pickpockets.
'La Mariscal' is the backpacker area, full of hotels, restaurants, bars and travel agencies. Many people here speak English.
The north of the city is home to the business district, further north is the airport.
Quito is divided into two areas: Old Town (Centro Historico - on the UNESCO World Heritage list) and the New Town, where La Mariscal, a busy, backpacker-friendly area has developed. Things not to miss:
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On the 200 metres high hill of El Panecillo, stand the Virgen de Quito, the statue of the Virgin Mary. Due to its location the statue can be seen from most of Quito. The statue is made out of approximately 7.000 pieces of aluminium, and was made by the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras. He was commissioned to build a 41 metres high monument of the Madonna, and completed his work in 1976. He based his statue on a statue by Bernado de Legarda, who sculpted his "Virgen de Quito”, a 30 centimetres high sculpture in 1734. The statue was unveiled and inaugurated on the 28th of March 1976 by the Archbishop of Quito.
6th of December is the day when the fiesta of Quito is celebrated, though in practice there are parties and bullfights for several days around this time.
Quito is known as the 'city of eternal spring' - most of the year, it is t-shirt weather at lunch time, but when it gets dark at 6pm you'll need a fleece or jacket. Quito is at high altitude and temperatures are moderate. It is never hot. Average maximum temperatures are around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius and drop to 10 degrees or a little lower at night. Although rainfall is possible in every month, June to August is fairly dry while March and April are the wettest months.
Try to arrive in daylight hours for fantastic views of the Andes as you land. Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is located north of Quito. Most flights are to and from Latin American cities and the United States, but Iberia serves Madrid and KLM has flights from Amsterdam and Bonaire. LanEcuador has flights to and from Quito, both internationally as well as domestic.
Direct buses travel between Quito and Bogota. Between Quito, there are also direct services to and from Lima in Peru.
Taxi drivers generally do use their taxi meters, though you may have to 'remind' them. Fares within the city are 3-4 USD, from the old town to the airport about 6-8 USD and from the New Town to the airport 4-6 USD. Fares are a bit higher after midnight and before dawn. Drivers are usually reliable and helpful, but it's best to arrange a fare before getting into the cab.
There are various local buses and the 'trole', an electrified bus service.
Encebollados: fish or prawns in a tangy sauce with lots of onions and mashed yuca - add plenty of lemon juice. Delicious!
Multiple options for all budgets exist in 'Mariscal' the 'New Town', a neighbourhood full of bars and restaurants and hundreds of other travellers. The Old Town is quieter (almost dead after 9pm every evening) and far more characterful, although there is a smaller range of places to stay. For budget options it is always a good idea to ask to see a room first and check if it has hot water etc., before registering and paying for your stay.
Old Town: Hotel Flores, Flores 355 y sucre. Hotel Flores.
Excellent, clean rooms, helpful staff, safe and quiet premises in an old colonial building. 15 USD per night for a double room, ensuite, hot water. No breakfast included. More budget options in Quito include:
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleida's Hostal | Calle Andalucia Nº559 Y Salazar- La Floresta | Hostel | 83 |
| Blue House | Joaquin Pinto E8-24 y Diego de Almagro | Guesthouse | 86 |
| Casa Agua Canela | Mercadillo 347 y Versalles | Guesthouse | 70 |
| Casa Colibri | Juan Manuel Avila 2 | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Casa Kanela | Juan Rodriguez E8-46 La Mariscal | Guesthouse | 80 |
| Casa Quinde | Francisco de Linares E6-71 y Hermano Carlos Jarrin | Guesthouse | - |
| Casapaxi | Navarro 369 y La Gasca Navarro 364 y La Gasca | Guesthouse | 89 |
| Chicago Hostal | Los Rios 1730 - A y Briceño | Hostel | 80 |
| Colonial House Quito | Olmedo 432 Vicente León | Guesthouse | 93 |
| El Centro del Mundo | Lizardo Garcia E7-26 y Reina Victoria | Guesthouse | 84 |
| Fevi E-lodging | Garcia Moreno 465,Cumbaya P.O. Box 17 22 20062 | Hostel | - |
| Galapagos Natural Life | Joaquin Pinto 145 | Guesthouse | 70 |
| HI - Quito | Pinto 325 y Reyna Victoria La Mariscal | Hostel | 60 |
| Hostal Alcala | Luis Cordero 1187 La Mariscal | Hostel | 77 |
| Hostal Andalucía | Queseras del Medio E11-269 y Andalucía | Guesthouse | - |
| Hostal Arco del Sol | Juan Rodriguez 736 y Reina Victoria | Guesthouse | 81 |
| Hostal Backpackers´ Inn | Juan Rodriguez 245 y Diego de Almagro | Hostel | 74 |
| Hostal El Arupo | Juan Rodriguez E7-22 Reina Victoria | Guesthouse | - |
| Hostal Huauki | Joaquin Pinto E7-82 y Diego de Almagro | Guesthouse | 53 |
| Hostal Jardin Del Sol | Calama 166 y Almagro Almagro 420 y Calama | Hostel | 87 |
| Hostal Jhomana | Gil Ramirez Davalos 151 y Av. Amazonas | Hostel | 81 |
| Hostal La Galeria | Calama 233 y Diego de Almagro | Guesthouse | 90 |
| Hostal Margarita 2 | Rios n12-118 y Espinoza Elizalde 410 y Rios | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Hostal Marsella | Ríos N 12-139 y Espinoza | Guesthouse | 91 |
| Hostal Monique | Calama E5-37 y Reina Victoria | Guesthouse | - |
| Hostal Sandmelis | Av Tomás de Berlanga E8-128 y Av de Los Shyris Quito | Guesthouse | 96 |
| Hostal Santa Barbara | Av. 12 de Octubre N26-15 y Coruña Box 17-12-789 | Hotel | 87 |
| Hostal Tutamanda | Av. Colon 20 88 y Versalles Av Colon 20 88 y Versalles | Guesthouse | 93 |
| Hostel Revolution | Los Rios N13-11 y Julio Castro, San Blas, Quito | Hostel | 89 |
| Hostel Sur | Francisco Salazar 134 E10 y Tamayo | Guesthouse | 82 |
| Hotel Cayman | Calle Juan Rodriguez 270 y Reina Victoria | Hotel | 98 |
| Hotel Majestic Quito | Mercadillo 366 & Versalles | Hotel | 63 |
| Hotel Margarita Inn | Calle Ríos y Elizalde | Hotel | 100 |
| La Casa Sol Bed & Breakfast | Calama 127 y ave. 6 de Diciembre | Guesthouse | 91 |
| Othello Hotel | Av. Amazonas N2020 and 18 de Septiembre | Guesthouse | - |
| Platinum II Hostel | 18 de Septiembre | Guesthouse | 63 |
| Posada del Maple | Juan Rodriguez E8/49 | Hostel | 76 |
| Pululahua Hostal | Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve Calama E7-68 Y Diego de Almagro | Guesthouse | 100 |
| Real Audiencia | Bolivar 220 y Guayaquil(Oe-318) Quito | Hotel | 90 |
| Residencial Montecarlo | Reina Victoria N 25-50 y Colon | Guesthouse | 71 |
| San Francisco de Quito | Sucre Oe3-17 y Guayaquil - Historical Downtown | Hotel | 82 |
| San Jorge Eco-lodge | Km 4 Via Antiqua Cotocollao-Nono | Hostel | 100 |
| Sierra Nevada | Pinto E4-250 y Cordero | Guesthouse | - |
| SierrAzul Cloud Forest Reserve | Veintimilla 5-13 | Guesthouse | - |
| The Secret Garden | Calle Antepara E4-60 y Los Rios Sector San Blas | Hostel | 84 |
| Travellers Inn | La Pinta St. E 4-55 & Amazonas Ave. Quito | Guesthouse | 90 |
This is version 26. Last edited at 19:13 on Aug 17, 09 by Utrecht (+432). 17 articles link to this page.

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