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View of the city of Quito at sunset


FIVE MINUTE GUIDE: QUITO


• ABOUT: Sitting high in the iconic Andes at an altitude of 2,818 meters, Quito is the capital city of Ecuador and gateway to adventures across the country from the wildlife-rich Galapagos and the Amazon to adventures in the Andes and beyond. This is the oldest of the South American capitals and its Spanish architecture in the Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is immaculately preserved. Quito was, in fact, one of the first cities to be given UNESCO status back in 1978.


• ARCHITECTURE: Take a walking tour to soak up the architectural highlights from the monastery of San Francisco – the oldest and most religious site in the country – and the vast Basilica


del Voto Nacional, where you’ll find an illustrious exterior with gargoyle representations of the native animals of Ecuador from marine iguanas to armadillos and tortoises. The main square, Plaza de Independencia, in the city is where you’ll find the Metropolitan cathedral in a heady mix of Gothic and Baroque architecture and the Neoclassical Carondelet governmental palace.


• EAT AND DRINK: Quito was one of the first places in South America to brew beer (thanks to a Flemish monk in the 14th century) so the creative microbrewery scene is a good place to start on a gastronomic adventure. This scene has boomed in recent years with new talent coming in to shake things up and cerveza artesanales being


reimagined. Bandido Brewing in the Old Town is a staple and Zambo Creek is a newer offering with brews served up by a team of women brewers looking to make their mark on the industry and support local agriculture. The varied and vibrant cuisine is reflective of the city - make sure to sample street food like tortillas de tiesto and get to know the chocolate and coffee culture.


• MARKETS: Like any bustling city, Quito has its fair share of colorful markets to get to know its makers and its produce. The city’s Mariscal Artisan market in the Mariscal neighborhood showcases beautiful native crafts and souvenirs – think Ecuadorian tapestries, weavings and jewellery – while the Mercado de Iñaquito is a colorful warren of fresh produce and street food to sample.


Outside the city, Otavalo Market is the largest indigenous market in South America and well worth the journey.


• VIEWS: For views over the city, check out the TelefériQo cable car - one of the world’s highest aerial lifts - which departs from the city and takes visitors up to the lofty heights of the Volcán Pichincha to look down on one of the world’s loftiest capital cities. From here, the Rucu Pichincha hike traverses the rocky ravines of the active stratovolcano at 4680 meters (make sure to acclimatize in the city before heading off) and crests the crater’s edge. Up here, you’ll find a neglected VulQano Park amusement complex, the world’s highest go-kart track and various restaurants.


Worldwide Destination Guide 2023/24 | ASTA | 233


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