Hotels in Quito

San Francisco of Quito, better known as Quito, is the state capital of Ecuador, and the oldest existing capital in South America. Although it is the capital of Ecuador, it is not the country’s largest city, but is still the political, administrative and cultural locus. Like many of the surrounding cities, Quito was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an international declaration of the city’s singular beauty and multitudinous attractions.
The history of Quito goes back to prehistoric times, showing how this city has remained a historic point of interest for numerous ethnic groups. After centuries of change and evolution, including independence at the beginning of the 19th century, it is today a dynamic city with many places of interest where the calm lifestyle contrasts with the cultural wealth of the zone.
Located in the shade of the Andes mountain range, Quito is surrounded by many mountains and volcanoes which give it a slightly threatening aspect, but don’t believe this. The city has undergone many changes due to economic development and population growth, and new districts coexist alongside the mountainous landscape of the city’s environs. Pleasant temperatures reign throughout the year, making a visit to the city possible in any season, although it typically experiences abundant rain during the spring equinox.
With the largest historical center in all South America, Quito contains a variety of tourist attractions to appeal to the adventurer, the entrepreneur and the iconoclast. After many years of neglect, the old city center has undergone extensive remodeling, making a stroll through its streets a pleasant memory to take home with us. Explore its most attractive monuments, such as the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Neogothic style, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the many churches, which, as in the other South American cities, demonstrate the high value these countries attach to religion.
Apart from religious sites, Quito offers an array of museums in which to lose oneself, like the Capillo del Hombre (“Chapel of the Man”) or the Templo de la Patria (“Temple of the Mother Country”). Another of its enchantments lies in the numerous parks and gardens in which to take a pleasant stroll. Possibly the city’s most distinctive point is what is known as “la mitad del mundo” (“half of the world”); it is here where the center of the globe rests, and the reason that it is now known as parallel zero, that line which divides the world into north and south: the Equator has a monument dedicated to it as well as its own museum near Quito. This is an unforgettable place for a unique experience.