Travel guide
Quito
Andes capital with the world's best-preserved colonial old town
🗓️ Best time: June–September💰 Budget · ~$50/day📍 Ecuador
Andes capital with the world's best-preserved colonial old town
At 2,850m altitude, Quito's UNESCO old town is a jewel of Spanish colonial architecture — gilded baroque churches, the equator a short trip away, and snow-peaks visible from downtown.
Signature local dishes worth seeking out.
Trolley + Ecovía buses; Uber for safety; walk old town daytime only.
Acclimatize 1–2 days before any volcano hikes — altitude is real.
Generally safe in tourist areas. Watch for petty theft in Quito old town at night.
La Mariscal (Plaza Foch); La Floresta for craft beer.