Quito in Ecuador<\/b>, located at 3 000m on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano in the Andes, is the largest and best-preserved historic center<\/b> in Latin America – a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with colonial monuments and architectural treasures. It is an emerging destination for incentive and leisure travel. The city has all the major luxury chain hotels and facilities to cater to tourists with all kinds of tastes. Quito will provide travelers with a great diversity of experiences and services in terms of culture, gastronomy, landscapes and architecture. It’s the perfect place to spend a few days before discovering the other treasures of Ecuador such as the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Rainforest.<\/p>\n
Must Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n Take a delicious and enriching class in traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. From selecting the ingredients in a traditional local market, then preparing a typical dish of the region and tasting the Ecuadorian flavors. You’ll also learn a lot about Ecuadorian culture through the flavors and ingredients, whilst interacting with the friendly locals.<\/p>\n Don’t miss visiting the local markets of Quito, where you will discover arts, crafts and traditional food in all its splendor and merge yourself into the daily life of Quite\u00f1os. At the Inaquito market,<\/strong> you’ll blow your mind while learning about the different endemic types of fruits, vegetables, and ground products such as the \u201ctubers\u201d found in the Andean region. You can also try fresh fruits such as naranjilla, chirimoya, the sweet and sour tree tomato, granadillas, babacos and uvillas from the different regions of the country. Souvenirs and handicrafts such as\u00a0 Alpaca blankets, pan flutes, woven bracelets, sun hats and leather bags are to be found in the colorful Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal <\/strong>market. On weekends, visit the local artists market of Parque El Elegido.<\/strong><\/p>\n Experience the virtues of fine aroma chocolate made from the finest cacao variety in the world, known as Arriba Nacional.\u00a0 In Quito, you can have a private tasting experience at Pacari’s “House of Experiences”<\/strong>. The tasting consists of savoring organic cacao and comparing it with other presentations of chocolate bars that contain flavors from Ecuador. While you enjoy every bite, we recount the history of cacao in Ecuador. Another highlight is to take the 2\u00be hour trip to visit the Santa Rita community<\/strong> to support the local farmers and their sustainable practices of planting and harvesting cacao.<\/p>\n Leaving the lush green slopes of Quito, we travel 45 minutes to the desert environment of Pomasqui, to visit Casa Agave<\/strong> – the first museum, factory, and distillery in Ecuador. The Agave Museum<\/strong> was created in honor of the Andean agave culture. 50 years ago, locals started to distill agave into the local drink, Miske<\/strong>. You’ll visit an artisan production center, where you will interact more deeply with the processes of extraction, transformation, pasteurization, fermentation, styling, resting, and elaboration of the well-known Chaguarmisqui <\/strong>– known as the Full Moon drink. You will also visit the environmental interpretation area where the agave plant and its planting and growth processes are explained. We finish in the tasting room to try the Agave Spirit.<\/p>\n Located just 30 minutes from Quito, this is the most visited place in Ecuador.\u00a0 The Middle of the World equatorial monument<\/strong> and complex divides the Northern from the Southern Hemisphere and you can stand in the middle of the world! The favorite activity of visitors is to take pictures standing over the yellow line depicting the equator with one foot in each hemisphere. You will also visit the Iti\u00f1an Solar Museum<\/strong> and can include a stop at Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve<\/strong> for the volcanic crater lookout, one of only two inhabited craters in the world.<\/p>\n Must Eat<\/strong><\/p>\n Best Nightlife:<\/strong>\u00a0In the heart of the north-central area of Quito, we recommend visiting the new and trendy options for Ecuadorian craft beer at Whymper Street<\/strong>. There is a wide variety of local brews as you enjoy local music and food. Cumbaya<\/strong> is another alternative neighborhood for nightlife. Here you’ll find a variety of small bars and restaurants within walking distance to match all tastes.<\/p>\n Best time to visit: <\/strong>Quito is a year-long destination. Its temperature varies from 18 to 22 degrees celsius. The city has a drier season which is from May to September, and a rainy season for the remaining months of the year. This does not mean that it will be raining all day long, as you may get all seasons in one day. Quito always surprises its visitors with comfortable temperatures to enjoy the city to its fullest.<\/p>\n Top Tip: <\/strong>Don’t miss seeing the city from a different perspective. The rooftops are located in the most iconic boutique hotels of the city\u2019s historical center. Enjoy a signature cocktail or warm Canelazo<\/strong> drink on one of these rooftops while you enjoy the views of the traditional churches and their domes from these privileged viewpoints.<\/p>\n Plan your visit during Fiestas de Quito<\/b> which runs from November 28 to December 6. Notable elements include Nativity reenactments, bullfights, marching bands, traditional dancing and carnivals in the Old Town. Quito\u2019s streets are filled with music and people celebrating the city.<\/p>\n\n
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