Overview
Take a trip to Quito on your Ecuador Vacation
Located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, Quito is the country’s capital city. At an elevation of 2,800 m (9,350 ft) above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world which can be experienced on an Ecuador vacation.
The area’s earliest inhabitants were the Quito people who gave the city its name. Quito became part of the Incan Empire, growing into a major city before the arrival of Spanish explorers early in the 16th century. The city was officially established, despite resistance from local inhabitants, by Spanish lieutenant Sebastián de Benalcázar in 1534. Roman Catholicism became the religion of the region and more than twenty churches were built during colonial times. During the 19th century, residents of Quito began to strive for independence resulting in the Battle of Pichincha. Victory in this battle marked Quito’s independence from Spain.
The city has continued to grow into the political centre of Ecuador. Recent years have witnessed massive restoration projects which have helped the city maintain its distinct character. Quito was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 to preserve its colonial convents and churches as well as its famed “Old Town”. This “Old Town” hosts around 130 monumental buildings that celebrate the city’s colonial heritage and is a favourite amongst visitors on Ecuador tours. Quito’s beautiful location coupled with an appreciation for its history makes it an incredible destination to explore.
Because of Quito's elevation and its location on the equator, it is said the city enjoys eternal springtime.
Because of Quito's elevation and its location on the equator, it is said the city enjoys eternal springtime.
At a Glance
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If you a looking for a unique experience, then a stay at Mashpi Lodge, Cloud Forest would be perfect. It is a remote high-biodiversity experience which boasts over 600 bird species, unique monkeys, and other fascinating wildlife
Ecuador has incredible biodiversity and varied landscapes, from the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands to the high-altitude Andes mountains and Amazon rainforest
Tourists often focus on the Galápagos or the Amazon, but the Cloud Forests — mysterious, humming with life, and relatively uncrowded — are a hidden gem.
One local tradition that travelers should absolutely try to experience in Ecuador is "La Diablada de Píllaro", or The Devils of Píllaro, held every January 1–6 in the small Andean town of Píllaro, in the Tungurahua province
One of Quito iconic locations, Basilica Cathedr...
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Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
QuitoLight Rain
25°C / 77°F
94mm / 3.7"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,156 ReviewsAfter spending some time with our agent, we felt that she understood exactly what we had in mind as far as the level of service, etc, we were hoping for. The trip exceeded our expectations. Lori kept us busy(not too busy!) and we had many, many very exciting experiences. Bruce BelshawAylin is an exceptionally proficient advisor. Coordinating my clients simultaneously often feels like herding cats, but she has remained patient and accommodating through every modification and delay. Goway continues to be my go-to for complex itineraries, and they never disappoint.Nick Cron, ACCMahalo Goway Travel for helping in planning our group Japan's trip. Lawrence was very helpful & patient with all the changes & additions we did. Also, mahalo to Natasa who helped planned my Australia trip past November. The planning from transportation to tours to hotels worked very smoothly. I'll continue to use Goway travel for all my International trips. I'll also will recommend to my friends & family to use Goway...MahaloTanya LaguatanMaria Spitman was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful in designing our trip to Japan and equally wonderful when we had to cancel it. I loved the service she gave us.Sandy WarrenMy daughter and I had a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand! The country is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Our destination specialist did a great job with planning and organizing the itinerary, choosing our hotels, and organizing transportation. The hotels were absolutely beautiful and we had great views. We felt right at home and found all of the staff to be friendly and accommodating. There were no issues with our itinerary and our excursions we were always on the list. Our transportation was always ready and waiting for us.
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Thank you all involved in organazing our trip!MaiaBrigitta Fuller is Amazing! She was my group coordinator. She understood the assignment and all the nuances I was trying to achieve. The itinerary she curated was fantastic. If you want someone who truly cares about her group and what they are trying to achieve. I will always reach out to Brigitta first for Europe groups. Kathryn WalkerMy clients had a wonderful time on their trip to Easter Island. They were very pleased with the Hare Nua Hotel Boutique and especially noted the warmth and hospitality of the hotel staff as well as their excellent breakfasts.
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When our debit card was not retrievable in an airport ATM Taryn again went out of her way to approve a small loan through transfer to our local guide's bank account, who then withdrew cash from an ATM while we simply paid Goway Travel by credit card through an online payment link. This helped us tremendously through that difficult moment. We will always treasure this kindness on her part.Yuan LinAlice was most helpful - full of insider suggestions.
She was a good listener and able to provide tours, routes and guides tailored to our interests. She made our February trip to New Zealand entirely wonderful.
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