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.
Because of Quito's elevation and its location on the equator, it is said the city enjoys eternal springtime.
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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
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