El Panecillo, Quito

Advantages: pleasant climate, lots to see, bustling with local activity
Disadvantages: usual big city issues - traffic, smog, beggars, street vendors

...Quito is the capital of Ecuador and stands almost 3,000 metres high on a plateau nestled among the Andes mountain range. It is just 22 km south of the Equator and yet, because of its height, it benefits from a warm eternal spring-like climate. It is a large and sprawling urban mass that is split into the two distinct areas of old city and new city. This produces a place of startling contrasts – a strange mixture of old colonial and new contemporary architecture, streets populated equally with wealthy businessmen and poor beggars, noisy bustling markets separated by quiet parks and streets, upmarket fashion and souvenir shops contrasting with impoverished street stalls. There are many attractions here including the huge Virgin of Quito who looks down over the city from her lofty position on Panecillo Hill. The views from here... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful setting, churches and Spanish colonial architecture
Disadvantages: Traffic noise and fumes, some street crime

...; the soldiery having carved up their share of the spoils, it was the turn of the priests. The ornate grey stonework around the entrance is topped by twin bell-towers in glistening white and flanked by two long whitewashed walls, above and beyond which can be seen the slope of the Pinchincha volcano. The whole of Quito lies in a long high furrow in the Andes, with the old town at its south-western end. Standing in front of San Francisco church, one looks downhill across the Plaza and over the rooftops ahead to where the mountains rise again to the east, their green slopes speckled with the pink and white of buildings. To the right - the south - another hill forms the end of the valley. This hill is called el Panecillo and was originally the site of a fort, but is now topped by a column bearing a statue of a winged woman, known as La Virgen de... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful insight into South America all in one small country.
Disadvantages: Poverty and associated social impacts.

.../pizza place. Huge choice of pizzas available. We had 2 enormous pizzas and 2 Corona beers for $17. Not the cheapest in Quito but a nice mid range place to eat out. Magic Bean- a must for pancakes! Lunch of steak sandwich and fries x 2, falafel and smoothies $20. Adams Rib- home style fries/chips lush ribs, fab cheesecake and pecan pie. $21 not bad. Quito Old Town is worth a full day exploring. Beautiful churches and museums, views over the city from El Panecillo are breathtaking, some good bargain shopping for us Brits and a nice vibe about the markets and streets. The New Town is where to go for drinks, food and banking. Nighttimes can be risky and taxis seem to charge $2 for every journey, despite meter readings of 60cents!! Tried refusing to pay the extra but things can turn nasty. Its not really worth it for 40p! Plus we can afford... Read review

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