Mansion Real Ecuador, Quito

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

...in the Plaza Grande, less impressive, a relief tempered by the thought that this would be just as the Jesuits would have wished. The Plaza Grande, the main square of old Quito, is much greener than the others through which we have passed, with little parterres planted with palms, citrus trees and rose-bushes. We are now in the administrative centre of Quito, with the Governor's colonaded mansion on one side of the square and other official buildings down adjacent streets, guarded by ceremonially uniformed sentries. This area is generally more animated than the outlying streets, with many shops and shoppers, though most of the shops are modest in scale and style, selling everyday foodstuffs, clothing and household goods. The old town is no longer a fashionable shopping area, and for Quito's equivalent of Bond Street one must look elsewhere... Read review

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Advantages: Incredibly diverse, Fun, Loads to do and see.
Disadvantages: Flights are a little expensive

.... It is recommended you do not stay in the town overnight (although many tourists often do) for the expected threat this volcano poses! However, you should visit Banos if you can for the hot springs, spas and waterfalls that make banos such an idyllic place to view. Many tourists hire bicycles and take known tourist routes in order to view some of the best waterfalls in the area. - Quito is the cosmopolitan capital of Ecuador. Normally full of back-packing tourists, especially the more modern Mariscal district, there are lots of museums and historic monuments and buildings to see, notable the Panecillo. This is a statue of the Virgin Mary which overlooks the city and from there you have some fabulous views of Quito. It is advisbale to take a taxi to and from the Panecillo as it is located in a poor area and unfortunately there is a history... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning mountains surrounding a bustling and colourful city
Disadvantages: The smog

...The City I became really attached to Quito during my seven weeks there. It's a lively, very colourful city in a stunning setting - I think the thing I loved the most about Quito was being able to look up, walking anywhere west in the city, and see the most amazing jagged green mountain range towering up past the outskirts. It was wonderful. Ecuador's capital is maybe not quite as traditional as Bolivia's, or nearly as Westernized as Peru's, but it creates quite a nice balance somewhere in the middle, with both aspects of new and old - as seen by the fact that most people split Quito up into two halves, new and old, when describing the city. The old city is beautiful, full of narrow winding streets, grand old colonial buildings, little local shops and cafes, wide-open plazas, impressive-looking theatres, and it's absolutely... Read review

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