The Big Trip

Quito has become the base for our traveling in Ecuador. From here we flew to the Galapagos Islands, we went for a daytrip to "la Mitad del Mundo" (The Middle of the World), for a two day trip to Otavalo, home of the most famous crafts market in South America (according to Lonely Planet) and for a two day mountain bike tour to the San Rafael Falls and Ecuador’s best hot springs, Papallacta (see following reports). A part from being a good base for exploring the environs, Quito is a charming city, tucked amid a high Andean valley and flanked by majestic mountains. Despite the fact that it’s only 22 km south of the equator, Quito’s elevation (2850 m) gives it a spring like climate year-round, meaning during day around 25 °C and at night about 10 °C. We thought it was quite cold when we first got here directly from Panama City, but now, since acclimatized, it is quite nice.

Quito’s colonial center is a declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and we took a close look at it while strolling along its old-town streets. We went to the Plaza de Independencia, Quito’s main square, the Palacio del Gobierno, the Presidential Palace, the Monastery of San Francisco, Ecuador’s oldest church, the historic alley of La Ronda and we visited El Panecillo, the small, ever-present hill to the south of the old town which is topped by a huge statue of La Virgen de Quito, with a crown of stars, eagle’s wings and a chained dragon atop of the world. We had a nice view of the whole city from the summit.

We stayed (are staying) at a good and price worthy hotel, Hostal Amazonas Inn, in the Mariscal neighborhood. The rooms are spotless, with private bathroom and hot showers, cable TV and the staff is really nice and helpful. What else can you ask for for US$22? The Mariscal neighborhood is very popular with tourists, it’s the newer part of town, where there are lots of bars, restaurants, internet cafes, travel agencies and small hotels. But you see a lot of Quiteños too, so it keeps its Ecuadorian flair.

We liked Quito, its people, restaurants and tranquil atmosphere.

Take care, amigos.

Sabrina and Fredrik