Top Things You Must See and Do in Quito, Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador

As one of the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in the world, with the outskirts of the city extending about a kilometer away from the equator, Quito is a very special city. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be captivated by this expansive capital city, built on the sides of dramatic mountains and plunging valleys.

On our recent trip to Ecuador, we landed in Quito and stayed several nights with the family of Michelle’s former classmate. They were wonderful hosts, introducing us to some traditional Ecuadorian meals and helping us get acquainted with life and travel in Ecuador.

The red-eye flight may have played a role, but we certainly felt the elevation (Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level) the first morning as we were unusually fatigued and occasionally a bit light-headed. We took it easy the first couple days and had no problem walking around town. When we returned to fly out of Quito about seven weeks later, we felt great and were able to power walk up hills without losing our breath!

Visiting the historic center of Quito is an absolute must. This was one of the first World Heritage sites designated by UNESCO! The main square is called Plaza de la Independencia (or Plaza Grande) and it’s surrounded by well-preserved colonial architecture, dozens of churches, restaurants and more. You could spend several hours walking around and taking it in. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).