Quito, Ecuador's charming capital, is the perfect place to spend an afternoon meandering through the colorful colonial-style streets.

Quito, the capital as well as main administrative and transportation hub in the country, is a place where most visitors to Ecuador will find themselves whether arriving by air or land. Although the region has long been prominent, even serving as one of the starting points of the Inca road system, it wasn’t until 1541 that the Spanish conquistadors finally founded Quito as a city.

Its heritage can still be seen in the historical city center, largely praised as one of the most authentic and best preserved downtowns in South America and thus earning it the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Basilica del Voto Nacional is a top attraction due to its religious significance, spectacular architecture, and gorgeous panoramic views of Quito from the top of the two steeples.

Otherwise, spend some time in the spacious Plaza de La Independencia (also known as Plaza Grande) which is surrounded by administrative buildings, museums, shops, monasteries, and other tourist amenities. Museum enthusiast will be delighted by the excellent Museo del Banco Central which showcases priceless pre-Columbian, colonial, and contemporary art and artifacts, and provides a comprehensive review of Ecuadorian history.

Take the short walk up Cerro Santa Ana for a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city below you.

The country’s second city (though first by many markers), is the port city of Guayaquil. It proudly rests on the banks of the Guayas River that flows into the Pacific Ocean. Guayaquil has a long and tumultuous history involving Spanish colonialists, French and English pirates, the Peruvian army, and a devastating fire in 1896. Today, however, the city is a booming place for both trade commerce and tourism.

Strolling in and out of the attractive homes, restaurants, and shops along the elevated stairway of Cerro Santa Ana is a great way to pass an afternoon. Visitors who reach the top are treated to a sweeping view of all Guayaquil. Back at sea level, be sure to visit the Parque Histórico, a new beautiful urban park that includes a zoo, nature reserve, playgrounds, monuments, and plenty of green space to relax in. Finally, there is the family-friendly, 1.5-mile long Malecon 2000 esplanade along the Guayas River which provides all of the modern entertainment, dining, and shopping options you may be seeking on your trip to Ecuador.

The icy blue tops of the New Cathedral in Cuenca contrast harmoniously with the pleasant city's grapefruit-colored roofs.

Cuenca is a distant third to Quito and Guayaquil’s size and population. However this magical city resting in the Ecuadorian highlands is also the most attractive. The charming historic downtown of this city has earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich architecture and historical buildings such as the Old Cathedral (Iglesia de El Sagrario) and New Cathedral (Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción). The markets of Cuenca are fantastic places to stock up on artisan handicrafts, people watch, and get an authentic taste of the local cuisine. For a great view, head to Mirador Turi, a lookout point south of the city that will give you an unforgettable vista of the city and its natural surroundings. And if you have extra time, visit some of Cuenca’s nearby villages for true insight into the native lifestyle. Only a few miles away from the city, El Cajas national park is the ideal spot to see spectacular rivers, streams, and lagoons contrasted by the distant rocky peaks.

Day Time

Monastery Purchases, Quito, Ecuador

Monastery Shopping Madness

Most of the convents in Historical Quito have a small gift shop where you can buy interesting goodies made by cloistered nuns.  Although the nuns specialize in homeopathic remedies made from plants and herbs prominently displayed at the front counters, head instead to the other cabinet filled with wines and anise flavored mistela to discover the secret way the locals plump up the collection plate. If you don’t drink, other good finds include homemade cookies, and desoured lemons filled with caramel crème. The best part is that most of your purchases will feature handmade nun labels, which makes them excellent and unusual gifts.

Monasterio de Carmen Alto, Calle Rocafuerte and Garcia Moreno

Clothing Market

Leave your wallet at home, but do bring some cash to this sprawling market full of Quitenos bartering for legitimate and not so legitimate brand name clothing. This market isn’t for the faint of heart, or for those who suffer from claustrophobia.  The narrow passageways are packed with people and it quickly becomes apparent that what looks like an indoor market is actually an outdoor market enclosed by various tarps covering hundreds of stalls and spread out across almost 3 blocks, giving it an alleyway, maze-like feel. You are likely to be the only traveler there, so try not to stand out or look bewildered, and definitely don’t wear a fanny pack!

Centro Comercial Parqueadero La Merced,  Calle Chile and Calle Imbabura.

Guayasamin Museum

Located in beautiful Bellavista, a charming residential neighborhood in the eastern hills of Quito, sits the Guayasamin Museum, once home to Ecuador’s most famous painter Oswaldo Guayasamin.  The museum houses some of his most beautiful work meant to represent the strife and injustice suffered by the indigenous workers in Latin America. The painter’s own art collections, a staggering representation of both colonial art and pre-Columbian ceramics, are inside different rooms in the museum as well.  After you wander through the galleries, you can visit La Capilla del Hombre, Guayasamin’s final vision illustrating both man’s cruelty and potential. Then spend the afternoon strolling through this picturesque neighborhood and up to stunning Guapulo, full of small winding roads and lovely vistas. Wear your sneakers as the roads are steep!

Calle Jose Bosmediano 543, at Jose Carbo. Capilla del Hombre: Mariano Calvache y Lorenzo Chavez Esquina

Night Time

La Ronda Street

Misinformed guidebooks still warn tourists away from this area at night which is a real shame considering it is the only nightlife in Centro Historico. This pedestrian only, cobblestoned road is one of the oldest in Quito and incredibly picturesque with flower-filled balconies, colonial architecture, wrought iron gates, and artist’s galleries.  The best time to visit is Friday and Saturday nights after 7pm when all the restaurants, cafes, bars, and art galleries are open and people sell hot canelazo from doorways. Hundreds of people flood the streets to hear live music, socialize, and sample the homemade wine.  Street performers and dancers normally make an appearance around 9pm. There are policeman at either end of the street happy to help tourists flag a taxi.

Calle La Ronda, Centro Historico

El Pobre Diablo

Easily the coolest venue in Quito, this small jazz club hosts live music a couple days a week and is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy local and international musicians, while knocking back a few whiskeys or glasses of vino. This bohemian club doesn’t get the music started until after 10pm and shuts down around 2am. If you really are a poor devil keep in mind that they charge a small cover fee and drinks are a bit pricier than usual.

Isabel La Catolica, and Galavis, La Floresta

“We returned on Tuesday evening from our wonderful trip.  Thanks for all the help in planning it and all the decisions you helped us make.  The guides were wonderful, especially Rodrigo in Quito and Ronnie for the Sacred Valley.  Ronnie was really good, informative, great sense of humor and very knowledgeable.  Miguel in Lima was also good and very helpful!

“The boat, the Galapagos Legend was great, very well managed and organized and we were constantly in awe of what we saw and the experiences we had.

“Machu Picchu was so amazing, even with all the pictures we had seen, we were not prepared for the sheer wonder of it all.

Mr Bromberg's group enjoy the view at Machu Picchu, Peru

“Everything went like clockwork, all was very well planned and organized and great choices were made by you for us.  Everyone was lovely, kind and very helpful!

“In fact everyone we met was wonderful, eager to help, tell us about their country and make us feel at home.  It was a wonderful, once in a life time trip!”