Day23;
Arrive in Quito the day before our guided trip.
Day 24;
Located 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level, Quito, the Ecuadorian capital,
enjoys a wonderful spring-like climate, despite the fact that it is only
22 km (14 miles) south of the Equator. It is in a valley flanked by
mountains, and on a clear day, several snow-capped volcanoes are
visible. As well as its beautiful location, it is rich in history and
much of the Colonial Old Town is well preserved.
In 1978 UNESCO
declared Quito a World Heritage site, and any new development in Quito's
old town is now strictly controlled. Life in Quito tends to be
peaceful, though the drivers are fond of using their car horns! There
are approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area, but
the pace is relaxed and the residents hospitable.
Quito is
separated into two basic sections, the old and the new cities. The old
city is full of interesting historical buildings and many churches. Some
of the more interesting ones include the Catedral de Quito, located on
the Plaza de la Independencia. Built between 1550 and 1562, it was one
of the first neoclassical works in Quito. La Compañía de Jésus Church is
considered one of the most beautiful in the Americas. The decorations
in the Compañía contain approximately one and one-half tons of gold, and
construction of the church took 170 years (1605-1775).
The
small, rounded hill that dominates the old town is called El Panecillo
or 'the Little Bread Loaf', and is a major Quito landmark. Marvelous
panoramic views of the entire city, as well as views of the surrounding
volcanoes stretch out at your feet. You can take a trolley (streetcar)
or a cab to the Old Town from the New Town.
Quito has a large
population of foreigners and is a popular destination for travellers,
resulting in a varied and vibrant nightlife where salsotecas and other
dance clubs abound. For a real Ecuadorian experience though, be sure and
drop by a peña if you can; these are great places for meeting locals
and dancing, as well as enjoying local cooking.
In the 16th
century, Spanish conqueror Francisco de Orellana ventured from Quito
into the eastern jungle, in search of El Dorado, a mythical stash of
Inca gold hidden away in the jungle. While he didn't find gold, he did
discover Ecuador's Rio Napo, which along with Peru’s Marañón, combines
to create the mighty Amazon. He followed the Napo into the Amazon
mainstream and travelled all the way through the dense jungle to the
Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s coast.
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