Quito is the capital of Ecuador and is located on a long plateau just east of an active volcano, the Pichincha volcano.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is the city's principal airport located about 10 km outside of the city centre. LAN Airlines and Martinair are the leading carriers to the airport.
In 1978, along with Krakow, Poland, Quito became the first city named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many vacationers decide to ride horses into the Andes Mountains or the valleys around them.
A neat excursion is to El Mitad del Mundo or the Middle of the World Monument located approximately 20 kilometres north of the city. The monument marks the precise location where the southern and northern hemispheres meet. It also has a planetarium and a scaled model of Quito
La Basilica is one of the newest churches in Old Town (construction began in 1926). Its sheer size and stained glass make it magnificent. For a small fee, you can climb to the top of the 83 meter high clock towers for an incredible view of the city.