Vacation rentals are the perfect option for visitors who want more than the traditional hotel stay – spacious rooms, fully-equipped kitchens, scenic balconies and more. Choose an apartment in the heart of Quito’s Colonial quarter near the Presidential Palace, within walking distance to cafes, theatres, small supermarkets and museums. Or mix the culture of Quito with the challenge of golf, in an enticing golf villa in southeast La Merced. Villas provide expansive rooms, Jacuzzis, cozy fireplaces and wide-ranging amenities in a garden setting with magnificent mountain views. Play a relaxing round of golf and enjoy a picnic on your patio, before setting out to explore historic Quito.

Quito’s million-plus people enjoy the capital’s Andean landscape on the eastern slopes of Pichincha – a still active volcano. Look out on the city from the towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional for a wonderful view of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lauded as the best-preserved historic center in all of Latin America. For more amazing views of the city and surrounding volcanic and mountain peaks, take the Teleferico tramway to the summit of Cruz Loma.

In the historic Colonial center, streets are lined with charming Spanish buildings topped with red-tiled roofs. The Plaza Grande square is surrounded by the Presidential and Archbishop Palaces and the monument to Liberty, but the cobbled San Francisco square is every bit as beautiful, cominated by the 16th-century San Francisco Church and attached Fray Pedro Gocial Museum of religious and colonial art. Museums for all interests spread throughout the city. In Bellavista, La Capilla Del Hombre is one of the most interesting galleries, designed solely to display Oswaldo Guyasamin’s works.

Ecuadorian specialty craft markets offer excellent selections. Naïf paintings, silver and textile creations, leather goods and colonial-era antiques can be found in Old Town artisan markets, as well as in the Northern, modern Mariscal area of Quito. Here, visitors and residents gather at the Plaza El Quinde for drinks and dining, and La Floresta and La Pradera neighborhoods also include excellent dining options. Fine dining gastronomy spans delicious regional fare, French, Italian, International fusion and beyond.

Your family will enjoy living like locals in your own private rental retreat. Explore the city and return for a home-cooked meal by the fireplace, or start the day with breakfast on the patio. You’ll enjoy the best of vacations and free the dining budget for the occasional fine dining experience in the city.