Quito

Quito: Heritage, Volcanoes & Andean Tradition

Quito was the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. Its colonial historic center, one of the best-preserved in Latin America, stretches between gilded churches, charming plazas, and streets telling centuries of history. At 9,350 feet above sea level, surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, Quito offers a unique blend of Andean culture, highland cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes.

💡 Fun Facts & History

• 💡Quito was the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, along with Kraków.
• 💡The Church of La Compañía de Jesús contains 7 tons of gold leaf in its interior. It took 163 years to build and is the most ornate church in the Americas.
• 💡From Quito, you can see over 20 volcanoes, including Cotopaxi (19,347ft), one of the world's highest active volcanoes.
• 💡The Mitad del Mundo monument is 240 meters off from the actual equatorial line, calculated with modern GPS. The true line is at the Inñan museum.
• 💡Ecuador has the highest biodiversity per square kilometer in the world. Quito is the perfect base to explore four distinct natural regions.
• 💡Quito's TelefériQo, at 13,281 feet, is one of the highest urban cable cars in the world. On clear days you can see Cotopaxi, Cayambe, and Antisana.