• Learn Spanish Special Spanish language programs avalaible with Academia Surpacifico in Quito [10] and also Montanita Spanish School [11]. Medical Spanish, Spanish and Volunteer, group lessons, Travelling classroom are some of the programs offered by this Spanish school in Quito.

• Explore the Old Town With its gorgeous colonial architecture, relaxing plazas and a stunning number of churches. If you happen to be there during Christmas or Easter, you'll be amazed at the number of events, masses, and processions that bring out the crowds. You'll find craft shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels across its grid of streets.

• Watch The old men play Ecuador's version of bocce at Parque El Ejido. You can also see some serious games of Ecua-volley, the local version of volleyball, on a Saturday or Sunday.

• The Middle of the World 45 mins from the capital Quito, you can go to see the Monument to the middle of the World. It's a big monument with many events and things to do. For example, national indigineous music groups play different songs of their culture. There are museums with the history of the 0 latitud and history of Quito as well. There are many unique artworks and once you are there you can even weight your self and you will find out how you weigh less on the equator.

• Bycicle Ride the Ciclopaseo takes place every other Sunday (the first and the middle of the month). 30 kilometres (20 miles) of roads running north-south through the city are completely closed to traffic. People cycle, run and blade the route. Up to 30,000 people take part. Several bike shops rent bikes for visitors to be able to take part.

• Cable Car There is a cable car ride up the side of Ruco Pichina. It's called "Teleferico" in spanish. Ask your hotel about the special buses that run through the city taking people towards this destination. You can also find your own way there through taxi or bus.

• Museo del Banco Central. Located across from the Casa de la Cultura and adjacent to the Parque El Ejido, you'll find perhaps Ecuador's most renowned museum with different Salas, or rooms, devoted to pre-Colombian, Colonial and gold works of art, among other topics. Some of the famous pieces include whistle bottles shaped like animals, elaborate gold headdresses and re-created miniature scenes of life along the Amazon. The museum is well-organized, and it takes about 3-4 hours to see everything. Guides who speak several different languages including English, French and Spanish are available for a small fee.

• Museo de la Ciudad. The Museo de la Ciudad is in the Old Town, on Garcia Moreno, directly opposite the Carmen Alto monastery. A lovely museum with two floors encircling two quiet courtyards, the Museo de la Ciudad provides more of a social history of Ecuador than other museums in Quito. Re-enacted scenes from daily life of Ecuador's citizens through the years include a hearth scene from a 16th-century home, a battle scene against the Spanish, and illustrations of the building of Iglesia San Francisco.

• Teleferico. This is the world's second-highest cable car. It's located on the eastern flanks of the Pichincha Volcano which overlooks the whole city. It hoists visitors up to an amazing 4,000 meters (12,000 feet). On clear days, one can spot half-a-dozen volcanoes and spy the entire city below. You can also hike up from here to the Guagua Pichincha Volcano, which is active. See Teleferiqo website for details [9]

• Botanical Gardens. The Jardin Botanico is located on the northwest side of the Parque La Carolina. It's a wonderful escape from the city, with all of Ecuador's ecosystems represented with a wide variety of flora. You can take a guided tour or just wander. The highlight for many people are the two glassed-in orchidariums.

• Museo Mindalae. An extremely original project in the north part of the Mariscal District, this museum provides an 'ethno-historical' view of Ecuador's amazingly rich cultural diversity. You can find out about the country's different peoples, from the coast to the Andes to the Amazon, and their crafts in a specially-built and designed structure. The museum has a restaurant for lunch, a cafe and a fair-trade shop.

• Itchimbia cultural complex and park. This hill lies to the east of the Old Town. It provides stunning views of central and northern Quito, as well as the distant peak of Cayambe to the northeast. The hillside was was made into a park and an impressive cultural centre established here in 2005. The centre holds temporary exhibitions. At the weekends, there are workshops and fun for children. A restaurant, Pim's, opened at the complex in June 2007. The complex closes at 6 pm. Once it closes, you can head to the nearby Cafe Mosaico to watch the sunset until about 7 pm. It's a great spot to watch the fading of the light on the mountainside with the floodlights of the Old Town's churches.

• Museo Guayasamin. This musueum houses the collection of Ecuador's most renowned contemporary artists, Oswaldo Guayasamin. It has a fine collection of pre-Colombian, colonial and independence art, as well as housing many of the artist's works. You can also visit the nearby Chapel of Man (Capilla del Hombre) which was built posthumously to house some of Guayasamin's vast canvasses on the condition of Latin American Man.

• Calle de la Ronda. This street in the Old Town was restored by Municipality and FONSAL in 2007. It was transformed with the help and cooperation of the local residents. It's a romantic cobbled street just off the Plaza Santo Domingo (or it can be reached via Garcia Moreno by the City Museum). There are shops, patios, art galleries and modest cafe restaurants now, all run by residents. Cultural events are common at the weekends.

• La Vírgen del Panecillo. Adjacent to the Old City, El Panecillo is a large hill on top of which is La Virgin del Panecillo, a large statue of the 'winged' Virgin Mary. She can be seen from most points in the city. Local legend has it that she is the only virgin in Quito. Never walk up the hill, always take a taxi or a bus as the walk up can be dangerous.

• Mitad del Mundo. Just outside of Quito is where the measurements were first made that proved that the shape of the Earth is in fact an oblate spheroid. Commemorating this is a large monument that straddles the equator called Mitad del Mundo or middle of the world. Note, however, that the true equator is not at the Mitad del Mundo monument. Through the magic of GPS technology, we now know that it is only a few hundred feet away -- right where the Indians said it was before the French came along and built the monument in the wrong place. The entrance for the park is $1.50 and for most of the attractions you have to pay extra. The Intiñan Solar Museum is right next to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the other side of the North fence. For two dollars you can have a tour of this little museum. They demonstrate the Coriolis effect and several other interesting things. The place looks like a total dump and is at the end of a dirt road, but is much more interesting and informative than the Mitad del Mundo. When you go to the middle of the world, it is best to go with a tour, or hire a taxi driver by the hour. The hourly rate should be in the $12 or less range. Busses leave from the Occidental or Av. America for $0.40.

• La Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus. In the Old City, this church is regarded by many as the most beautiful in the Americas. Partially destroyed by fire, it was restored with assistance from the Getty Foundation and other benefactors. Stunning.

By Plane

• Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre(San Jose, Costa Rica, Houston, Madrid, Miami, Lima, New York, Panama City, Punta Cana with KLM, Continental Airlines, Copa airlines, AeroGal, TAME, Delta Airlines, TACA, LAN Ecuador, Iberia and American Airlines. Some of these flights continue to or originate from Guayaquil.

Near the baggage area of the Quito airport, it is possible to buy vouchers that can be used for a taxi ride. As of 2007, the cost to go to the tourist hotel zone was $5.

If you wish to try taking a bus instead of a taxi to the Mariscal (main tourist destination) section of Quito (it is not advisable if you have much luggage or are not familiar in Quito), which is often referred to as "gringolandia" by tourists or "la zona" by locals, you can exit the airport, cross the main street, and board any bus with "J.L. Mera" or "Juan L. Mera" on the sign. The cost is USD $0.25, but if you are a student under 18 or a senior citizen over 65 then it is USD $0.12 as of August 2004.

Quito International Flights & Domestic Flights to Cuenca, Guayaquil and Galapagos Islands departing from Quito

A new, large international airport is presently under construction. It will be located well outside of the city to the northeast. The airport is expected to be completed in 2009.

By Bus

The Terminal Terrestre is the bus terminal in Quito. As long as you hold on to your belongings and don't hang around there at odd hours, it is safe. People will probably shout at you asking where you are going. They either work for a bus company and want to get you to buy a ticket with that company or want to help you find the bus you are looking for in exchange for a tip. If you arrive with a lot of luggage it's best to avoid the public transportation system in Quito and take taxi to your hotel. Ecuadorian long-distance buses will generally let passengers off anywhere along their route. If you are arriving in or departing Quito you can avoid the bus terminal altogether by simply getting off near your destination or by flagging down a bus marked for your destination along one of Quito's main arteries. Ask your hotel which streets busses for your destination pass along; getting on the bus this way saves you both time and the hassle of going to Quito's unplesant bus terminal. Long distance bus fairs in Ecuador cost around $1 per hour.

There are frequent connections to all mayor destinations in the country, including Sto Domingo (3 hours and around $2.50), Guayaquil (8 hours), Baños, Otavalo.

• El Trole (The Trolley) and the Ecovía follow north-south-lines down through the heart of Quito. $0.25 for a ride. Take note that there is no tradition of waiting for people to disembark before people board, so this may take some getting used to. The buses are among the cleanest of South America, but still, be aware of pickpockets! Quito Trolebus map with tips about security and tourist stations

• The easiest way to get to most Quito hotels from the airport is to buy a taxi ticket, available after the baggage area before exiting the airport. Cost to the hotels in the main tourist area is $5 (June 2007).

• Taxis and buses are everywhere and very inexpensive. A bus trip costs in Quito $0.25, including Trole and Ecovía (August 2007). A taxi ride costs a minimum of $1 during the day and a minimum of $2 at night. Only use official taxis (yellow with a number painted on the door). Make sure the driver turns on the taxi meter if you don't want to get ripped off and find another taxi if they claim its broken (taxímetro). At night or if they refuse to, negotiate the price before getting in, or wait for the next.

• The railway station is at the south end of the old city, close to the El Trole route. The railway is very rundown and services are erratic. It's best to check with the Visitors' Bureau on the most recent timetable.

• Metrobus run from Universidad Central in America Avenue, next to Prensa Ave, and then to Diego de Vasquez Ave. until Carcelen last station, this is the best bus service for visitors who wants to visit the Mitad del Mundo Monument, because at Ofelia station the public services buses who go to Mitad del Mundo monument waits to make the switching and carry visitors to Mitad del Mundo, $0.25 until Ofelia station, $0.35 to Mitad del Mundo Monument Metrobus bus service map

• Ecovia run from Rio Coca Station at north in Quito to the la Marin Station inside the Quito historic Downtown. The ride cost $0.25, is a good way to reach the Mariscal area if you live or stay at the western neighborhoods in Quito Ecovia bus service map

• You can rent a car in Quito, but it's not recommended for getting around the city. It's not worth the effort with taxis so cheap. Renting a car is a possibility for exploring further afield, to the Cotopaxi or Otavalo or Papallacta areas, for instance, but is only recommended for those who speak a bit of Spanish and can handle the tension of Ecuador's 'lax' driving rules.

• Guitarras Guacan, Chimborazo y Bahia, Quito (At the northwest Corner of the Virgen del Panecillo), charangos and other stringed instruments for over 38 years at the same workshop. Not only is he extremely talented - his instruments are sold all over the world - he is also very friendly and gives tours of his workshop. edit

Ecuador's indigenous peoples include many highly skilled weavers. Almost everyone who goes to Ecuador sooner or later purchases a sweater, scarf or tapestry. In Quito vendors are found along the sidewalks of more touristy neighborhoods. You should also consider travelling directly to some of the artisen markets, such as the famous one in Otavalo. If you haven't got time for Otavalo, you can find virtually the same gear at the market on Jorge Washington and Juan Leon Mera in the Mariscal district. The Mariscal is replete with dozens of souvenir, craft and T-shirt stores which make shopping for a gift very easy.

There are lots of artisans working on unique crafts in the capital. These include guitar-makers, candle makers, tanners and leather-workers, silversmiths, ceramicists and woodcarvers. You can find them at their workshops, published in a guide by the Visitors' Bureau.

Leather items can be a good buy. Ask about cobblers that will make shoes in a few days.

There are also several fair-trade shops in Quito which promise to pay the craftspeople fairly for their products. The ones at the Tianguez (Plaza San Francisco), El Quinde (Plaza Grande), and Museo Mindalae are all very good.

Probably the best crafts in the country are found at the branches of Olga Fisch [13]. These are located inside the Patio Andaluz hotel (Garcia Moreno y Mejia, Old Town) and up from the Mariscal on Avenida Colon. You will find exceptional crafts here, including unique hand-woven rugs and silverware. At the Colon branch they also have a small but impressive museum.

There are many shopping malls in Quito such as Quicentro, Mall el Jardin, CCI, CC. El Bosque, Megamaxi, Ventura Mall, Ciudad Comercial el Recreo, San Luis, etc. and every street corner has several small "Mom and Pop" shops or stands where only a couple of items are for sale. If your shopping list is very long, you may spend all day looking around for the stores that have the items on your list.

There are many casual wear stores like MNG, Benetton, Lacoste, Guess, Fossil, Bohno,Diesel etc. So if you need some items Quito is in fact a very good place to buy nice clothes at relatively low prices.

Other interesting places to shop in Quito include:

• Casa Indo Andina - Beautiful Alpaca clothing. Address: Roca and Juan León Mera. Ring the doorbell.
• La Bodega Exportadora - Wonderful, rambling old mansion filled with antiques, crafts, and woolens. Address: Juan León Mera 614 and Carrión.
• Galeria Latina - Alpaca and other fine crafts. Exquisite merchandise, and pricey. Address: Juan León Mera 823 and Veintimilla (next to Libri Mundi). Tel. 2221098.
• Hilana - Wool blankets. Address: 6 de Diciembre 1921 and Baquerizo Moreno.
• Productos Andinos - Address: Urbina 111 and Cordero. Tel. 2224565.
• Marcel Creations - Panama hats and crafts from Cuenca. Address: Roca 766, between Amazonas and 9 de Octubre.
• Fundación Sinchi Sacha - Ceramics from the Oriente. Address: Reina Victoria 1780 and La Niña.
• The Ethnic Collection - Address: Amazonas 1029 and Pinto. Tel. 2522887.
• El Aborígen - Address: Washington 536 and Juan León Mera
• Ecuafolklore - Address: Robles 609 between Amazonas and Juan León Mera.
• Amor y Café - Ethnic clothing. Address: Foch 721 and Juan León Mera.
• Su Kartera - Local shoes, belts, briefcases, etc. Address: Sucre 351 and García Moreno. Tel. 2512160. Another branch on Veintimilla 1185, between 9 de Octubre and Amazonas.
• Los Colores de la Tierra - Handicrafts & wood items. Address: Juan León Mera 838 and Wilson.
• Chimborazo - Leather goods. Address: Amazonas and Naciones Unidas (next to El Caracol shopping mall).

You name it, and it's available in Quito. Restaurants range from the basic places offering chicken and rice for $1.50 to international food with very expensive prices. The country benefits from all worlds, with a variety of dishes inspired by both coastal and Andean produce. Seafood and fish is fresh and delicious, while meats, particularly pork, are excellent. These combine with typical ingredients such as potatoes, plantains and all sorts of tropical and Andean fruits.

A good area to head to for eating out is the Plaza El Quinde (or Foch) which is in the Mariscal district at Foch y Reina Victoria. There are dozens of restaurants and eateries all around this area. La Floresta, up the hill from the Mariscal around 12 de Octubre, also has many fine restaurants. The La Floresta traffic circle turns into an evening market after 5 pm and the most popular dish served is tripa mishqui (grilled beef or pork intestines).

Churrasco is a a great Ecuadorian version of a Brazilian dish. Tallarin is a popular noodle dish mixed with chicken or beef. Chinese restaurants are known as "Chifas" and are very abundant. Chaulafan is the local term for fried-rice, a very popular dish. Cebiche (also spelled ceviche) is a very popular dish in which clams or shrimp are marinated in a broth. Worth trying, but look for a well known restaurant with many locals to be sure you are getting fresh seafood.

When buying from lower-priced restaurants or shops, if you only have bills larger than a $5, it's a good idea to get them changed at a bank first.

Recommended restaurants include:

• Pim's, [14]. A Ecuadorian Franchise. They have 3 locals, Panecillo, Cumbaya and Isabel La Catolica (next to the Swissotel). Is a Graet place to have a big meal with friends and family, or just to have a quite time alone, with a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. edit

• El Capuleto -Italian. Av. Eloy Alfaro y 6 de Diciembre. You can enjoy a fine italian meal in a quite space... but just in the middle of the city. The home made pizza and the capuccino are excelent.

• Tibidabo - International cuisine. Moderate. Attentive service in a comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere. General Salazar 934 y 12 de Octubre. Tel. 593-2 223-7334. Hours: M - F 12:30 - 4 and 6:30 - 11; Sat 6:30 - 11; Sunday closed. Reservations recommended.

• Restaurante Las Redes - Seafood. Moderate. Popular with the locals; well known for ceviche. Amazonas 845. Tel. 252 5697.

• Ille de France - French. Expensive and excellent. Formal attire. Reina Victoria 1747. Tel. 255 3292. Hours: Daily 7 - 11.

• El Nispero, Valladoli N24-438 y Cordero, tel. 222 6398. Fine Ecuadorian cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. Moderate. Business casual. Hours: Tues - Sat 12 - 4 and 7 - 11; Sun - Mon 12 - 4. Reservations recommended.

• Cebiches de la Rumiñahui, Real Audiencia N59-121 La Mariscal. Ceviches are its specialty. Reasonable prices for excellent cebiche. Popular among natives. You can also find it in the food courts of Quicentro, San Marino Shopping Mall and Mall del Sur.

• Sport Planet, Av. America y Naciones Unidas, ☎ 593 2 267 790. Located on the 3rd floor of "Plaza de las Americas". Is the Ecuadorian version of Hollywood Planet. The night sky of northen Quito is incredible and the food is great. edit
• Turtle's Head, La Niña 626 y Amazonas, ☎ 593-2-256-5544. An english pub style bar. They have their own brews along with other popular beers.  edit
• Q bar+restaurant+lounge, Plaza Foch, La Mariscal, ☎ [+593 2] 255 7840, [15]. A very elegant lounge style bar. It's located on Foch Plaza so you have access to an even wider options nearby. edit
• Sutra, J Calama 380, Mariscal Sucre. A great place to have some drinks and have a chat, or just to pass the time. Is just above "no bar" edit
• El pobre Diablo, Isabel La Católica E12-06 y Galavis esq. La Floresta, ☎ telef: (593) 02 2235194 / 2225397 / 099216290. Is one of the oldest cafe-bars in Quito. Almost every week there are some kind of cultural activity or a live concert. The food and the drinks are moderately priced. The "Vino caliente" and "canelazo" are recommended.  edit

There are several Ecuadorian brands of beer, but the most prevalent throughout the country is Pilsener. There are also some alcoholic drinks which can only be found in Quito like Mistelas, etc. Water in Quito is perfectly OK, as it has an ISO 9001 International Quality Certification but bottled water is recommended.

Dance Clubs

La Mariscal offers tons of places for dancing or just drinks.

Varadero - Reina Victoria 1751 and La Pinta; Small, local and super sweaty, this bar-restaurant packs in the crowds for high-energy live Cuban music. Small cover to get in and drinks are moderately expensive.

El Aguijon - A favorite of locals and tourist, if you like ska, new punk and all kinds of alternative rock music this is the place for you, this is the best place in the city for you to hear the fusion between Ecuadorian and Latin rhythms like salsa, meringue vallenatos, cumbias, etc. and reggae, trip hop, trance, skapunk etc. Located in the Mariscal District.

"Seseribo" - Famous for being the first Salsoteca in Quito. Ave. Veintimilla & 12 de Octubre Bdg. El Girón (basement). They play tropical beats here and on wednesdays they have live salsa. The club also functions as a cultural space for live Caribbean Music, art expositions and book presentations.

Blooms - Walking distance from Reina Victoria.

Bungalow 6 - Located at Calama street - infamous among locals for their strict policies about who gets in or not. Great for foreigners though who want to get a piece of Latin action.

No Bar - One of the oldest places in Quito. Located at Calama steet and Juan Leon Mera.

Outside of La Mariscal are other clubs that are more famous among locals.

Discoteca Blues Av.Republica - a popular late night electronica/rock club.

Guapulo

Check out the Guapulo area of Quito, its a winding steep area with several great bars and cafés with a real bohemian feel to it without being overrun by gringos (yet).