Best Quito Day Trips & Things to Do

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is the highest official capital city in the world at an elevation of 9,350 feet (2,850 m) above sea level. Located only about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the equator, the city also contains one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas. Filled with treasures of colonial architecture and grand historical monuments, the Old Town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978. Infused with the warm and relaxed Ecuadorian Sierra culture, Quito’s outdoor markets house traditional hatmakers and shamanistic healers.