Quito (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈkito]ⓘ;Quechua:Kitu), officiallySan Francisco de Quito, is thecapital and second-largest city ofEcuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province ofPichincha. Quito is in a valley on the eastern slopes ofPichincha,[4] an activestratovolcano in theAndes.
Quito's elevation of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) makes it either thehighest or the second highest national capital city in the world. This varied standing is becauseBolivia is acountry with multiple capitals; ifLa Paz is considered the Bolivian national capital, it tops the list of highest capitals, but ifSucre is specified as the capital, then it is the second highest, behind Quito.[5][6]
Quito is the political and cultural center ofEcuador as the country's major governmental, administrative, and cultural institutions are within the city. The majority of transnational companies with a presence in Ecuador are headquartered there. It is also one of the country's two major industrial centers—the port city ofGuayaquil being the other one.
The date of its first habitation is unknown, but archaeological evidence suggests that it was first settled by sedentary populations between 4400 and 1600 BC.[7] In the late fifteenth century, the Inca EmperorHuayna Capac defeated theQuitu, the region's original inhabitants, and incorporated Quito into theInca Empire, designating it into the capital of the Inca Empire's northern region. The Spanish conquest of the city in 1534 is the date most frequently cited as the city's official founding, making Quito the oldest capital inSouth America.
The oldest traces of human presence in Quito were excavated by American archeologist Robert E. Bell in 1960, on the slopes of the Ilaló volcano, located between the eastern valleys of Los Chillos and Tumbaco. Hunter-gatherers left tools of obsidian glass, dated to 8000 BC. This archeological site, calledEI Inga, was brought to Robert Bell's attention by Allen Graffham. As a geologist in Ecuador, Graffham pursued his amateur interest in archeology. He made surface collections at the site during 1956.[9] The discovery of projectile points, particularly specimens with basal fluting, stimulated his interest, and he made several visits to the site to collect surface materials. Graffham's previous interest in Paleo-Indian remains, and his experience with early human-made materials in Kansas and Nebraska in the Central Plains of the United States, led him to believe that the site was an important discovery.[9]
The second important vestige of human settlement was found in the current neighborhood of Cotocollao (1500 BC), northwest of Quito. The prehistoric village covered over 26 hectares in an area irrigated by many creeks. Near the ancient rectangular houses, there are burials with pottery and stone offerings. The Cotocollao people extracted and exportedobsidian to the coastal region.[10]
The priestJuan de Velasco wrote about a Kingdom of Quito. His source was a lost work byMarcos de Niza, the existence of which has not been confirmed. His account said that another people, known as theCara or the Schyris, came from the coast and took over the entire region by AD 890. He goes on by saying that this kingdom lasted until theInca took over the territory in the 15th century. However archeological evidence does not indicate unity among the different ethnic groups in the region. The localQuitu or Quillaco tribe is distinct in its art and architecture from its neighbors.
By the 20th century, many prominent historians who began more academic studies, doubted the account of the Quitu-Cara kingdom. They think it was a legendary pre-Hispanic account of the highlands.[11][12][13]
These days, most historians deny the existence of the kingdom of Quito in favor of a more fragmented region. The Quitu ruled over Quito at the time of the Inca invasion byTopa Inca Yupanqui under the reign of his father.[14] In the early 21st century, there were spectacular new finds of 20-meter deep tombs in the La Florida neighborhood of Quito. Dating to AD 800, they provide evidence of the high quality of craftsmanship among the Quitu, and of the elaborate and complex character of their funerary rites. In 2010, the Museo de Sitio La Florida opened to preserve some of the artifacts from the tombs and explain this complex culture.[15]
Incan uprising against theSpanish continued during 1534. TheconquistadorDiego de Almagro founded Santiago de Quito (in present-day Colta, nearRiobamba) on 15 August 1534, renamed as San Francisco de Quito on 28 August 1534. The city was later refounded at its present location on 6 December 1534 by 204 settlers led bySebastián de Benalcázar, who captured leaderRumiñahui, effectively ending all organized resistance.[16] Rumiñahui was executed on 10 January 1535.
On 28 March 1541, Quito was declared a city. Further, on 23 February 1556, it was given the titleMuy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de San Francisco de Quito ("Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito"), marking the start of its next phase ofurban development. In 1563 Quito became the seat of aReal Audiencia (administrative district) of Spain. It was classified as part of theViceroyalty of Peru until 1717, after which theAudiencia was part of the newViceroyalty of New Granada. Under both Viceroyalties, the district was administered from Quito, (seeReal Audiencia de Quito).
Map of the city of Quito dated 1805. Made by Juan Pío Montúfar, 2nd Marquis of Selva Alegre and president of the Junta Soberana de Quito of 1809.Entry into the city of Quito of the Spanish troops sent by the Viceroy of Peru in 1809, painting of 1809 byFrancisco Javier Cortés.Museo de América (Madrid).[17]Quito, attributed to Rafael Salas (mid-19th century painting). National Museum of Ecuador.
The Spanish establishedRoman Catholicism in Quito. The first church (El Belén) was built before the city was officially founded. In January 1535 the San Francisco Convent was constructed, the first of about 20 churches and convents built during the colonial period. The Spanish converted the indigenous population to Christianity and used them as labor for construction.[citation needed]
In 1743, after nearly 210 years of Spanish colonization, Quito was a city of about 10,000 inhabitants.[citation needed] Quito briefly proclaimed its de facto independence from Spain between 1765 and 1766 during theQuito Revolt. On 10 August 1809, a movement was again started in Quito to win independence from Spain. On that date a plan for government was unveiled, which appointedJuan Pío Montúfar as president and prominent pro-independence figures in other government positions.
This initial movement was defeated on2 August 1810, when colonial troops arrived fromLima,Peru, and killed the leaders of the uprising and about 200 other settlers.[citation needed] A chain of conflicts climaxed on 24 May 1822, whenAntonio José de Sucre, under the command ofSimón Bolívar, led troops into theBattle of Pichincha, on the slopes of the volcano. Their victory established the independence of Quito and the surrounding areas.
In 1833, members of the Society of Free Inhabitants of Quito were assassinated by the government after they conspired against it. On 6 March 1845, theMarcist Revolution began. In 1875 the country's president,Gabriel García Moreno, was assassinated in Quito. Two years later, in 1877, ArchbishopJosé Ignacio Checa y Barba was killed by poison while celebrating Mass in Quito.[citation needed]
In 1882, insurgents rose up against the regime of dictatorIgnacio de Veintimilla. However, this did not end the violence that was occurring throughout the country. On 9 July 1883, the liberal commanderEloy Alfaro participated in theBattle of Guayaquil, and after further conflict he became the president of Ecuador on 4 September 1895. Upon completing his second term in 1911, he moved to Europe. He returned to Ecuador in 1912 and attempted to return to power unsuccessfully; he was arrested on 28 January 1912, and imprisoned, then lynched by amob that stormed the prison. His body was dragged through the streets of Quito to a city park, where it was burned.[citation needed]
In 1932, theFour Days' War broke out. This was a civil war that followed the election ofNeptalí Bonifaz and the subsequent realization that he carried a Peruvian passport. On 12 February 1949, a realistic broadcast ofH. G. Wells' novelThe War of the Worlds led to citywide panic, and the deaths of more than twenty people who died in fires set by mobs.[18][19]
The historic center Quito was established as aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978,[20] on the inaugural UNESCO session dedicated to the World Heritage.
In 2011, the city's population was 2,239,191 people. Since 2002, the city has been renewing its historic center. The old airport was closed to air traffic on 19 February 2013. The area was redeveloped as"Parque Bicentenario" (Bicententennial Park). The newMariscal Sucre International Airport, A 45 minutes drive from central Quito, opened to air traffic on 20 February 2013.
During 2003 and 2004, the bus lines of the Metrobus (Ecovia) were constructed, traversing the city from the north to the south.[citation needed] Many avenues and roads were extended and enlarged, depressed passages were constructed, and roads were restructured geometrically to increase the flow of traffic. Anew subway system opened with one line on 1 December 2023.
Quito is in the northernhighlands ofEcuador in theGuayllabamba river basin. The city is built on a long plateau lying on the east flanks of the Pichincha volcano. The valley of Guayllabamba River where Quito lies is flanked by volcanoes, some of them snow-capped, and visible from the city on a clear day. Quito is the closestcapital city to theequator. Quito's altitude is listed at 2,820 m (9,250 ft).[21]
Quito's closest volcano isPichincha, looming over the western side of the city. Quito is the only capital city that was developed so close to an active volcano.[22] Pichincha volcano has several summits, among them Ruku Pichincha at 4,700 m (15,400 ft)above sea level and Guagua Pichincha at 4,794 m (15,728 ft).
Pichincha is active and being monitored by volcanologists at the Geophysical institute of thenational polytechnic university. The largest eruption occurred in 1660 when more than 25 cm (9.8 in) of ash covered the city.[23] There were three minor eruptions in the 19th century. The latest eruption was recorded on 5 October 1999, when a few puffs of smoke were seen and much ash was deposited on the city.[24]
Activity in other nearby volcanoes can also affect the city. In November 2002 the volcanoReventador erupted and showered the city in fine ash particles, to a depth of several centimeters.[25]
The southern part of Quito has asubtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classificationCfb), while the northern part has awarm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classificationCsb). Because of its altitude and location on the equator, Quito has a fairly constant cool but comfortable climate. The average afternoon maximum temperature is 21.4 °C (70.5 °F), and the average night-time minimum temperature is 9.8 °C (49.6 °F).[27] The annual average temperature is 15.6 °C (60.1 °F).[28] The city has only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season, June through August (3 months), is referred to as summer; thewet season, September through May (9 months), is referred to as winter. Annual precipitation, depending on location, is over 1,000 mm (39 in).
Due to its altitude, Quito receives some of the greatest solar radiation in the world, sometimes reaching aUV Index of 24 by solar noon under clear skies.[29][30]
The fact that Quito lies almost on the equator means that high pressure systems are extremely rare. Pressure is stable, so very low pressure systems are also rare. From 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 the lowest pressure recorded was 998.2 hPa (29.48 inHg), and the highest was 1,015.2 hPa (29.98 inHg). Despite the absence of high pressure, Quito can still experience settled weather. Generally, the highest pressure is around midnight and the lowest in the mid-afternoon.[31]
Climate data for Quito, elevation 2,812 m (9,226 ft), (1981–2010)
Southern: is mainly an industrial and working-class residential area.
Northern: is the modern Quito, with high-rise buildings, shopping centers, the financial district, and a mix of upper-class, middle-class, and working-class residential areas.
Modern buildings in Quito's growing Financial District
Quito is the largest city in contribution to national GDP, and the highest in per capita income. Quito has the highest level of tax collection in Ecuador, exceeding the national 57% per year 2009, currently being the most important economic region of the country[citation needed], as the latest "study" conducted by the Central Bank of Ecuador.
The top major industries in Quito includes textiles, metals and agriculture, with major crops for export being coffee, sugar, cacao, rice, bananas and palm oil.[37]
Petroecuador, the largest company in the country and one of the largest in Latin America is headquartered in Quito.[38][verification needed]
Headquarters and regional offices of many national and international financial institutions, oil corporations and international businesses are also in Quito, making it a world class business city.
In "The World according toGaWC" global cities report, which measures a city's integration into the world city network, Quito is ranked as a Beta city: an important metropolis instrumental in linking its region or state into the world economy.[1][39]
Quito is governed by a mayor and a 15-member city council. The mayor is elected to a five-year term and can be re-elected. The position also doubles as Mayor of theMetropolitan District of Quito (the canton). The current mayor is Pabel Muñoz Lopez.
In Ecuador, cantons are subdivided intoparishes, so called because they were originally used by the Catholic Church, but with the secularization and liberalization of the Ecuadorian state, the political parishes were spun off the ones used by the church. Parishes are calledurban if they are within the boundaries of the seat (capital) of their corresponding canton, andrural if outside those boundaries. Inside Quito (the city proper), subdivision into urban parishes depends on the organizations that use these parishes (e.g., the municipality, the electoral tribunals, the postal service, the Ecuadorian statistics institute). The urban parishes of different types are not necessarily coterminous nor the same in number or name.
As of 2008[update], the municipality of Quito divided the city into 32 urban parishes. These parishes, which are used by the municipality for administrative purposes, are also known ascabildos[40] since 2001. Since the times of the Metropolitan District of Quito, parishes of this type are also grouped into larger divisions known asmunicipal zones (zonas municipales). These parishes are as follows:
TheMetrobusQ network, also known as "Red Integrada de Transporte Público", is thebus rapid transit system running in Quito, and it goes through the city from south to north. It's divided into three sections—the green line (the central trolleybus, known asEl Trole), the red line (the north-eastEcovía), and the blue line (the north-west Central Corridor). In addition to thebus rapid transit system, there are many bus companies running in the city. The buses have both a name and a number, and they have a fixed route. Taxi cabs are all yellow, and they have meters that show the fare. There are nearly 8,800 registeredtaxicabs.[42]
In August 2012, theMunicipality of Quito government established a municipalbicycle sharing system called Bici Q.[43][44][45] In March 2023, a new bicycle sharing system was established in order to promote the bicycle as a sustainable, healthy and fast mean of transport. With this service, the objective is to reduce mobilization times, air pollution and improve the quality of life of the citizens.[46]
Although public transport is the primary form of travel in the city, including fleets of taxis that continually cruise the roadways, the use of private vehicles has increased substantially during the past decade.[47]Because of growing road congestion in many areas, there were plans to construct alight rail system, which were conceived to replace the northern portion of theTrole.[48] These plans have been ruled out and replaced by the construction of thefirst metro line (subway) in 2012. It started to operate in December 2023, joining the existing public transportation network.[49]
Because Quito is about 40 km (25 mi) long and 5 km (3.1 mi) at its widest, most of the important avenues of the city extend from north to south. The two main motorways that go from the northern part of the city to the southern are Avenue Oriental (Corridor Periférico Oriental) on the eastern hills that border the city, and Avenue Occidental on the western side of the city on the Pichincha volcano. The street 10 de Agosto also runs north to south through most of the city, running down the middle of it. The historic center of the city is based on a grid pattern, despite the hills, with the streets Venezuela, Chile, García Moreno, and Guayaquil being the most important.
TheMariscal Sucre International Airport serves as the city's principal airport for passenger travel and freight. The airport is located 18 km (11 mi) east of the city's center in the Tababela parish. It began operations on 20 February 2013, replacing theOld Mariscal Sucre International Airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the city center within city limits. The old airport was replaced due to tall buildings and nighttime fog that made landing from the south difficult. The old airport was converted into a metropolitan park.
There is a railroad that goes through the southern part of Quito and passes through theEstación de Chimbacalle. It is managed by theEmpresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos (EFE). This form of transportation is nowadays used mostly for tourism.
A 23 km (14 mi) metro subway system (Quito Metro) began construction in 2013 with Phase One, which entailed the construction of stations at La Magdalena and El Labrador. Phase Two, which began in 2016, involves 15 stations, a depot, and sub-systems. The project is expected to carry 400,000 passengers per day and cost $1.5 billion[50] with financing coming from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).[51] The line opened on 1 December 2023.[52][53][54]
Quito has the largest, least-altered, and best-preserved historic center inthe Americas.[8] This center was, together with the historic center ofKraków, Poland, the first to be declared aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO on 18 September 1978. The historic center of Quito is to the south of the capital's current center, on an area of 320 ha (790 acres), and one of the most important historic areas in Latin America. There are about 130 monumental buildings (which host a variety of pictorial art and sculpture, mostly religiously inspired, in a multi-faceted range of schools and styles), and 5,000 properties registered in the municipal inventory of heritage properties.[citation needed]
Palacio de Carondelet
Palacio de Carondelet (Spanish:Palacio de Carondelet) is the seat of the Government of the Republic ofEcuador, located in the historic center of Quito. The palace overlooks the bustling public space known as Independence Square orPlaza Grande (colonial name), together with the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, theHotel Plaza Grande and the Metropolitan Cathedral. During the Republican era almost all the presidents (constitutional, internees and dictators) have governed from the Carondelet Palace. The presidential residence is on the third level of the Palace, along with administrative offices.
Basílica del Voto Nacional
The monumentalBasilica del Voto Nacional is the most important neo-Gothic building in Ecuador, and one of the most representative of the American continent. It was once the largest in the New World.
Quito Metropolitan Cathedral
TheQuito Metropolitan Cathedral, is one of the largest religious symbols of spiritual value for the Catholic community in the city. Construction of this church began in 1535, seventeen years after the Diocese of Quito was created in 1545. The church building was completed in 1799, during the administration of President of the Real Audiencia, Baron Héctor de Carondelet.[citation needed]
One of the major events that took place in this cathedral was the murder of the Bishop of Quito, José Ignacio Checa y Barba, who during the mass ofGood Friday on 30 March 1877, was poisoned by strychnine dissolved in the consecrated wine. The cathedral is also the burial place of the remains of theGrand MarshalAntonio José de Sucre and also of several presidents of the Republic, as well as of bishops and priests who died in the diocese. The cathedral is on the south side of thePlaza de La Independencia.[citation needed]
Church of La Compañía de Jesús
Construction of TheChurch of La Compañía began in 1605. Building took 160 years. In 1765 the work was completed with the construction of the façade. This was done by Native Americans who carefully shaped the stones to build the façade in the ornateBaroque style, in what is one of the finest examples of this art in the Americas.
Basilica of San Francisco
TheBasilica of San Francisco is the largest of the existing architectural ensembles in the historic centers of cities in Latin America. The construction of the church began in 1550, on land adjacent to the plaza where the Native Americans engaged in the barter of products.
Church of El Sagrario
In colonial times, theChurch of El Sagrario was one of the largest architectural marvels of Quito. The construction is of the Italian Renaissance style and it was built in the late 17th century. It has a screen that supports its sculptures and decorations. This structure was built by Bernardo de Legarda. Its central arch leads to a dome decorated with frescoes of biblical scenes featuring archangels. It was done by Francisco Albán. The altarpiece was gilded by Legarda. It is on Calle García Moreno, near the cathedral.[citation needed]
Church of Santo Domingo. Although they arrived in Quito in 1541, the Dominicans started to build their own temple in 1580, using the plans of Francisco Becerra, and under his direction. The work was completed in the first half of the 17th century. Inside the church are valuable structures, such as the neo-Gothic main altar. This was installed in the late 19th century by Italian Dominicans. The roof of the Mudéjar style church features paintings of martyrs of the Order of Saint Dominic. The roof of the nave is supported by a pair-and-knuckle frame, decorated inside by tracery. In the museum on the north side of the lower cloister, there are wonderful pieces by great Quito sculptors such as theSaint Dominic de Guzmán by Father Carlos, theSaint John of God by Caspicara, and theSaint Thomas Aquinas by Legarda. Another Baroque masterpiece that still stands today, is the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, a recognizable architectural icon of Quito. This chapel was built next to the church. The largest fraternity in the city of Quito was founded in this chapel.
El Panecillo is a hill in the middle west of the city at an altitude of about 3,016 m (9,895 ft)above sea level. A monument to the Virgin Mary is on top of El Panecillo and is visible from most of the city of Quito. In 1976, the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras was commissioned by the religious order of theOblates to build a 41 m (135 ft)–tall aluminum monument of amadonna, which was assembled on a high pedestal on the top of Panecillo. The statue of the Virgin on the Panecillo is a replica of a sculpture made by Bernardo de Legarda in 1732. So this monument is also called Virgen de Legarda or Virgen del Panecillo.
This modern area is considered to be the city's entertainment hub. It is a meeting point for both local residents and tourists. Its cosmopolitan atmosphere is expressed in a wide variety of culinary, artistic, and cultural options, and the large number of hotels, inns, travel agencies, shops, bars, and discothèques that light up when the sun sets.[55]El Gran Desfile de Mariscal (the Great Parade of Mariscal) is held in this area during theFiestas de Quito.[56]
This area is considered to be thezona rosa of the city. It hosts various night clubs and bars, and has a great night vibe, complete with street vendors selling gum, cigarettes and other small items. Plaza Foch is heavily frequented from Thursday to Saturday, and draws tourists from all over the world. For this reason, prices for liquor, beer and food are expensive compared to other places in Quito. Due to its small driveways and big sidewalks, it's mostly a pedestrian area.
Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua[57] is the largest urban park in South America at 1,376 acres (5.57 km2) (as reference, New York'sCentral Park is 843 acres (341 ha)). The park is in northern Quito, on the hill ofBellavista behindEstadio Olímpico Atahualpa. The park is suited for mountain biking, walking, and running. Most of it iseucalyptus forest with trails, but there also are numerous sculptures on display. The park has four sites that can be used for picnics or barbecues, and the eastern section has a view ofCotopaxi,Antisana, and theGuayllabambariver basin.
Parque Bicentenario is the second largest urban park in Quito (surpassed only by the Parque Metropolitano), located in the site of theOld Mariscal Sucre International Airport. It was inaugurated on 27 April 2013. This park has 200 acres (81 ha), and is 2,800 m (9,186 ft) above mean sea level. The former runway has been converted into recreational space with lanes painted for bicycles and pedestrians. There are play structures and games for children. As well, there is outdoor exercise equipment for adults. The park contains a man-made pond and more than one thousand trees, many newly planted. The park also hosts cultural exhibits and outdoor concerts.
La Carolina[58] is a 165.5-acre (670,000 m2) park in the center of the Quito main business area, bordered by the avenues Río Amazonas, de los Shyris, Naciones Unidas, Eloy Alfaro, and de la República. This park started from the expropriation of the farm La Carolina in 1939. The design of the park was made by the Dirección Metropolitana de Planificación Territorial (DMPT).Pope John Paul II headed a great mass in the park during his visit to Ecuador in 1985.[59] A giant cross has been built in this place.
El Ejido[60] is the fourth-largest park of Quito (after Metropolitan, Bicentenario and La Carolina), and it divides the old part of the city from the modern one. This park is known for handicrafts available for sale every Saturday and Sunday, with all pricing subject to negotiation (that is, haggling). Local painters sell copies of paintings byOswaldo Guayasamín,[61]Eduardo Kingman, andGonzalo Endara Crow.Otavaleños sell traditional sweaters,ponchos, carpets, and jewelry.
Set on the side on a cliff with González Suárez Street, one of the most famous in Quito and to the other side the valley and further in the distance, the Amazon Jungle.Guápulo is a district of Quito, Ecuador, also called an electoral parish (parroquia electoral urbana). The parish was established as a result of the October 2004 political elections when the city was divided into 19 urban electoral parishes.[62] Set behind Hotel Quito, the neighborhood of Guápulo runs down the winding Camino de Orellana, from González Suárez to Calle de los Conquistadores, the main road out of Quito and to the neighboring suburbs.[63][64] Often considered an artsy, bohemian neighborhood of Quito, Guápulo is home to many local artists and a couple of hippy cafés/bars. Every year on 7 September the guapuleños honor their neighborhood with the Fiestas de Guápulo, a fantastic celebration complete with costumes, parade, food, drink, song, dance, and fireworks.
The long triangular La Alameda is at the beginning of street Guayaquil, where the historic center begins. It has an impressive monument ofSimón Bolívar at the apex. There are several other interesting monuments in this park. In the center of the park is the Quito Observatory, which was opened by President García Moreno in 1873. It is used for both meteorology and astronomy. At the north end of the park are two ornamental lakes, where rowboats can be rented.
One of the most iconic neighborhoods in the city, with an important cultural and gastronomic offer. The neighborhood has local and international restaurants, a cinema, small theaters, cafes, bars, museums and coworking spaces.
La Circasiana door, currently at the north end of El Ejido park. Originally the entrance door to theCircasiana Palace in La Mariscal neighborhood.
The Aerial tramway Station at Cruz Loma (part of the Pichincha mountain complex at about 4,000 m (13,000 ft)). Since July 2005, Quito has had anaerial tramway, known as the "Telefériqo", from the city center to the hill known as Cruz Loma on the east side of the Pichincha volcano. The ride takes visitors to an elevation of about 4,100 m (13,500 ft). There are also trails for hiking and areas where pictures can be taken of Quito. Because of the increased elevation and the wind on the mountain, it is considerably cooler.
Besides the aerial tramway to Cruz Loma, theTelefériqo as a whole is a visitor center that includes an amusement park (Vulqano Park), fine-dining restaurants, Go Karts, Paint Ball, shopping malls, an extensive food court, and other attractions.
LaMitad del Mundo[65] (the middle of the world) is a small village administered by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, 35 km (22 mi) north of Quito. It has since been determined, with the use ofGlobal Positioning System technology, that the actual equator is some 240 m (790 ft) north of the monument area. Nearby is the Intiñan Solar Museum, which may be closer to the true equator.[66] The Intiñan Solar Museum provides a demonstration which purports to show theCoriolis force causing a clockwise rotation of sink water a few meters south of the equator and a counterclockwise rotation a few meters north,[67] but many scientific sources claim that this is implausible.[68][69][70][71][72]
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, located a few miles northwest from La Mitad del Mundo, contains the Pululahua volcano, whosecaldera (crater) is visible from a spot easily accessible by car. It is believed to be one of only a few in the world with human inhabitants.
Quito Zoo,[73]located near the rural parish ofGuayllabamba, about 20 km (12 mi) outside Quito, has the biggest collection of native fauna in Ecuador, including several kinds of animals that are sometimes targeted in Ecuador in the illegal fur trade. The Zoo works in conservation and education in Ecuador and has successfully bred the endangered Andean condor.
Maquipucuna Reserve is in Quito's rural parish of Nanegal. This 14,000 acre high biodiversity rainforest and cloud forest reserve protects over 1966 species of plants[74] (10% of Ecuador's plant diversity) and close to 400 bird species. This reserve, which is surrounded by a 34,000 acre protected forest, was declared an IBA (Important Bird Area) in 2005[75] and is the core of the conservation corridor for thespectacled bear (Andean bear) declared in 2013.[76] The area has an ecolodge located in the northern end of the Reserve where the spectacled bear can be sighted for about two months every year.
Some of the other nearby natural attractions are:
Maquipucuna Reserve Conservation, community projects, bird watching, spectacled bear watching
Quito is a city with a mix of modern-day and traditional culture. There is a largeCatholic presence in Quito; most notably, Quito observesHoly Week with a series of ceremonies and rituals that begin onPalm Sunday. At noon onGood Friday, the March of the Penitents proceeds from theChurch of San Francisco.[77]
One of the oldest and most important library in Ecuador is the Central University Library in Quito. It was founded in 1586 and has 170,000 volumes in its possession.[79] The Aurelio Espinoza Polit in Cotocollao, Casas de la Cultura and Catholic University are also important ones.
National Museum of Ecuador – This art museum houses five displays. Each covers a different time period, ranging from prehistory to modern Ecuador.[80]
Centro de Arte Contemporaneo – Located north of Basilica del Voto Nacional, this museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions. The historic building used to be a military hospital and was renovated for its new purpose.
Casa del Alabado – Located just south of Plaza San Francisco, this is the Old Town's newest museum and houses a collection of pre-colonial art. The building is one of the oldest houses in the city.
Museo de la Ciudad – A museum dedicated to the history of Quito. Located just east of the Plaza de Santo Domingo,[81] it is housed in the buildings of the formerSan Juan de Dios Hospital, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site.
Ecuador National Museum of Medicine – A museum dedicated to the history of medicine[82] in Quito, founded byEduardo Estrella Aguirre. Estrella was in the Archives of theRoyal Botanical Gardens in Madrid, Spain in 1985 and uncovered the lost papers and paintings documenting one of the first expeditions to South America. In Madrid Spain, Estrella worked for many years and documented his observations in the archive and was able to publish the extensive work of Juan Tafalla in a book calledFlora Huayaquilensis.
Museum House of Sucre – This museum is dedicated to life of MariscalAntonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuadorian independence. The ground floor has an array of weapons and military relics, many of which belonged to Sucre himself. The second floor has been restored to what it might have looked like in Sucre's time.[83]
Quito is home to several prominent football clubs in the country. The city's top clubs (LDU Quito,El Nacional), as well asDeportivo Quito,Aucas andIndependiente del Valle have won 33 league titles, 4 Copa Ecuador, and 3 Ecuadorian Supercups, adding to a total of 40 national championships. Deportivo Quito was also the first out of the three home teams to win the title. Furthermore, Quito is the only city in Ecuador which has clubs that have won continental titles.LDU Quito is Ecuador's most successful team, as it is the only club from the country to have won theCopa Libertadores, in2008, as well as four more international titles.[84] The other club isIndependiente del Valle, which won theCONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2019 and 2022, as well as the Recopa Sudamericana in2023,[85] adding on to eight continental titles for the city and the country.El Nacional is the third most titled team in Ecuador's history, with 13 league titles and 2 Copa Ecuador.[86]América de Quito is one of the most traditional clubs in the city, but has recently played in the lower divisions.
An interesting fact about Quito is that the stadiums are located over 2,800 m (9,200 ft)above sea level, which generally means that there is an advantage for the local teams when they play against foreign teams, and it has helped the Ecuadorian national team to qualify for four World Cups.[87]
TheU.S. Department of State notes thatpetty theft is the most common crime issue facing tourists in Quito,[88] stating in 2015: "Pickpocketing, purse snatching, robbery, bag slashing, and hotel room theft are the most common types of crimes committed against U.S. citizens."[89]
Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has stated that about 70% of the world'scocaine now transits through Ecuador's ports before onward shipment to the US and Europe. TheEcuadorian security crisis includes several criminal gangs competing for control over major drug routes.
^Le Pennec, J-L.; et al. (2006), "Characteristics and impacts of recent ash falls produced by Tungurahua and El Reventador volcanoes, Ecuador",Fourth Conference, Cities on Volcanoes(PDF), archived fromthe original(PDF) on 30 October 2008
^Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens."Ecudaor – Quito"(PDF).Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 81. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 16 January 2013. Retrieved2 March 2013.
^"Información de Gobierno".proyectoallas.net (in Spanish). AL-LAs. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved18 December 2021.
^"Home".sclou.org. Sister Cities of Louisville. Archived fromthe original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved17 December 2021.
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