This underrated city is known as one of the world’s most beautiful, but it has been largely shunned by Brits who very rarely visit.
Quito, the capital of Equador, is familiar to adventurers as the gateway to the Galapagos, but the high-altitude city set in the Andes is also packed with stunning architecture by high-profile designers such as Jean Nouvel, Moshe Safdie, and Bjarke Ingels.
The city’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring stylish and sustainable stores, with its beautiful Carlota Hotel offering breathtaking views of El Panecillo volcanic hill.
There is also the picturesque Illa Hotel in the heart of the old town, which is famed for the tiled pond in its courtyard entrance. Landmarks include the Basílica del Voto Nacional, a gothic catholic church, the Middle of the World City monument situated at the centre of the equator and the spacious Independent Square.
Those wishing to learn more about the middle of the world can even visit the Intinan Equator Museum, which features exhibitions on different places located across the equator.
Nature lovers will find plenty to enjoy in the 489-year-old city, with Quito Botanical Gardens housing an array of plants native to South America and the forested Parque Itchimbía, which offers great views over the old town and sights of rare trees and orchids in its 19th century greenhouse.
Art fanatics are also well served in Quito with the Capital del Hombre housing the work of Oswaldo Guayasamín, which acts as a history of human suffering and violence in Latin America and the wider world.
There is also the Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise, a 17th century house which features 5,000 archaeological pieces of which 500 are on display at any one time.
Like any South American city, Quito is perfect for sports lovers, with five major football clubs in Deportivo Quito, El Nacional, LDU Quito, Aucas and Universidad Catolica.
The club’s stadiums are located 2,800m below sea level, giving them a big advantage when playing foreign teams. Those wishing to experience Quito for themselves can get a return flight from London Heathrow for about £700 in February.
A spokesperson for TripAdvisor said: “With a rich pre-Colombian history, Ecuador’s capital was founded on the ruins of an Incan city but offers everything a modern traveller might need. It remains the least-altered historic centre in Latin America and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Quito’s important sites include baroque gems like San Francisco and Santo Domingo monasteries, as well as La Compañía church and college. This huge city sprawls across a breathtaking Andean valley surrounded by volcanic peaks.”
While reviewing the Old Town in the city, one visitor said: “Old Quito combines a lot of the style of both Baroque Spain and South America. There are several plazas and wide pedestrian roads and every corner has an ornate church or palace on it. Quito and Ecuador are not wealthy, but downtown Quito was vibrant and people were friendly, and although it was lively, it wasn’t too crowded.”
