Quito Travel Guide

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Ecuador's capital city of Quito sits at 9,300 feet, so give yourself a day to acclimatize to the extreme altitude. Think of it this way: the good news is that this transition day will give you plenty of time to think up mocking derisions for Denver's lowly 5280 feet. Establish a base-camp of operations in the Mariscal neighborhood, a tourist haven full of hotels, restaurants, bars and Internet cafes. After settling into a hotel, try a cup of the region's famous mate de coca, as the tea drink will help combat the sluggishness of mild altitude sickness and allow your body to soak in the altitude with a little liquid 'kick.' Mariscal is also the center for the tour operators, sure to attend to all of your greater Ecuadorial needs. Once you have your feet under you, wander into Old Town Quito, a UNESCO world heritage site, locate the Basilica and head across the street to La Casa de la Peña. La Casa is a fantastic bar set inside of an ornate historical building -- try the canelazo, a hot drink made of the local sugarcane alcohol.

Before diving into a Galapagos trip, a Amazonian jungle adventure, or embarking on a mountaineering expedition, spend some time exploring the art of the national artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin, at the Capilla del Hombre, a museum dedicated completely to his work. Guayasamin was a communist and good friends with other Latin American revolutionaries (including Castro), and his beliefs of equality and good-will-towards-men are vividly reflected in his paintings. Each painting is visually captivating with a story to tell, get a guided tour from the excellent museum staff and listen to the passion behind each piece.

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