Most travelers arrive first to the capital of Ecuador, often described as a city with a small town atmosphere (although it is rapidly growing into a sprawling metropolis). Once the capital of the northern Incan empire, Quito is home to "Old Town", one of the most extensive colonial districts in Latin America. Named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, Quito's Old Town will transport you back and forth between centuries as you meander down its cobblestone streets, passing by vendors selling everything from choclo (Andean corn) to ceramics to techno CDs.
Centrally located, Quito is also an excellent starting point for a number of interesting one and two-day trips, including river-rafting, cloudforest exploration, birding, mountain biking, hotsprings, and more.
Quito, situated in a circle of mountain peaks, is the world's second highest capital and has one of the finest settings of any city in the world. Quito is home to excellent museums, churches and art galleries and its colonial center, one of the finest in Latin America.
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