The essential experience.
A detail that changes the visit
Allow an easier first day at altitude and check the local situation for the districts you plan to visit.
For the curious reader
History, landscape and context.
Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 1.7 million in the city and 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is in a valley on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes. Quito's elevation of 2,850 metres (9,350 ft) makes it either the highest or the second-highest national capital city in the world. This varied standing is because Bolivia is a country with multiple capitals; if La Paz is considered the Bolivian national capital, it tops the list of highest capitals, but if Sucre is specified as the capital, then it is the second highest behind Quito.
Abridged background from Quito, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.
From inspiration to a practical plan
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- The city sits at altitude and many streets slope. Start with a modest central walk and use transport between distant districts and elevated viewpoints.
- The consequential detail
- Allow an easier first day at altitude and check the local situation for the districts you plan to visit.
Through the seasons
A place in the world.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthIn pictures.
Quito’s historic churches and streets occupy a dramatic setting in the mountains.
Follow the connection
Keep exploring.
Explore more places in the same country.
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351 · Ecuador
Cajas National Park
Highland lakes and páramo vegetation make a water-rich mountain landscape whose apparent openness hides a demanding climate.
Useful links and further reading.
Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.
Understand · UNESCO World Heritage Centre
UNESCO World Heritage property record
Read the named property’s significance, maps, components and conservation documents. The World Heritage boundary may cover only part of this guide’s wider destination.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Read · Wikipedia
Quito: background reading
Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Visit · Wikivoyage
Find travel information for Quito
A clearly labelled search of the community travel guide; check the page’s coverage and the age of practical details.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Books · WorldCat
Find books about Quito
Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Photography · Wikimedia Commons
Find photographs of Quito
Explore further photographs and their individual credits.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Maps · OpenStreetMap
Explore the local map
Inspect the surrounding area.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.