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Quito Flights & Travel Overview
Quito is a great place to start your trip with some of the best Spanish schools in South America, a great backpacking community, as well as plenty of places to escape the touristy crowd. It is easy to plan your whole trip from Quito - most of the hostels, travel agencies and tour operators are within a 5 block radius of each other in the Mariscal sector. Quiteos tend to be relaxed, friendly and eager to help or make friends.
Quito is set in a long, shallow valley at an elevation of almost 2 miles, or 2,800 meters above sea level. Surrounded by green Andes peaks, Quito has a spring-like atmosphere year round. Temperatures rise in the middle of the day and drop after sunset (6 p.m. year-round). The sun is incredibly strong so be smart about sunscreen and head gear. Also, because of its alititude, allow yourself at least one day to relax and aclimate. Drink lots of bottled water and don't plan too much physical activity the first day or two.
Divided into different neighborhoods (sectores), most tourists spend their time in the Mariscal, or the area north of Parque el Ejido and south of Avenida Orellana. The Mariscal has the highest concentration of travel agencies, hostels, international restaurants and inexpensive bars, but there are a couple of other neighborhoods that are worth devoting some time, so be sure to branch out. The Centro Histrico, for example, hosts a diverse and rich colonial history with some beautiful plazas, churches, museums and pedestrian walkways.
Quito was originally contained within the limits of what is now called the Centro Histrico. Today it is about 35 kilometers long from north to south (21 miles) and on average 8 kilometers (about five miles) wide east to west.
If you have a limited period of time in Quito, don't miss a tour of the Centro Histrico at night, the weekend market at Parque el Ejido (especially if you can't make it to the market in Otavalo). If you have more time, be sure to take a trip to the Panecillo, which offers excellent views of the city from the main religious icon of Quito, a trip to Parque Carolina, where you will get a true taste of the relaxed, life-loving Ecuadorian culture as families putt around the boat pond, send their little ones biking or skateboarding over concrete peaks in the skate park and dirt bike track, play soccer, volleyball, basketball or just lounge and enjoy the day.
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