Quito

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Quito


Quito, Ecuador

Location
Country Ecuador
Latitude 00 13 S
Longitude 078 32 W
Time Zone GMT/UTC -5 (Standard Time)
Statistics
Population 1,399,378 (2001)
Area 290 km² (approximate)
Currency US Dollar (USD)
Electricity 110V
Language Spanish, English

Contents

[edit] Quito Layover

[edit] City Overview

[edit] The Airport(s)

[edit] Layover Hotels

[edit] The JW Marriot

The JW Marriot is the best hotel in the city. Airline crews call Marriot reservations and ask for a CAL crew rate for $39/night (regular rates are over $200). The staff is excellent and will tend to your every need. Morning breakfast is a buffet-- kind of expensive ($15 I think), but it is well worth it. The hotel has a business center with a highspeed internet hookup for laptops that is free. Use the hotel's private cars instead of taxis-- a bit more expensive but still a bargain. Remember to drink LOTS of water to compensate for the high altitude.

[edit] Getting Around

[edit] Things to See

[edit] Things to Do

  1. Indian market. A 10 minute walk from the JW Marriot. Buy all your gifts here. There are several alleys of market stalls. Plan on paying about half of the posted price.
  2. The Telefarico is a cable car that goes up to the peak of a hill overlooking the Quito valley. It is beautiful but very high-- about 14,000 elevation. The almond hot chocolate was the best I have had outside of the Alps. The base of the cable car station is a mini-mall with some shops and restaurants, and a small amusement park.
  3. Ask the hotel desk how to get to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth). Organized tours are $30 per person, but public transportation (two busses) cost less than $2. Outside of the main attraction is a dirt road that leads to a fascinating equator science museum. It is MUCH better than the main tourist attraction.
  4. Take a public bus to the old colonial city and walk through the San Francisco church and other historic buildings.

[edit] Shopping

[edit] Where to Eat

[edit] Clubs, Bars, Nightlife

[edit] Notes

  • Ecuador uses the US Dollar-- American bills and local coins in the same denminations and sizes and US coins.
  • Ecuador uses 110 volts.
  • Quito is a constant 70-75 degrees in the day and 50-60 degrees at night all year long.

[edit] Safety Advisories

  • Use comon sense to stay out of trouble-- don't flash cash and don't walk alone at night, don't look like an American tourist, etc.

WARNINGS: Low

State Department Travel Warnings


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