La Locanda (Av. 12 de Octube 1820 y Luis Cordero, Quito) – this upscale restaurant, located within Swissotel, offers Mediterranean cuisine with a strong Peruvian influence. There’s also a fine selection of wines. This restaurant also gets points for its stylist interior. Peruvian plates such as “lomo salteado,” are found alongside some of their more […]
Read More...Fried Bananas Café (Foch E4-150 y Av. Amazonas, Quito) – located near the trendy Plaza Foch, this restaurant offers both local and Italian pasta dishes (the most recommended one being the pasta con crema de azafran y camarones). Shrimps with mushrooms in fried banana style is another recommended specialty.
Read More...El Grill (Hostería Rincón de Puembo) (Manuel Burbano #6-66 e/Francisco Ruiz, Quito) – located in the Eastern outskirts of Quito, this restaurant offers a variety of grilled dishes as well as local specialties. Diners enjoy coming here for the relaxed atmosphere away from the city, as well as poolside dining.
Read More...El Cráter (Hotel El Cráter, Mirador del Pululahua) – located an hour north of Quito (near the Pululahua volcano), visitors are attracted to the mountainside dining that this restaurant offers. This restaurant, which serves both local and international dishes, has been visited by a number of prominent guests, from singer Gloria Estefan to Chilean President […]
Read More...CAR RENTALS – the following car rental agencies operate in Quito: Avis Rent a Car +593 2 2440 270 Budget Rent a Car: +593 2 3300 979 Hertz: +593 2 2254 257 Thrifty Car Rental: +593 2 222 8688
Read More...Quito Astronomical Observatory Museum (Av. Gran Colombia y 10 de Agosto – Parque La Alameda, Quito) – founded in 1873, this museum is a major attraction for students, scientists and tourists – providing a vivid history of the various scientific instruments that were used by early astronomers and scientists. The Observatory’s main attraction is the […]
Read More...Plaza de San Sebastian (Calle Mariscal Sucre y Talbot, Parque Miguel León, Cuenca) – located in the westernmost part of Cuenca, this plaza is located by a 19th century church of the same name. This plaza (the largest in Cuenca) was used to hold bullfights back in the 18th century. Nowadays, it’s a popular geographic […]
Read More...Plaza & Monastery of San Francisco (Calle Cuenca e/Sucre, Quito) – this is one of the oldest Spanish colonial era structures in Quito (the monastery was founded by Franciscan missionary Joedco Ricke). It’s surprising to hear that this plaza was built over an Inca temple. The monastery is worth a visit and here you will […]
Read More...Palacio del Gobierno (Calle Garcia Moreno, Quito) – this is the country’s presidencial palace (a.k.a. Palacio de Carondelet). Originally built in 1650 (when it was the seat of the Spanish colonial government), it was burnt down in 1920, and was rebuilt quickly thereafter. Visitors are only allowed to enter parts of the building that are […]
Read More...La Compañía de Jesús (Calle Garcia Moreno y Sucre, Quito) – complete in 1765, this is Ecuador’s most ornate church – considered one of the most significant works of Spanish Baroque architecture in South America. Moorish influences are evident in the church’s interior. A sarcophagus with the remains of Ecuador’s patron saint (Mariana de Jesís […]
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