Teatro Bolívar
Teatro Bolívar
Teatro Bolívar (Calle Espejo, e/Guayaquil y Flores Quito) – built in 1933, this theater has held a number of concerts, recitals, operas, ballets, and plays. The theater fell victim to a fire during the late 1990s (with renovations conducted in stages). Guided tours of the theater and its history are offered ($1 per person) weekdays from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Parque La Carolina
Parque La Carolina
Parque La Carolina (Av. Amazonas, Av. De los Shyris, Av. Naciones Unidas, Av. Eloy Alfaro, Quito) – located towards the northern end of Quito, this is the most popular park in the city for practicing sports (soccer, athletics, basketball, tennis, and the popular ecuavolley, a local version of volleyball) and for trotting in the mornings or afternoons. It’ one of the most important green spaces in Quito, and allows, within its 64 hectares, for the northern area to have a place to relax. You can have picnics, ride your bike, rest under the shadow of a tree, navigate a boat in the lagoon, visit the wonderful Botanical Garden and the Vivarium, try the local cotton candy, and watch how the quiteño families and their dogs have fun outdoors. Also, here you can find a BMX circuit and an area for skateboarding or inline skating.
Note: La Carolina Park is in the heart of the financial and commercial zones in Quito, between the Los Shyris, Eloy Alfaro, Amazonas, República and Naciones Unidas avenues.
Malecón 2000
Malecón 2000
Malecón 2000 (Guayaquil) – located in the coastal city of Guayaquil, this 2.5 km. long tourist-friendly seaside promenade overlooks the Guayas River, and offers the finest art, museums, food and atmosphere in the country. This part of Guayaquil also acts as the modern face of Ecuador, offering visitors a wide range of activities (varying from just plain fun, to cultural events as well as an opportunity to explore the natural resources Guayaquil has. It has a mall, a museum, numerous restaurants, exhibition galleries, lagoons, and walk paths. In addition, the Bahía Malecón Shopping Center can be found toward the southern end of Malecón 2000.
Mall del Sur
Mall del Sur
Mall del Sur (Av. 25 de Julio y Dr. Ernesto Alban, Guayaquil) – opened in 2004, this mall has over 120 retailers (some of which have storefronts as part of the mall’s façade). Like other shopping centers, this one also has a multiplex movie theater, and a food court.
Mall el Jardin
Mall el Jardin
Mall el Jardin (Av. Amazonas N6-114 y República, Quito) – located near Parque La Carolina, this is one of Quito’s major modern malls. This multi-level mall mainly has regional retailers, with some international brands as well (such as Adidas, Lacoste, Reebok and Kenneth Cole).
Centro Comercial el Recreo
Centro Comercial el Recreo
Centro Comercial el Recreo (Av. Pedro V. Maldonado S-11-122, Quito) – located towards the southern end of Quito (in the Villaflora district), this shopping center opened in 1990, and has a variety of retailers, as well as amenities found in other malls – from a movie theater, to a play center for school children. This mall also has a library and a clinic.
Zouk
Zouk
Zouk (Calle de los Rosales y Rio Coca, Quito) – located in the north Quito district of Río Coca, this disco once placed “Zouk” music from the French Caribbean some years back. Nowadays, a mostly young college age crowd shows up here. For that reason, the music played here tends to be a mix of rock & pop en espanol, electronic dance music, some Salsa, Bachata and Reggaeton, and even Rap.
Cerro Santa Ana
Cerro Santa Ana
Cerro Santa Ana (northern end of Malecón Simón Bolívar, Guayaquil) – for those passing through the coastal city of Guayaquil, this historic district is hard not to notice. The colorful wooden houses that dot this hilly area make this one of the prettiest parts of this city. If you come across cannons while visiting this area, they were once put to use (especially during the 17th century) to ward off pirates. Nowadays, this are has a mix of restaurants, bars, art galleries, and shops, along with residential housing. At the foot of Cerro Santa Ana is the neighborhood of Las Peñas (another restored district).
Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana
Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana
Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (Av. 6 de Diciembre, Quito) — this institution (founded in 1944) is dedicated to the promotion, dissemination and preservation of multiculturalism in the country. It has within its facilities various museums, libraries, a radio & television station, a publishing house, a film library, conference rooms and temporary exhibition galleries. See its website for a calendar of upcoming events: www.casadelacultura.gob.ec
Mall del Sol
Mall del Sol
Mall del Sol (Av. Joaquín Orrantia y Constitución, Guayaquil) – opened in 1997, this was Guayaquil’s first major shopping center. It currently boasts nearly 300 retailers, a food court, as well as a nine-screen multiplex theater.
