Capital of Ecuador, beautifull city in altitude so take the time to move or you'll get out of breath in no time!

We stayed at the Auberge, a swiss-run backpackers. The place was beautiful and had a great view from the showers, however in retrospect we would have probably stayed in the old town. (it was in between old and new) Anyways it didn't have too much personality and had a bit of an older crowd. Plus normally I prefer to support a local run place rather than foreign run. There is a Fair Trade shop/Cafe built into the Cathedral at Plaza San Francisco. Also, wander around, if you are lucky you may run into a live music show like we did. Anyways, Quito was definitly a fave. The New Town has a bit of a dodgy reputation, and is touristy in a bad way.

Don't try to drive in this country, taxi is only about a buck, don't carry large amounts of cash, and be careful what you eat make sure, stay away from the local water, bring some stomach medicine with you.

be cautious of the police, they are not too helpful

There is a really good rock Bar in gringolandia called Rock Bar as they do, really good musik and company.
Careful with the police in that neighbourhood, they made me pay to get out of their place, if you know what i mean. If I hadnt, i´d still be with them.

dont panic when you see how close you are to the mountains when flying in to quito!

We stayed at the Plaza Grande Hotel. This Grande Damme is full of old world elegance and panache. It is a wonderful experiance I would love to repeat. The food was superb and the staff very accommodating. The hotel is located in the center of the city and is a UNESCO World Site. So when you stay there you are staying in a part of history. The hotel faces the Plaza de Independence and that is where our suite was. We had a balcony overlooking that lovey plaza. The main cathedral is located there as well as many restaurants and shops. There are many museums and theatres within walking distance. Traffic is busy, but you can walk around without some of the vehicular dangers in some other cities. Like any large city, do not go out alone at night. Our main reason for staying there was to rest after our voyage to and trek on the Galapagos Islands. The posh environs helped this old city slicker recover nicely. I would go back to Quito for no other reason than to enjoy this beautiful old hotel.

NEVER TRAVEL ALONE IN A PARK NAMED "LA CAROLINA" ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

Keep and eye on the kids

And when I say kids, I mean 4-8 year olds. They roam the streets of the old city looking for tourist targets. A common target is the cameras of careless tourists placed on the edges of their dining tables or park benches. A kid would simply run by, grab the camera, and disappear into the crowd.

For any questions contact diego@barefootexpeditions.com i am located in Quito Ecuador, and my tip is to contact me before you come to let me make some suggestions before coming
have safe travels