Quito Ecuador is the largest historic centre in the Americas. A few things to take in on your trip to Quito, which is likely the city you’ll fly into if coming from the states before venturing off into other areas of the country.
Other things not to miss in Quito include the Teleferiqo cable car. It’s best to visit early in the mornings when the skies are at their clearest and the views of the Andes at their most stunning.
Travelling out of the capital, you have a huge number of choices. Top of many people’s list is the Middle of the World complex (Ciudadela Mitad del Mundo) , which marks the spot where the Equator crosses the Andes, a mere 40-minute drive north from Quito. It’s a fun and educational complex, and should be visited in conjunction with the nearby Inti-Ñan Museum.
To the west of the Middle of the World, so northwest of Quito, you come to the cloudforests which drape the western cordillera of the Andes as it tumbles down to the Pacific. The area, usually called Mindo (although it encompasses the watersheds of the Tandayapa, Nambillo and Mindo rivers) is a fantastic place for adventures in nature, and a paradise for birdwatchers.
To the north of Quito, many people’s next choice is the market town of Otavalo. This is the largest handicrafts market in South America, with a huge array of crafts on sale, particularly textiles made in the surrounding region. The busiest and largest days are Wednesday and Saturday, but the market takes place every day of the week. There is lovely countryside all around Otavalo, great for exploring by foot, horseback or mountain bike, and a handful of hacienda-hotels, too.
Round to the east of Quito, the eastern cordillera of the Andes rises up before descending to the Amazon basin. The little-explored region of Papallacta, San Isidro and El Cato, is rich in diverse ecosystems, ecotourism opportunities and some delightful hotsprings for relaxation.
Another attraction high on many people’s list is the Cotopaxi Volcano, which soars nearly 6,000 metres (19,000 feet) to the south of Quito. The volcano and its surrounding areas is protected by a national park, the ideal place for adventure sports such as mountain biking, mountain climbing or trekking, or just simple contemplation. One of the highlights of the region is its haciendas, often run by their owners, who offer superb hospitality and some of the best horseback riding on the continent.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
