The Andes Highlands
Discover Ecuador’s capital, the colonial city of Quito, the first to be named a World heritage site by UNESCO, and in 2014 winner of World Travel Awards’ Leading destination in South America). Immerse yourself in the charm that can be witnessed in every plaza, church and museum, while you stroll down the streets of downtown Quito and to the Middle of the World in the surrounding area. There is a vibrant nightlife in the capital city, and the best place to witness it is by visiting one of the nice, cozy restaurants, pubs or cafés in the Mariscal area. A meeting point for tourists as well as for locals where they all meet at night for a nice cup of coffee, enjoy live music, play some billiard, dance, and the list goes on. A perfect day trip departing from Quito includes a visit to the charming town of Otavalo. It´s a very nice, colourful market, with diverse handicrafts, friendly indigenous inhabitants and stunning landscapes all along the way that can be appreciated by taking a bus ride along the Andes mountains. (approx. 2 hours north of Quito)
To the South, you find the charming colonial city of Cuenca. The old part has been well preserved and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you should try to take a bus day tour to visit the ancient ruins of the northern part of the incan empire, Ingapirca.
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