Adventures in Ecuador: Quito

Ecuador is a land of contrasts froth with adventure. From heights in the Andes at 13,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, many breathtaking sights await the traveler. Having the advantage of extended family living in Quito and a tour guide, my recent trip opened me up to the astonishing beauty and available adventures in this land.

            The first stop, Quito, sits at 9,350 feet above sea level, the second highest capital in the world. It’s situated in the northern highlands of Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin.  The city is built on a long plateau lying on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha volcano and on the western side by the Andes. Volcanoes, both active and dormant, abound in Ecuador. My son climbed Cotopaxi, an active volcano which last erupted in 2015. The mountain reopened to climbers in 2017 and he tackled it in 2018. Cotopaxi stands at 19,347 feet, the second highest peak in Ecuador.

Flying into Quito at night affords an amazing view of the city. However, some tourists may suffer from dizziness and altitude sickness, but a simple Advil or Tylenol usually takes care of the problem. Only once out of five visits, did I get altitude sickness and that was because I was very tired and not feeling well waiting for out bags to arrive. A good night’s sleep took care of that as the city awaited us the next evening.

One of my favorite places in Quito is the old city, which is one of the most authentic and well-preserved colonial cities in South America. Narrow cobblestoned streets and beautiful plazas sport many restaurants and cafes, along with small tiendas filled with Ecuadorian wares.

 However, for purchasing Ecuadorian goods such as Alpaca sweaters, blankets, ponchos, hats, jewelry and other sovereigns, I recommend the Quito market where all of these authentic wares can be bought at a more reasonable price. Don’t forget to bring cash and change for the Indigenous children who will sell you a packet of candy for a $1.00, which is great if you have grandchildren along.

At Christmas time the old city and the historic La

 Ronda area is filled with entertainers, jugglers, clowns, party goers, and music everywhere, but this time, the end of January, was off season and much less crowded. We easily found a traditional restaurant, with Ecuadorian food and music. 

The restaurant had an excellent view of the Virgen de El Panceillo, a famous statue of a winged Virgin Mary. Built in 1734, she sits high atop the hill and looks down, watching over all the people. We sat upstairs by the window so we could see the view and hear the staccato beat of the Spanish guitar at a more reasonable volume. I ordered a carafe of boiled wine, which was mulled with cinnamon, nutmeg and a few other unidentifiable spices. It was delicious and my host agreed. We then ordered a large cheese empanada, which was huge. The two of us couldn’t finish it!

After wards, we drove around to see more of the city, like a pedestrian walkway, which I nicknamed Las Ramblas, for the famous street in Barcelona and The World trade Center in Quito. Another special treat was to drive all the way down to the very oldest part of the city with its steep winding roads and small cafes. 

As we attempted to make our way out of the mountainous climb with a standard clutch CVR, we encountered a number of dead ends. Our host, also the driver, asked for directions and as we mounted the steep hill, we came to a set of stairs. Ooops, wrong way! Unable to turn around, she had to back up the entire way down the street, but we finally made our way out and back home, but not without experiencing a rush hour traffic jam as bad as New York City. Thankful to get home, it was another adventurous end to the day.