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Traveling in Ecuador

Useful City Facts

Facts: Capital city of Ecuador, Quito was founded in 1534 on the ruins of an ancient Inca city. It was the first city to be named World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978. The Spanish spoken in Quito is very clear and it is spoken slowly as compared to coastal areas.

Population: 2,000,000 (two million) inhabitants.

Altitude: 10,000 ft/ 2,800 mts.

Currency: US dollars.

Voltage: 110/120V, same as in America and different from the voltage in Europe. 2 prong electrical inputs are most common, so bring an adapter for appliances using 3 prong electrical inputs.

Climate: The old saying that Quito “experiences all four seasons in one day” is not exaggerated! Though there is officially two seasons.

Safety Tips: The golden rule in any large city is beware in the evenings where pickpockets proliferate; especially in shady, dark shadow areas including all major parks, crowded market areas of the south, and trolley stations as these are easy targets for pickpockets.

If you stay out late at night in the Mariscal district (Reina Victoria, Foch, or 6 de Diciembre) make sure to call a taxi prior to departing.

Places to visit:
South American Explorers Club: Non-profit organization dedicated to helping independent travellers in Ecuador and South America. Their Quito office is located on 311 Jorge Washington Street and Leonidas Plaza (in the Mariscal district of Quito right off 6 de Diciembre). This is a great place to stop by, meet people, and get the latest information on where to go, what to avoid, and about adventure travel.

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