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Quito,
Guayaquil and Cuenca, Ecuador’s three most
important cities, boast historical colonial
districts combined with classical and modern
styles and architecture. These districts
contain countless tourist and cultural
attractions and top-quality tourist
infrastructure that is suitable for holding
international events, fairs, congresses and
conventions. These three magic and hospitable
cities, surrounded by mountains, are veritable
troves of colonial treasures (paintings,
sculptures and carvings), most of which are
concentrated in the historical city centers.
These colonial works are the unique product of
European renaissance art and native and
mestizo artistry.
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Tourist Attractions |
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 Quito
In Ecuador’s capital, considered by Incas,
Spanish conquistadors and men of science as
“the land in the middle of the world,”
adventurous and treasure-filled colonial art
contrasts sharply with the distinctive modern
landscape of the city nestling in the
foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
South of the city is a natural lookout –El
Panecillo- dominated by a statue of the
colonial virgin that soars 70 meters into the
sky.
Also to the south is the historical city
center clustering around Independencia Square
that was declared a World Cultural Heritage
Site in 1978. From here, visitors can easily
make out the city’s distinctive colonial
constructions: the portico of San Francisco,
the cathedral, the church of the Jesuits, the
Sagrario, or Tabernacle.... The Temple of la
Libertad, Alameda park, with its astronomical
observatory; the Cultural center with its
changing exhibits; and the Central Bank museum
with its collections of pre-colonial, colonial
and contemporary art, are other alternatives.
Quito is endowed with a good infrastructure of
hotel chains, restaurants and tourist
agencies. On weekends, people congregate in
the city’s parks. Souvenirs or everyday
purchases can be made on Sundays in El Ejido
Park or at the markets in the old city.
The famous “Middle of the World” monument
is a short 45-minute bus ride away. It is an
incredible experience to walk between the two
hemispheres and from March 21 to September 20,
it is possible to take shadow-free
photographs.
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 Guayaquil
Ecuador’s economic center, Guayaquil, is 45
minutes away from Quito by plane, and lies
southwest of the capital on the coast.
The district of Las Peñas, containing the
city’s oldest buildings, which were
reconstructed after the great fire of 1896, is
one of the tourist attractions of this
cosmopolitan city.
Another of the attractions is Santa Ana hill
with its colorful little houses. The uniforms,
tools and first motorized pumps on exhibit at
the Firemen’s Museum testify to the fires
that have marked the life of this city.
Santo Domingo is the oldest church in the
city.
An absolute must on the tourist itinerary is a
visit to the Malecón 2000 seafront promenade,
filled with bridges that simulate sailboats,
towers, gathering spots and grassy areas. The
Plaza Cívica keeps the meeting between
Bolívar and San Martín alive in people’s
memories.
The Playas and Salinas resorts near the city
are favored weekend destinations for the city
dwellers, who enjoy the sun, beach and
splendor of the sea from the vantage point of
one of their many restaurants.
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 Cuenca
This handsome colonial city is 3 hours away by
bus or 25 minutes by air from Guayaquil.
Situated at an altitude of 2,535 meters above
sea level, the capital of Azuay province is
the country’s third largest city after Quito
and Guayaquil.
Cuenca, with the shining domes of its many
churches dominating the skyline, is considered
to be the most beautiful city in Ecuador.
Because of its colonial buildings, UNESCO
declared the city a World Cultural Heritage
Site in 1999.
The numerous historical and cultural museums
share pride of place with parks –parks
filled with handicrafts, parks filled with
flowers and parks filled with memories.
The recreational area of Cajas to the
northeast has 230 lakes and offers excellent
possibilities for fishing, camping and hiking.
The famous ruins of Ingapirca are only an hour
and a half by bus from the city.
A religious and administrative center dating
back to pre-Inca times, Ingapirca consists of
a fortress, terraces, temples and a castle
known as “Temple of the Sun.”
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