TRAVEL AND TOURS

The characteristics of the Andean landscape: commanding mountains, deep blue sky, whispering wind harmonizing with narrow small streets that lead to cloisters of faith and bell towers that touch the clouds, gives its cities a stirring enchantment, a calm agitation.

The belligerent volcano Rucu Pichincha (4790 meters of height), protects and threatens the capital of Ecuador, Quito, a city that dazzles with the rosary of churches, convents and monasteries of its colonial downtown, that small piece of yesterday, that unites authentic architectonic jewels, which have survived the cruel attacks of time.

Declared by UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Humanity in 1978, Quito (2800 m.a.s.l.), is a large city with a big history. The chroniclers say that before the Spanish foundation in 1534, Ruminahui (face of stone), general of Atahualpa, the last Inca, set in fire the palaces and buildings constructed by the "sons of the Sun".

Into the later centuries, the land selected by the Inca Huayna Capac to be the northern capital of its Empire became, with the sprouting of the School of Quito, the heart of art and sculpture of Spanish America. The created masterpieces in this corner of the Andes united the European baroque style with the creativity of the Incas. Quito with its friendly people, its spring like weather, its colonial shades blended with the amazing buildings of the present, is one of those rare cities, that can seduce and enchant the heart of a traveller.

SURROUNDINGS

Mitad del Mundo: 15 kilometers away from Quito, there it is this small city, that owes its name to the fact that its found in latitude 0°, reason why a commemorative monument of 30 meters of height has been built. In its upper part, there is a 5 tons planet. One of the attractions of Mitad del Mundo, is that during the equinoxes (21st of March and 21st of September) people and objects do not project not even the minimum shade.

Geo-Botanical reserve of Pululahua: It extends around the biggest volcanic crater of Latin America. A varied vegetation, numerous birds and the spectacular view of the crater make for the beautyof the place.

Otavalo: Every Saturday this small town of the province of Imbabura (100 kilometers north of Quito) gets full of colors and suffocated by agitation, when the natives begin to exhibit in the Poncho square, the carpets, blankets, belts and a great diversity of objects created with the skill and creativity of their hands.

National Park of Cotopaxi: It takes its name from the highest active volcano of the world (5897 meters). The park is in the province of Cotopaxi, 50 kilometers away from Quito. The access route is the Pan-American Highway that crosses America from north to south. The fierce Cotopaxi, crowned with snow tufts, seems to challenge the Ruminahui, another giant that tears clouds. A small lagoon, Limpiopungo (3800 m.a.s.l) reflects the silhouette of mountains and gives a cold welcome to the "brave" that are willing to walk to the summit of the volcano.