RSS
Quito Comes Alive
Once a pit-stop. Finally a destination.
Mention Ecuador and the first thing — OK, the only thing — that springs to mind is a journey to the well-worn Galapagos Islands. But these days, it’s Quito that’s ready for its close-up. The colonial capital, perched 9,200 feet up in the Andes, is now stealing the headlines since being targeted by FIFA’s international ban on high-altitude soccer. Beyond the sporting world, though, the latitude-zero city is also scoring a new wave of visitors. No longer just a pit-stop on the way to the world’s most famous tortoises, Quito’s World Heritage historic center is reaping the benefits of a $200-million, seven-year makeover.
The once crumbling, crime-ridden old town has been reborn, with over 200 churches, homes and plazas now restored. Plus, a crop of upscale boutique hotels are starting to sprout — which should give the modern northern sector (hello JW Mariott) something to think about. The best of the “new” pack includes the Plaza Grande, set in a 16th-century mansion facing the central plaza; and Villa Colonna, a six-room luxe B&B that boasts one of Quito’s finest rooftop terraces. And the food? Let’s put it this way: several restaurants are now turning out gourmet versions of traditional Ecuadorian dishes like fanesca. Hey, ain’t nothing wrong with slurping bean-and-fish stew in the crisp mountain air.
read more: 02. Sleep | historic | 05. Eat | 10. Culture