Quito, the capital of Ecuador, has a population of over two million and is located almost 10,000 feet above sea level. It is a city of human and cultural diversity and contrasts, effortlessly combining a respect for tradition with an embrace of the new. With its more than 500 churches, museums, and numerous examples of colonial architecture, it is one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. Quito has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Center, part of the Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad. The modern section of the city offers all the facilities of any major city in the United States, with convenient shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment complexes. |