ABOUT ECUADOR & QUITO

Ecuador

Quito

ECUADOR

Straddling the equator in western South America, Ecuador has territories in both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres. It borders Colombia to the north and shares a border Peru to the south and to the east. The Pacific Ocean is Ecuador 's western border. Ecuador, 256,370 square kilometers in size, is geographically divided into four regions (the Amazon, the Highlands, the Coast, and the Galapagos Islands ) and is politically split into 22 provinces, which, in turn, are split into 205 cantons. The coastal provinces (from north to south) are Esmeraldas, Manabí, Los Ríos, Guayas, and El Oro. Highlands provinces are Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Chimborazo, in the north, and Bolívar, Cañar, Azuay and Loja, in the south. The Amazon is comprised of the provinces (from north to south) of Sucumbíos, Napo, Pastaza, Orellana, Morona-Santiago and ZamoraChinchipe. Ecuador 's 22nd province the Galapagos Islands .

Due to its location and unique geographical features, Ecuador is home to varied landscapes with infinite soil types, ecosystems, and microclimates. In this tiny nation's 22 provinces –divided into 4 basic regions- you'll find tropical islands, towering snowcapped peaks, extensive paramos, sandy beaches, and simmering jungle.

Just outside of Ecuador's principle cities, the traveler finds encounter extensive areas protected by the State as well as by private organizations such as universities and ecological and scientific groups. The diversity of the four regions has given rise to the evolution of thousands of species of flora and fauna, all of which now thrive in a variety of diverse ecosystems.

Ecuador boasts approximately 1,640 species of birds, 500 of which are found in the Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest to the northwest of Quito .

In addition, Ecuador is home to 4,500 species of butterflies, 345 species of reptiles, 358 species of amphibians, and 258 species of mammals, among others With so much wildlife in such a small space, it's no surprise that Ecuador is one of the planet's top 17 nations with respect to biodiversity.

In all corners of Ecuador, national parks such as Cotopaxi, Sangay, and Machalilla abound. Mountains, snowcapped peaks, lakes, lagoons, and beaches are all found within 24 areas protected by the State, including dozens of vast green forest belts, marked here and there with terracotta patches resulting from the variety of colors present in the foliage. In order to reach some of the ecological reserves, national parks, and recreation areas, it is often necessary to hike long distances, often crossing paramos and rivers. The spectacular settings of the different zones reveal themselves in an impressive demonstration of rich flora and fauna. The majority of sites require the assistance of contracted guides, with the exception of the few areas where there are marked trails. Visitors should take care not to alter the ecosystem. It is prohibited to light fires, drop litter, or to remove plants or animals.

Due to the nation's diverse microclimates, it's possible to try your hand at a variety of adventure sports – from diving to mountain climbing to rafting to mountain biking – while in Ecuador.

AREAS OF ECUADOR

Pacific Coast

Ecuador 's coastal region (a.k.a. the western lowlands) is made up of fertile plains, rolling hills, and sedimentary basins traversed by a plethora of rivers that rush from the heights of the Andes to the Pacific Ocean . All five coastal provinces, encompassing 640 kilometers of coastline between them, have attractive beaches and plenty of hotels and resorts for tourists. Crisscrossed by an expansive network of rivers and home to the nation's most spectacular beaches, the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí, and Guayas quite impressive destinations frequented by tourists from all over the world. Geographically speaking, much of this area is part of the Guayas River Basin, which has at least twelve major tributaries located primarily near the communities of Daule, Babahoyo, Macul, Puca, Paján, and Colimes.

The Highlands - The Andes & the Austro

The Andes Mountain Range crosses the country from north to south. The Occidental and the Oriental Ranges are born from this mountain system as it divides in the province of Loja, forming plains and valleys along the Andean Corridor. Between the two ranges there is a plateau which reaches heights of three thousand meters. The Highlands Regions, commonly referred to as La Sierra, is made up of ten provinces, each of which have important peaks such as Chimborazo (6,310 m), Cotopaxi (5,897 m), Cayambe (5,790 m), the Illinizas (5,248 m), and Antisana (5,758 m).

The highest peaks are found in central and northern Ecuador. From Riobamba towards the south there is a decrease in altitude and an increase in the width of the mountain range, forming a kind of plateau known as the Austro.

The Amazon Region

The Amazon Region and its five provinces can be geographically divided into two sub regions: the High Amazon and the Amazon Lowlands. The Highlands is comprised of the Andean foothills which slowly descend towards the Amazon River Basin . Here, you'll find the Napo, Galeras, Cutucú, and Cóndor ranges. The most impressive elevated regions of this area are in the north and include Volcano Sumaco. The Lowlands, found further to east, are home to some of the nation's most beautiful and important rivers: the Putumayo, the Napo, and the Pastaza.

Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands is made up of 13 main islands, 17 islets, and dozens of ancient rock formations. The volcanically formed islands, encompassing an area of 8,000 kilometers in all, lies roughly 1,000 kilometers off the coast of the Ecuadorian mainland. Apart from its beautiful beaches and unique and varied ecosystems, the Galapagos Islands are home to towering active volcanoes that reach altitudes up to 1,600 meters.

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Ecuador Culture and Society

Ecuador is a multiethnic and multicultural nation. It has a population of more than 12.6 million. Of these, five and a half million live in the highlands. Six and a half million of Ecuador's inhabitants live on the Pacific coast. The Amazon region is home to more than six hundred thousand inhabitants and nearly seventeen thousand live in the Galapagos Islands. More than 14 indigenous groups live on the Ecuadorian mainland, maintaining their own traditions and ways of life. The following are the principal indigenous groups of the Amazon region: Huaoranis, Achuar, Shuar, Cofán, Siona-Secoya, Shiwiar and Záparo.

Los Tagaeri, related to the Huaorani, are another group from this area. The Tageri were declared “intangible” by the State, in order to respect their wish to live far from civilization.

The principle indigenous groups of the highlands are the Quichua, Cañaris, and Saraguros. In northern Ecuador, live the Awa community. On the Pacific coast, live the Chachis, Cayapas, Tsáchilas, and Huancavilcas. The nations cities and villages are primarily populated by people of mixed race, white, and Afro-Ecuadorians, although large numbers of indigenous migrants have moved from the country to the city. This has caused some problems such as growth of slums, lack of housing and schools, unemployment, crime, among other issues.

The provinces with the greatest number of immigrants are Pichincha and Guayas. Migration abroad has also grown in recent years due to the economic crisis. The are sizable communities of Ecuadorians in the USA, Spain, and Italy. The official language of the country is Spanish, but other languages, such as Quichua Shimi, Awapit, Cha´palachi, Tsafiqui, Paicoca, A´ingae, Huaotirio, Shuar-chichan, and Záparo, are widely spoken in areas with large indigenous populations. The predominant religion is Catholicism but many communities still preserve their ancient beliefs of worship of the earth, the mountains, and the sun.

RELIGION: 95% Católica

CURRENCY: Dólar Estadounidense. El gobierno local a producido series de monedas locales de 1,5,10,25,50 centavos y últimamente de 1 dólar, las cuales tienen el mismo valor que su equivalente estadounidense (también se aceptan las originales). Los bancos abren de 9 a 17 horas y los sábados solo por la mañana, sin embargo no cambian divisas extranjeras.

Para cambiar divisas extranjeras, es necesario ir a las casas de cambio y a ciertos hoteles. El problema es que el tipo de cambio esta bastane por debajo del oficial. Cerca de las casas de cambio hay personas que te ofrecen un mejor cambio, pero debes tener cuidado de que no te den billetes falsos.

Recomendación: traete dólares directamente cambiados en tu país.

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QUITO, BETWEEN COLONIAL AND MODERN

Capital	Ciudades	Carretera	Aguas Termales
Andinismo	Arqueología	Artesanía	Balnearios
Cuevas	Grupos Etnico	Pesca	Rafting
Imágenes tomadas del Ministerio de Turismo de Ecuador, Sitio Web: www.vivecuador.com

ExtensiOn: 12 000 square kilómetros.
Population: 1,7 millions.
Highness above the see level: 2 850 metros .
Temperature: beetween 10 & 25 º celsius (50 and 77 degrees fahrenheit),

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, has many attractions for all kinds of visitors. The Andean City is located in a valley at the foot of the active volcano Pichincha. Although Quito lies only 13 km south of the equator, it always has a springlike climate.

Besides its amazing landscapes, surrounded by hills and several snowcapped mountains, Quito is known for its treasures of Colonial churches, paintings, sculptures and carvings. The Spanish Colonial Period extends from the XVI to the XVIII Century. The excellent workmanship of Ecuadorian colonial art combine the European Renaissance and Baroque styles with the indigenous and mestizo influences. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the Roman Catholic Church became the center of religious instruction and promotion of arts.

Centro Historic.- The cathidral of Quito, located in Plaza Grande

However, the history of Quito stretches much further before the arrival of the Spaniards. Before the Spanish Sebastian de Benalcázar conquered the city in 1534, the Incas conquered it in the XV century. At the time when the Incas came, they found an organized civilization: the Shyris. Furthermore, recent discoveries have uncovered archeological sites that date back to 1500 BC. These archeological remains are aligned with the summer solstice and the winter equinox, demonstrating that the native people had an impressive knowledge of the course of the sun. The respective cultures are believed to have migrated from the Ecuadorian Coast .

Quitsa-to, the original name of the city, means "middle of the Earth" in the antique ‘tsafiqui' language. Quito is the only site on the planet where the Equator crosses over highlands. On the rest of the Earth's surface, it crosses through jungle or ocean. Therefore, the pre-Inca cultures could develop their astronomical knowledge helped by the clear landmarks surrounding the city: the Pichincha volcano (15,000 ft) to the West, the Antisana (18,700ft) to the east, and the peak of the snow-caped Cayambe (18,725 ft) to the Northeast, almost precisely on the Equator. The city itself emerges over 9,184 ft above sea level; it is the second highest capital in the world. Thus, Quito is the best natural astronomical observatory on the planet.

Norte de Quito.- avenida González Suárez

Visit Quito 's old city (El Centro historico), which has been declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Old Quito has many colonial buildings and a huge market with a lot of hustle and bustle. Go north and you end up in the new centre (La Mariscal), where tourists will find most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and nightlife.

How to get around: Transport in Quito is relatively cheap and easy. Since Quito lies in a valley between mountains, the city has a long but narrow shape. The distance from the most southern point of Quito to the far north is 30 km, but from east to west it is only 3 or 4 km . Therefore most buses drive in the north/south direction.

The small blue/pink buses are called populares and cost 12 cents. The red buses are called especiales or selectivos and cost 20 cents. There are also pink buses (interparroquiales) that go to towns and villages just outside of Quito . The fare depends on the distance.

Another fast and cheap (25 cents) way to travel in the north/south direction is the trole bus. The 'trole' goes over Avenida 10 de Agosto from the south passing through the old city to the north. Over Avenida 6 de Diciembre you can find the ECOVIA, that consists in buses from south to north or vice versa.

All taxis are yellow and some are very old. During the day ask the driver to turn on the metre (el metro). The minimum fare is 1 dollar, which should pay for a 15-minute drive. At night time prices go up and fares have to be negotiated in advance. Two dollars should be enough for a 20-minute drive.

Addresses in Quito are given with two streets; the destination should be close to the junction between the two. Many addresses have house numbers. Some houses have even two house numbers.

Where to eat: Restaurants in Quito are usually cheaper than in Europe or the U.S. and the quality varies from reasonable to excellent. Off course the local Ecuadorian cuisine is worth a try, but you can also find Mexican, French, Thai, Israeli etc restaurants in Quito .

Many Ecuadorian restaurants have a set menu, which is cheaper than eating a la carta . Ask for the 'almuerzo' (lunch) or 'merienda' (dinner). A set menu should be 2 dollars or cheaper and often includes a starter and a drink. The main course is often chicken (pollo), rice (arroz) or chips/fries (papas fritas) with some fried bananas (platano frito). Ecuadorian specialities are for example 'ceviche' (seafood) and cuy (roasted guinea pig)

Some restaurants are specialised in breakfasts (desayuno), which usually consist of scrambled eggs, bread, coffee and juice and costs around a dollar.

Sometimes restaurants add service charges and VAT to their prices. Although usually this is mentioned on the menu, it is worth asking if this is included.


Where to go out: Although the Quiteños do not have the temperament of the Brazilians or the party life of, say, Cuenca, Quito definitely has an entertaining nightlife. Most bars are located in La Mariscal and most foreigners can be found here.

Beer is the most common drink. A big bottle of the national Ecuadorian beer Pilsener costs around 1 dollar, but many bars also serve cheap cocktails.

Some bars have live music ; for example salsa bands, rock bands or Ecuadorian folklore music (with panpipes, guitar and a small guitar (charango)).

For the partygoers that are not tired after closing time, Quito has many clubs . Many play 'western' dance or rock music, but the salsa clubs (salsatecas) are also definitely worth a visit. Ecuadorians are great dancers and salsa is the music that makes their hips shake.

Entrance rises up to 10 dollars and sometimes includes a drink.

Where to go: Located in the Andes, Quito is the perfect base for exploring the mountains. Big mountains like Pichincha, Cayambe and Cotopaxi are very close by and also Andean towns like Otavalo and Papallacta are popular daytrip destinations. Some travel agencies in Quito organise guided trips to the national parks like Cotopaxi . Hiking and climbing gear can be rented in Quito .

Many travel agencies organise trips to the Galapagos Islands . The Galapagos Islands are world famous for its wildlife (penguins, many beautiful birds, reptiles, turtles, sea lions, dolphins etc.). Darwin was already fascinated by the Galapagos wildlife and did research here. A trip to the Galapagos is not cheap: expect to pay roughly a 1000 dollars for a four-day trip.

The jungle at the west of Quito (el Oriente) is another popular destination. Jungle expeditions can be organised at the spot or booked in one of Quito 's travel agencies . Trips can include guided tours, white water rafting or boat trips. Make sure you know all the details before you book.

SIGHTSEEING
We suggest that you to begin your sightseeing at the main square "La Plaza de la Independencia". This booklet will guide you through churches, museums and other interesting places in our colonial downtown. From Independence Square you can walk to most of the downtown sites. The main plaza or Independence Square is surrounded by four buildings that represent the four ruling powers of the colonial period: the Government Palace on the West, the Municipal Palace on the East, the Archbishop's Palace on the north, and the Cathedral on the south.

The Government Palace
It is not possible to visit the interiors of the palace, however, from the entrance door one is able to appreciate the Andalusian patios that have half-point arches and water fountains in the center. The irons of the building are also interesting. They were brought from the Tullerias Palace in France . A scale model of the Independence Square is exposed in the entrance to the Palace.

The Cathedral
This church holds an interesting collection of sculptures and paintings from the Escuela Quiteña. Among the most important is the "Descending of Christ" by Caspicara. It is a masterpiece of expressionism. As in most Ecuadorian and Latin American churches, many styles are used in the construction of the Cathedral: late Gothic in the arches, Moorish in the ceilings and Baroque in the main altar. The choir, the stone Episcopal chair, the central painting by Manuel Samaniego and the statues by Caspicara are of neoclassical style.

A museum that displays the clothes used by the priests on the XVII century ("casullas"), choral books and silver pieces of the church is open from 10h00 to 16h00. The price of the guided tour is of $1.50. Phone: 228 2825.

Cultural Center
It is located on the corner of the Main Square, next to the Government's Palace. The Jesuits originally constructed this building in the XVII Century. It was remodeled to house a monumental Cultural Center . The original buildings were a Jesuit University and School. In 1767, when Charles III of Spain banished the Jesuit Order from the colonized territories, the buildings became a public University. On the last decade of the XVIII century, the buildings became the army headquarters of the Spanish Royal troops sent from Lima to repress the early independence efforts. Thus, the building was known as the "Royal Barrack of Lima". In this building, the heroic efforts for independence ended up in a massacre of a number of patriots from Quito on August 2, 1810 . The Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum displays this massacre with real size wax sculptures, as well as other important scenes of Quito 's history. Several exhibit rooms were recently inaugurated.

The Cultural Center also holds a museum of colonial art as well and the Municipal Library.
There is also a Contemporary Art exhibit room, which houses temporary exhibitions.
Enjoy its beauty and history as well as its cultural services! Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h00 to 17h00. Entrance fee is $1.50, children $0.50. Phone: 295-0272/ 295-7062.

El Sagrario
This church was originally the main chapel of the Cathedral, built for the cult of the Holy Sacrament. It has been kept for this service until these days. The stone facade with its ornamented Salomon columns is an excellent frame for a high Baroque that leaves practically no space without ornamentation. This style is typical of Bernardo de Legarda's sculpture. It is located next to the Cathedral. Visiting hours: 8h00 to 16h00. Admission is free. For more info rmation, call 228 4398.

La Compañia de Jesús
This is one of the richest churches in America . The extraordinary facade can be described as a lacework on stone. Six Salomonic columns in the lower part support a second body of different widths, reminiscent of the Church of Gesu in Rome . The columns are a copy of those by Bernini in the Vatican . The splendor that meets your eye as you go into the church is unforgettable: the vaulted ceiling and the walls with beautiful Moorish ornamentation, the perfect harmony and the richness of the main altar, the reproduction of the Salomon columns of the facade, the incredible clustered Baroque on the tribunes on both sides of the main altar, in the pulpit, and in the lateral chapels. Everything is covered with gold leaf. It is a magnificent exhibit of foliage, vines, fruits, birds and caryatids. The Holy Trinity in the main altar and the images of Saint Francis and Saint Ignatius in the side altars are works of the famous Legarda. Paintings of the prophets, works of Goribar, are hung in the majestic archery that divides the aisles. It is located at Benalcazar St. Open Mondays to Fridays 10h00 to 13h00, 14h00 to 17h00. Saturdays 10h00 to 13h00. Phone numbers: 258 0612/257 2976. Entrance fee is US$ 2.

San Francisco Church and Plaza
This complex gave the capital of Ecuador its proper name: San Francisco de Quito. It is the oldest in Quito, built in 1536-1580. San Francisco is the biggest religious architectonic complex in America, with over 8,670 acres, including the convent with 6 internal patios. The atrium running along one side of the plaza is opened in the middle to give way to a beautiful staircase. The facade has a style similar to that of the Escorial in Spain . The inside is Baroque style. The coffer ceiling in the narthex has rich Moorish style ornamentation with paintings by Miguel de Santiago. It is interesting to note among the ornate details images of the sun god, the Inca divinity. The main altar holds the original masterpiece by Legarda: "La Virgen de Quito"( Quito 's Virgin). This sculpture is the only winged image of Virgin Mary in colonial art.

The San Francisco Plaza was an antique "Tianguez", which means ‘market' in the native Nahuatl language. During Pre-Columbian times, Plaza San Francisco was a lively commercial center, which hosted approximately ten ethnic dominations from the neighboring valleys.

San Francisco is located between Sucre and Bolívar Streets. Visiting hours: 7h00-12h00 and 15h00-19h00, Monday through Thursday, 7h00 to 19h00 Fridays through Sundays. Admission is free.

Cantuña Chapel
Located at one side of the San Franciscan atrium. Visiting hours: 7h00 to 18h00, Sundays 7h00 to 12h00. Admission fee is $2.50.

The Calvary woodcarvings on the main altar are one of Legarda's most outstanding masterpieces of the colonial times. Saint Peter of Alcántara is another masterpiece to look at, carved by Padre Carlos. A legend of the chapel says that Francisco Cantuña (the indigenous man that paved the atrium with large stone blocks) constructed the chapel with the treasures saved from the Kingdom of Quito .

San Francisco Museum
Located next to the church at the San Francisco Square . The zaguan (antique entrance hall), the main cloister, the renaissance stairway, the chorus and the exposition lounge are now the site of a number of selected works of the Franciscan collection. You can find works of Andrés Sánchez Galque (of indigenous origin), Miguel de Santiago, Mateo Mexía, the European authors Zurbarán and Bernardo de Bitti, or their respective schools, among others of the XVI-XVIII centuries. Among the sculptures, you can find the glass eyes characteristic of the XVIII century. You will also find pieces of furniture of the XVIII century. The museum is called Fray Pedro Gocial in honor to the first painting instructor. Visiting hours: 09h00-18h00. Entrance fee: US$.2. Phone number: 228 1124.

Convent of San Diego
The Saint Francis congregation constructed this church to provide the priests and laymen with a place of retreat. Along the corridors are paintings dating back to the XVII century, which had been covered with lime for years and are now being restored. A genuine manifestation of syncretism!

Visiting Hours: 09h30-13h00 and 14h30-17h30 Tuesdays-Sundays. Phone number: 295 2516. Entrance fee: $2.

San Augustin Church
It is on the corner of Chile and Guayaquil Streets. The construction of this church was finished in 1538 and has been remodeled due to earthquake damage. The vault underneath the chorus, the wood carved columns, and the gilded altars are the only remains of the original construction.

San Augustin Convent
The first thing to admire here are the beautiful cloisters in three different levels, the fountain in the colonial patio carved from a single block of stone, the coffer ceiling in the lower cloister, and the huge collection of paintings by the artist Miguel de Santiago.

The artist spent most of his life working in the convent to finish the task of painting the scenes of St. Augustine 's life.

Visiting hours 09h00-12h00 and 13h00-17h30 Saturdays: Admission is $1. Phone number: 295 5525.

Sala Capitular
In this same convent you will find one of the most important historical sites in Spanish America . The first Act of Independence was signed here on August 10th, 1809.

The Calvary masterpiece by a Quiteñan artist named Olmos from the XVII century is located to the right of this large room. Entrance fee: US$.1.

La Merced Church and Convent
Visiting hours: 8h00 to 12h00 and15h00-17h30, Monday to Saturday. Admission free. One can admire a stone-carved pagan god, Neptune. Also noticeable are Bernardo Legarda's main altar woodcarvings and an image of great beauty of Our Lady of Mercy in stone. Phone: 228 0743.

Other interesting places in this city:

Guápulo Church
This sanctuary is located in a little village two kilometers heading down from the Hotel Quito. Visiting hours: 09h30-12h30 and 15h30-18h00 Mondays to Saturdays. This sanctuary can be reached by car or bus in about 10 minutes or you can walk down a Colonial stone paved path which was the route followed by Francisco de Orellana to discover the Amazon River . The facade and the dome of the church have a simple neoclassic style. The main altar painted by Miguel de Santiago and the image of our Lady of Guadalupe by Diego de Robles are original masterpieces. Many qualify the pulpit carved by the Indigenous Sculptor Menacho as the most beautiful pulpit in America . Phone number: 256 5652. Entrance fee: US$2.

The Monument on the Equator
Visiting hours: 09h00-18h00 Mondays-Fridays 09h00 - 19h00 Saturdays and Sundays.
This popular tourist site is located approximately 20 minutes from Quito . One may visit an Ethnic Museum here, shop and place one foot on the northern Hemisphere and the other on the southern Hemisphere. Entrance fee: US$. 2.
At this site, don't miss the " Solar Culture Museum ", which displays the latest investigations about the real middle of the world, done by the scientific research project Quitsa-to. (www.quitsato.com).

El Panecillo
Many historical happenings took place on this natural hill that stands in Quito . "Panecillo" means "little bread" referring to its peculiar size and shape. The Virgin that stands on the hill, which consists of 7,000 pieces of aluminum, is a modern representation of the famous "Virgen de Quito", the unique winged dancing Virgin conceived by Bernardo Legarda in the XVIIth century. (The original masterpiece can be seen at the main altar of the San Francisco Church ). There is a balcony in the upper part of the pedestal of the Virgin that provides a beautiful view of the colonial and the modern city of Quito . This sculpture is the third biggest of the sightseeing statues in the world, after the NY Statue of Liberty and the Corcovada in Brazil . Open every day from 10h30 to 17h30. The entrance fee to the interior of the monument is $.1.

El Ejido Park
It is located at Patria and Amazonas Avenues. If you like contemporary art, this is the place to be on weekends. A walk in the park will bring you face to face with beautiful paintings and other handicrafts. You may bargain with the artists to get reasonable prices. The park is a great setting for an afternoon stroll.

MUSEUMS

Central Bank Museum
It is located at the Casa de la Cultura (Cultural House) on 6 de Diciembre and Patria Avenues. Visiting hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 09h00 to17h00/ weekends and holidays10h00 to16h00. Phone: 222-3258. Pre-Colonial, Colonial and contemporary Art appears in 1,417 pieces exhibited permanently and in itinerary and temporary displays. It also presents an opportunity to learn about our origin, evolution and history.
Entrance fee: US$2 Students US$.1. Guide service available.

Benalcazar House-Museum
This museum displays paintings of the XVII century and sculptures of the XVII and XIII century. It is located at Olmedo and Benalcazar St. Open Mondays to Fridays 09h30 to 13h00 and 15h30 to 19h00.

City Museum
Located at García Moreno 572 and Rocafuerte (colonial Quito ), this museum opens Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h30 to 17h30.
Follow Quito 's everyday life through the centuries in the beautiful colonial building converted into the "Museo de la Ciudad" ( City Museum ). The museum is in the interior of the building that once was the San Juan de Dios Hospital (1565) and includes an exhibit of the city's history throughout the centuries, from pre-Hispanic times to the nineteenth century.
Entrance fee: $3 for adults, $1.50 for children, students. Guided tour: additional fee of $4. For more info rmation call: 228-3882 / 228-3883.

María Augusta Urrutia Museum
Located at García Moreno 760 (colonial Quito ). Open Tuesdays to Sundays 09h00 to 17h00.
Follow along the life and activities of a wealthy and very generous woman of Quito 's early XXth century. Observe the architecture of a typical house in colonial Quito . Enjoy the beautifully decorated interiors (especially the French antiques), and the distinctive clothing and artifacts of the time. Entrance fee: US$ 2.50 (special rates for children, students and senior citizens). Includes a guided tour. For more info rmation call: 258-0103 / 258-0107

Guayasamín Museum and "La Capilla del Hombre" (Man's Chapel)
A stop at Guayasamin´s house-museum is a must to any visitor in Quito . This museum exhibits an excellent sample of pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary art from the private collections of the famous Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999). Shortly before his death, Oswaldo Guayasamín donated these collections and his works to the city of Quito . Open Tuesday to Saturdays 10h00 - 17h00. Entrance fee: $3.

Next to the house-museum, "La Capilla del Hombre" (Man's Chapel) was inaugurated last November. Guayasamín dreamed with this chapel to pay tribute to the American pre-Columbian man, who has quietly kept 500 years of resistance and still struggles to recover his values. The artist started the construction of this Chapel on 1995, but unfortunately he died before his masterpiece was concluded. With the effort of his heirs, through the Guayasamín Foundation, the artist's dream is coming alive. The Chapel itself occupies about 4,000 meters of construction. It is a rectangular construction of two floors, with a strong similarity to Incan temples. On the top it has a dome covered by copper plate, which on its inside is covered by an unconcluded mural of the artist, which will be left intact. Murals that were supposed to narrate the history of the American Man were not concluded, however, the Chapel will hold some of Guayasamín's work as well as that of other well-known Latin-American artists, from Pre-Columbian to contemporary. The altar of the Chapel holds an eternal flame in defense of peace and human rights. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 10h00 - 17h00. Address: Bosmediano 543 and José Carbo.
Phone: 246 5265/245 2938. Entrance fee: $3.

Anhalzer-Valdivieso Collection
Address: Colón Ave. E10-53. Phone: 25-41315.
The showrooms of the Anhalzer-Valdivieso Collection offer visitors an image of the splendor of ancient Ecuador, with a selected presentation of archeology, popular and colonial art.
Open Mondays to Saturdays from 9h00-13h00 and from 15h00-19h00. Entrance is free.

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