Quito

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It was founded in 1534 on the ruins of an ancient Inca city. Today, two million people live in Quito. The old town of Quito (called locally "El Centro" and, in publications, "Centro Histórico" or "Quito Colonial") is really special and should not be missed. It is full with museums, churches and other sights. It is also an area full of life.  Lots of small shops and eateries make it pleasant to stroll around.

Quito new attraction "TELEFERICO" is now open this Cable car takes you all the way up to see Quito's surrounding and the great valleys with snow covered volcanoes near by, take a nice cam with you and be ready to take hundreds of pictures. Also bring a sweater, as it gets cold up there.  The most incredible thing is that at 4000 meters at the Equator you still get green vegetation in the mountains.

The New Quito is along Mariscal district, a pretty safe area filled with all sorts of inexpensive Hostales or Posadas.  Excellent, inexpensive accommodations, and also many small shops and restaurants.  Mariscal is about  10 mins from Quito Airport.  Mariscal is increasingly becoming the most frequent touristy area in Quito.  Quito has plans for a new international airport east of town by year 2010.

Shopping in Quito: There are lots of artisans working on unique crafts in the capital. These include guitar-makers, candle makers, tanners and leather-workers, silversmiths, ceramicists and woodcarvers. You can find them at their workshops, published in a guide by the Visitors' Bureau.
There are also several fair-trade shops in Quito which promise to pay the craftspeople fairly for their products. The ones at the Tianguez (Plaza San Francisco), El Quinde (Plaza Grande), and Museo Mindalae are all very good.