Quito Old Town

Quito has one of the largest and least altered colonial centres in the Americas, inscribed by UNESCO in 1978 in the first group of World Heritage sites ever listed, and it sits high in the Andes at 2,850 metres with volcanoes on the skyline. The old town is a dense grid of narrow streets and plazas lined with churches and monasteries, the most striking being La Compania, whose interior is covered almost entirely in gold leaf over carved Baroque surfaces. The winged Virgin statue on the Panecillo hill looks down on all of it.

What you actually see

• La Compania church - the dazzling gold-leaf Baroque interior.
• Plaza Grande - the grand main square and cathedral.
• El Panecillo - the hilltop winged Virgin statue and city view.
• The monasteries - the great churches of San Francisco and Santo Domingo.

When to go

June to September, the drier season, for the best weather, though the high-altitude climate is spring-like year-round with rain possible any time; bring layers, as it can be cool. The old town is best explored by day.

Honest expectations

At 2,850 metres the altitude can leave new arrivals breathless, so take it easy at first. Like any big Latin American city, it has areas that call for real caution, so stick to the well-visited old town and tourist zones, avoid quiet streets at night, and take taxis after dark. The old town's colonial splendour, though, is genuinely magnificent.

Nearby

The equator monument at Mitad del Mundo and the Otavalo market are nearby.