Welcome to Quito, the city of eternal spring, bridge to Ecuador's past, and your gateway city. Even if you are not much of a city person, this World Heritage Site has a certain charm to it. Nestled within the Avenue of the Volcanoes, the breathtaking backdrop blends with colonial architecture to create a truly unique surrounding. At 9,319 feet, Quito is Latin America's second-highest capital, after La Paz in Bolivia, and the main hub for Ecuador's tourism traffic. This is based on our much larger Ecuador Adventure Guide. Following are reviews: "This unique region provides more geographic, biological and recreational diversity than any other country in Latin America. It has Darwin's Galapagos islands, misty cloud forests, the snow-capped Andes and the Amazon Basin. The natural attractions are unparalleled. This book is the ultimate resource for travelers. With an eye toward ecotourism, it's packed with practical travel tips and full of details about the region's unique cultures." -- Amazon customer. "Provides all the suggestions and tools necessary to put together an outstanding trip... candid... " -- The Bookwatch. "Adventure Guides aim to deliver content... Moderately-priced and truly user-friendly, they are packed with information that other series rarely cover." -- Library Journal. Covered in detail are the history, culture, geography and climate, with stops at museums, historic sites and local attractions. Also covered are places to stay and eat; transportation; practical concerns; useful websites; e-mail addresses; and tourism contacts. Detailed regional and town maps feature walking and driving tours.