A sightseeing tour is an excellent way to discover some of the reasons why Ecuador’s capital earned its honor as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kick off with a visit to El Panecillo, the landmark hill rising at the southern edge of the historic center. Gaze at Quito’s ‘Winged Virgin’ statue, visible from almost anywhere in the city, and enjoy the beautiful vista of colonial Quito. Marvel at San Francisco Church and its museum of religious art, La Compañía and the seven tons of gold gilding on its glittering wall and bustling Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral of Quito.
