Quito is home to numerous museums, including the museum of Guayasamin, Ecuador’s
most famous contemporary artist. At the south end of the colonial district,
El Panecillo affords both a panoramic view of the city and a close-up of the
grandiose statue of the winged Virgin. Another popular site is La Mitad
del Mundo, or ‘The Middle of the World’, the monument marking
the spot where, in 1736, the location of the equator was verified. This site
also houses a planetarium, museum and restaurants.
Park Ejido is home to Quito’s weekend markets, but a day trip to Otavalo
is more than worth the effort, as artisans, weavers and other vendors sell their
wares seven days a week. Smaller markets are also held in nearby towns such
as Guangaje and Zumbagua.
A number of activities are on offer in the surrounding mountains, catering
to all tastes. The more relaxing include bathing in the natural springs of Papallucta,
or taking in archaeological sites such as the pre-Incan pyramids at Rumicucho
and Pambamarca and the burial mounds at Haienda Zuleta, while active types can
participate in horseback riding, mountain biking, white-water rafting, or, most
exciting of all, paragliding from the volcanic peak of nearby Pichincha.
|
