Quito, officially named San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and second-largest city of Ecuador. It has an estimated population of about 2.8 million people in its metropolitan area. Quito is also the capital of the Pichincha province. The city is located in a valley on the eastern side of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.

Quito’s elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) makes it either the highest or the second-highest national capital city in the world. This depends on how Bolivia’s capitals are counted. If La Paz is considered Bolivia’s capital, it is the highest. If Sucre is considered the capital, Quito is the second-highest.

Quito is the political and cultural center of Ecuador because many of the country’s important government, administrative, and cultural institutions are located there. Most large international companies operating in Ecuador have their main offices in Quito. It is also one of Ecuador’s two major industrial centers, with Guayaquil, a port city, being the other.

The exact date of Quito’s first settlement is unknown. However, archaeological evidence shows that people began living there between 4400 and 1600 BC. In the late 1400s, the Inca Emperor Huayna Capac conquered the Quitu, the original inhabitants of the region, and made Quito the capital of the Inca Empire’s northern area. The city’s official founding date is often given as 1534, when Spanish forces arrived. This makes Quito the oldest capital city in South America.

Quito’s historic center is one of the largest and best-preserved in the Americas. In 1978, Quito and Kraków became the first cities in the world to be designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. Quito is the capital city closest to the Equator, which runs through the northern part of its metropolitan area in the San Antonio parish.

History

The oldest signs of people living in Quito were found in 1960 by American archaeologist Robert E. Bell. These signs were discovered on the slopes of the Ilaló volcano, between the eastern valleys of Los Chillos and Tumbaco. Hunter-gatherers left tools made of obsidian glass, which are about 8,000 years old. This archaeological site, named EI Inga, was discovered by Allen Graffham, a geologist in Ecuador who also studied archaeology as a hobby. Graffham collected items at the site in 1956. He became interested in the area after finding projectile points, especially those with a special shape called basal fluting. His experience with ancient tools in the United States led him to believe the site was important.

Another important sign of early human life was found in the Cotocollao neighborhood, dating to about 1500 BC. This area, northwest of Quito, had a prehistoric village covering more than 26 hectares. The village was near creeks and had rectangular houses. Burials nearby contained pottery and stone items. The people of Cotocollao mined and sent obsidian to coastal regions.

A priest named Juan de Velasco wrote about a Kingdom of Quito. His information came from a lost work by Marcos de Niza, which has not been found. Velasco claimed that a group called the Cara or Schyris took over the region by AD 890. He also said the kingdom lasted until the Inca conquered the area in the 15th century. However, archaeological evidence does not show that all groups in the region were unified. The local Quitu or Quillaco tribe had different art and buildings compared to their neighbors.

By the 20th century, many historians questioned the existence of the Quitu-Cara kingdom, believing it was a legend. Today, most historians think the region was not a single kingdom but a collection of different groups. The Quitu ruled Quito when the Inca arrived under Topa Inca Yupanqui, during his father’s reign. In the early 21st century, large tombs were found in the La Florida neighborhood, dating to AD 800. These tombs showed the Quitu had skilled craftsmanship and complex burial practices. In 2010, the Museo de Sitio La Florida opened to display artifacts from these tombs and explain the Quitu culture.

The Incan people continued fighting against the Spanish in 1534. Diego de Almagro founded Santiago de Quito on August 15, 1534, and later renamed it San Francisco de Quito on August 28, 1534. The city was moved to its current location on December 6, 1534, by 204 settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar. Benalcázar captured Rumiñahui, ending organized resistance. Rumiñahui was executed on January 10, 1535.

Quito was declared a city on March 28, 1541. It received the title "Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco de Quito" on February 23, 1556. In 1563, Quito became the seat of a Spanish administrative district called Real Audiencia. It was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1717, when it joined the Viceroyalty of New Granada.

The Spanish introduced Roman Catholicism to Quito. The first church, El Belén, was built before the city was officially founded. In 1535, the San Francisco Convent was constructed, one of about 20 churches and convents built during the colonial period. Indigenous people were converted to Christianity and used as laborers for construction.

In 1743, Quito had about 10,000 people. The city briefly claimed independence from Spain between 1765 and 1766. On August 10, 1809, a movement for independence began, appointing Juan Pío Montúfar as president. This movement was defeated in 1810 when Spanish troops arrived from Peru. A major battle for independence occurred on May 24, 1822, when Antonio José de Sucre, under Simón Bolívar, won the Battle of Pichincha, securing independence for Quito and nearby areas.

In 1833, members of the Society of Free Inhabitants of Quito were killed by the government. In 1845, the Marcist Revolution began. In 1875, President Gabriel García Moreno was assassinated in Quito. In 1877, Archbishop José Ignacio Checa y Barba was poisoned during Mass.

In 1882, rebels fought against dictator Ignacio de Veintimilla. Violence continued, and in 1883, liberal leader Eloy Alfaro led the Battle of Guayaquil. He later became president in 1895. After two terms, Alfaro moved to Europe but returned to Ecuador in 1912. He was arrested, imprisoned, and lynched by a mob in Quito. His body was dragged through the city and burned.

In 1932, the Four Days' War broke out after a leader was found to have a Peruvian passport. In 1949, a radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds caused panic and led to deaths from fires.

Quito’s historic center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. In 2011, the city had a population of 2,239,191. Since 2002, the historic center has been restored. The old airport closed in 2013, and the area became Parque Bicentenario. A new airport opened nearby in 2013.

From 2003 to 2004, the Metrobus (Ecovia) system was built, connecting the city’s north and south. Roads were expanded, and a subway system opened in 2023.

In 2023, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed after a rally in Quito. In 2025, a landslide damaged a water pipe, cutting water access for 400,000 residents and causing the worst water crisis in 25 years.

Geography

Quito is located in the northern highlands of Ecuador, within the Guayllabamba River basin. The city is built on a long, flat area of land on the eastern side of the Pichincha volcano. The Guayllabamba River valley, where Quito is found, is surrounded by volcanoes, some of which have snow on their peaks. These volcanoes can be seen from the city on clear days. Quito is the capital city closest to the equator. The city’s altitude is 2,820 meters (9,250 feet).

The nearest volcano to Quito is Pichincha, which rises above the western part of the city. Quito is the only capital city built so close to an active volcano. Pichincha has multiple peaks, including Ruku Pichincha at 4,700 meters (15,400 feet) and Guagua Pichincha at 4,794 meters (15,728 feet).

Pichincha is an active volcano and is monitored by scientists at the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic University. The largest eruption occurred in 1660, when more than 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) of ash covered the city. There were three smaller eruptions in the 19th century. The most recent eruption was recorded on October 5, 1999, when smoke and ash were seen over the city.

Activity from other nearby volcanoes can also affect Quito. In November 2002, the Reventador volcano erupted and sent fine ash particles over the city, covering the ground several centimeters deep.

Volcanoes in the Central Cordillera (Royal Cordillera), east of Quito, include Cotopaxi, Sincholagua, Antisana, and Cayambe. Volcanoes in the Western Cordillera, west of the Guayllabamba valley, include Illiniza, Atacazo, and Pululahua, which is home to the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve.

Quito has a subtropical highland climate with steady rainfall (Köppen: Cfb, Trewartha: Cfll). Because of its altitude and position on the equator, Quito has a cool but comfortable climate. The average high temperature during the day is 21.4°C (70.5°F), and the average low temperature at night is 9.8°C (49.6°F). The yearly average temperature is 15.6°C (60.1°F). The city has two seasons: a dry season (June to August) called summer, and a wet season (September to May) called winter. Annual rainfall averages over 1,000 millimeters (39 inches), depending on the area.

Because of its high altitude, Quito receives some of the strongest sunlight in the world. Under clear skies, the UV Index can reach 24 at solar noon.

Since Quito is on the equator, high-pressure weather systems are very rare. Air pressure is usually stable, so low-pressure systems are also uncommon. Between July 2010 and June 2011, the lowest recorded air pressure was 998.2 hectopascals (29.48 inches of mercury), and the highest was 1,015.2 hectopascals (29.98 inches of mercury). Even without high-pressure systems, Quito can have calm weather. Typically, the highest pressure occurs at midnight, and the lowest happens in the afternoon.

Most of Quito’s water comes from the paramo, which is a type of high-altitude grassland and shrubland found above the tree line but below the snow. In the 1990s, facing water shortages, the Quito Water Company (EPMAPS) worked with The Nature Conservancy to create FONAG (Fund for the Protection of Water in Spanish). This program helps protect the paramo by moving livestock to other areas, preventing farming that harms the land, and stopping mining activities.

Topographical zones

Quito is divided into three areas, separated by hills:

• Central: contains the colonial old city.
• Southern: is mostly an industrial area and has homes where many working-class people live.
• Northern: is modern Quito, which has tall buildings, shopping centers, the financial district, and a mix of homes for upper-class, middle-class, and working-class people.

Economy

Quito is the largest city in Ecuador that contributes the most to the country's economy. It also has the highest average income per person. Quito collects the most taxes in Ecuador, more than the national average of 57% in 2009. It is now the most important economic area in the country, as shown in a recent study by the Central Bank of Ecuador.

The main industries in Quito include textiles, metals, and agriculture. Major crops grown for export are coffee, sugar, cacao, rice, bananas, and palm oil.

Petroecuador, the largest company in Ecuador and one of the largest in Latin America, is based in Quito.

Many national and international financial institutions, oil companies, and businesses also have their headquarters or offices in Quito. This makes Quito a major global business center.

In "The World According to GaWC" global cities report, which measures how well a city connects to the world economy, Quito is ranked as a Beta city. This means it is an important city that helps link its region to the global economy. [1]

Politics

Quito is led by a mayor and a city council with 15 members. The mayor is chosen for a five-year term and may be re-elected. This role also includes being the mayor of the Metropolitan District of Quito, which is the same as the canton. The current mayor is Pabel Muñoz Lopez.

In Ecuador, cantons are divided into smaller areas called parishes. This name comes from the Catholic Church’s use of these areas in the past. However, as Ecuador became more secular and focused on non-religious matters, parishes were separated from the church’s original system. Parishes are called urban if they are inside the capital of their canton and rural if they are outside. Within Quito, urban parishes are divided in different ways depending on the organizations that use them, such as the city government, election authorities, postal service, and statistics institute. These urban parishes may not always overlap or share the same names or numbers.

As of 2008, the city government of Quito divided the city into 32 urban parishes. These parishes are used for administrative tasks by the city government and are also called cabildos since 2001. Since the time of the Metropolitan District of Quito, these parishes have been grouped into larger areas called municipal zones.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito divides the city into 167 parishes, which are grouped into 17 zones.

Transport

The MetrobusQ network, also called the "Red Integrada de Transporte Público," is a fast bus system in Quito that travels from the southern part of the city to the northern part. It is divided into three sections: the green line, which is the central trolleybus known as El Trole; the red line, which is the north-east Ecovía; and the blue line, which is the north-west Central Corridor. In addition to this system, many bus companies operate in the city. Each bus has a name and a number, and they follow a set route. Taxis are all yellow and have meters that show the cost of the ride. There are almost 8,800 registered taxis in the city.

In August 2012, the government of Quito created a public bicycle-sharing system named Bici Q. In March 2023, a new bicycle-sharing system was introduced to encourage people to use bicycles as an eco-friendly, healthy, and quick way to travel. This service aims to reduce travel time, lower air pollution, and improve the quality of life for residents.

Although public transportation is the main way people move around the city, including taxis that drive around constantly, the use of private vehicles has grown a lot over the past ten years. Because of heavy traffic in many areas, plans were made to build a light train system to replace part of the Trole. These plans were canceled, and instead, the city started building its first subway line in 2012. The subway began operating in December 2023 and now connects with the existing public transportation network.

Quito is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) long and five kilometers (3.1 miles) wide at its widest point. Most of the city's main roads run from north to south. The two main highways that connect the northern and southern parts of the city are Avenue Oriental (Corridor Periférico Oriental) on the eastern hills near the city and Avenue Occidental on the western side of the city near the Pichincha volcano. Street 10 de Agosto also runs north to south through much of the city, passing through the center. The historic part of the city is laid out in a grid pattern, even though there are hills, with streets like Venezuela, Chile, García Moreno, and Guayaquil being the most important.

The Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the main airport for passenger and freight travel in the city. It is located 18 kilometers (11 miles) east of the city center in the Tababela parish. The airport started operating on February 20, 2013, replacing the old Mariscal Sucre International Airport, which was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) north of the city center. The old airport was turned into a park called Parque Bicentenario. This change was needed because of tall buildings, fog, and the difficulty of landing at the old location.

There is a railroad that runs through the southern part of Quito and stops at Estación de Chimbacalle. This system is managed by the Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos (EFE). Today, this form of transportation is mostly used for tourism.

A 23-kilometer (14-mile) subway system, called the Quito Metro, started construction in 2013. Phase One included building stations at La Magdalena and El Labrador. Phase Two, which began in 2016, includes 15 stations, a storage area, and other systems. The project is expected to carry 400,000 passengers each day and cost $1.5 billion. Funding comes from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). The subway line opened on December 1, 2023.

Points of interest

Quito has the largest, least-changed, and best-preserved historic center in the Americas. This area was, along with the historic center of Kraków, Poland, the first to be named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on September 18, 1978. The historic center of Quito is located south of the city’s current center, covering 320 hectares (790 acres). It is one of the most important historic areas in Latin America. About 130 large buildings, which include many religious paintings and sculptures in different styles, are found here. Also, 5,000 properties are listed in the city’s heritage records.

Carondelet Palace is the official home of the President of Ecuador and is located in the historic center of Quito. The palace overlooks a busy public space called Independence Square (also known as Plaza Grande), along with the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Hotel Plaza Grande, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. During the Republican era, most presidents, including those who ruled by law, by force, or through dictatorship, worked from the Carondelet Palace. The president’s living quarters are on the third floor of the palace, along with offices.

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is the most important neo-Gothic building in Ecuador and one of the most famous in the Americas. It was once the largest church in the New World.

The Quito Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings for the Catholic community in the city. Construction began in 1535, 17 years after the Diocese of Quito was created in 1545. The church was completed in 1799 during the time of Baron Héctor de Carondelet, who was president of the Real Audiencia.

A major event in the cathedral was the poisoning of Bishop José Ignacio Checa y Barba. During a Good Friday mass on March 30, 1877, the bishop was poisoned with strychnine in the consecrated wine. The cathedral is also the final resting place for Grand Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, several presidents, bishops, and priests who died in the diocese. It is located on the south side of Plaza de la Independencia.

Construction of the Church of La Compañía began in 1605. It took 160 years to build, and the façade was completed in 1765. Native American workers carefully shaped stones to create the ornate Baroque-style façade, one of the finest examples of this style in the Americas.

The Basilica of San Francisco is the largest religious building in the historic centers of Latin American cities. Construction started in 1550 on land near a plaza where Native Americans traded goods.

In colonial times, the Church of El Sagrario was one of Quito’s most impressive buildings. It was built in the Italian Renaissance style in the late 17th century. The church has a screen with sculptures and decorations. Bernardo de Legarda designed the structure. The central arch leads to a dome with biblical frescoes of archangels, painted by Francisco Albán. The main altar was gilded by Legarda. The church is located on Calle García Moreno, near the cathedral.

The Church of Santo Domingo was built by the Dominicans, who arrived in Quito in 1541. They started construction in 1580 using plans by Francisco Becerra, and the work was completed by the early 17th century. Inside the church is a neo-Gothic main altar added by Italian Dominicans in the late 19th century. The roof of the Mudéjar-style church has paintings of martyrs from the Order of Saint Dominic. The nave’s roof is supported by a pair-and-knuckle frame decorated with tracery. A museum near the church displays sculptures by famous Quito artists, such as Saint Dominic de Guzmán by Father Carlos, Saint John of God by Caspicara, and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Legarda. The Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, a Baroque masterpiece, is also part of the church complex. This chapel was the site of the largest fraternity in Quito.

Important landmarks in Quito include:
– Carondelet Palace, the office and home of Ecuador’s presidents.
– Quito Metropolitan Cathedral, built between 1535 and 1799.
– Church of La Compañía de Jesús.
– Basilica of San Francisco, built between 1535 and 1650.
– Interior of the Basilica of San Francisco.
– View of the Church of Santo Domingo.
– Chapel of the Rosary within the Church of Santo Domingo.
– Interior of the Church of Santo Domingo.
– Basílica del Voto Nacional.
– Monastery of Santa Clara.
– Gangotena Palace.
– Archbishop’s Palace in Plaza Grande.
– Plaza Grande.
– Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, Quito.
– Antiguo Hospital Militar (Historic Center, Quito).
– View of Quito from Basílica del Voto Nacional.
– Virgin of El Panecillo.
– Cemetery of San Diego, Quito.

El Panecillo is a hill in the middle-west part of the city, about 3,016 meters (9,895 feet) above sea level. A monument of the Virgin Mary stands on top of El Panecillo and can be seen from much of the city. In 1976, the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras was asked by the Oblates religious order to build a 41-meter (135-foot) aluminum statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue was placed on a tall pedestal at the top of El Panecillo. This monument is a copy of a sculpture made by Bernardo de Legarda in 1732. Because of this, the monument is also called Virgen de Legarda or Virgen del Panecillo.

A modern area of Quito is known as the city’s entertainment hub. It is a popular place for both locals and visitors. The area has many restaurants, shops, hotels, and nightlife options. The Great Parade of Mariscal is held here during Quito’s Foundation Festivities in early December.

This area is called the zona rosa of the city. It has many nightclubs, bars, and street vendors selling gum, cigarettes, and other small items. Plaza Foch is very busy on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, attracting tourists from around the world. Prices for food, drinks, and alcohol are higher here than in other parts of Quito. The area has narrow streets and wide sidewalks, making it mostly a pedestrian zone.

The Guanguiltagua Metropolitan Park is the largest urban park in South America, covering 1,376 acres (5.57 km²). For comparison, New York’s Central Park is 843 acres (341 hectares). The park is in northern Quito, on the hill of Bellavista behind Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa. The park is good for mountain biking, walking, and running. Most of the park is covered in eucalyptus trees with trails. There are also many sculptures on display. The park has four areas for picnics or barbecues, and the eastern part offers views of Cotopaxi, Antisana, and the Guayllabamba river basin.

Parque Bicentenario is the second-largest park in Quito, located where the old Mariscal Sucre

Education

According to the National Council for Higher Education of Ecuador (CONESUP), these are the universities that started in or near Quito before 2006:

One of the oldest and most important libraries in Ecuador is the Central University Library in Quito. It was started in 1586 and has 170,000 books. Other important libraries include the Aurelio Espinoza Polit in Cotocollao, Casas de la Cultura, and the Catholic University.

Museums

• National Museum of Ecuador – This museum, located in the House of Ecuadorian Culture, has five sections. Each section shows a different time period, from before recorded history to modern times in Ecuador.
• Centro de Arte Contemporaneo – This museum is north of Basilica del Voto Nacional. It has both permanent and temporary art displays. The building was once a military hospital and was later rebuilt for its current use.
• Casa del Alabado – This museum is near Plaza San Francisco in the Old Town. It is the newest museum in the area and displays art from before the colonial period. The building is one of the oldest homes in the city.
• Museo de la Ciudad – This museum focuses on the history of Quito. It is located east of Plaza de Santo Domingo and is housed in the former San Juan de Dios Hospital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• La Capilla del Hombre – This museum displays the artwork of Oswaldo Guayasamín, a famous Ecuadorian artist.
• Ecuador National Museum of Medicine – This museum shows the history of medicine in Quito. It was founded by Eduardo Estrella Aguirre. In 1985, Estrella worked in the Archives of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid, Spain, where he found lost papers and paintings about one of the first expeditions to South America. While in Madrid, Estrella documented his research and published a book titled Flora Huayaquilensis about the work of Juan Tafalla.
• Museum House of Sucre – This museum honors Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuador’s independence. The ground floor displays weapons and military items that belonged to Sucre. The second floor has been restored to resemble how it might have looked during Sucre’s lifetime.

• Quito Colonial Art Museum
• Centro Cultural Metropolitano
• Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum

Sports

Quito is home to several well-known football clubs in Ecuador. The city's leading clubs, including LDU Quito and El Nacional, along with Deportivo Quito, Aucas, and Independiente del Valle, have won 33 league titles, 4 Copa Ecuador competitions, and 3 Ecuadorian Supercups, making a total of 40 national championships. Deportivo Quito was the first of the three local teams to win a league title. Quito is the only city in Ecuador with clubs that have won continental titles. LDU Quito is Ecuador's most successful team, as it is the only club from the country to have won the Copa Libertadores in 2008, as well as four other international titles. Independiente del Valle has also achieved success, winning the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2019 and 2022, and the Recopa Sudamericana in 2023, adding eight continental titles for the city and the country. El Nacional is the third most successful team in Ecuador's history, with 13 league titles and 2 Copa Ecuador victories. América de Quito is one of the oldest clubs in the city but has recently played in lower divisions.

The professional teams in Quito include:

• América de Quito
• Aucas
• Deportivo Quito
• El Nacional
• Liga Deportiva Universitaria (LDU)
• Universidad Católica

An interesting fact about Quito is that its stadiums are located more than 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) above sea level. This high altitude often gives local teams an advantage when playing against teams from other countries. It has also helped the Ecuadorian national team qualify for four World Cup tournaments.

Crime

The U.S. Department of State says that small thefts are the most common crime problem for visitors in Quito. In 2015, it reported that stealing from pockets, taking purses, robbing people, cutting bags, and stealing from hotel rooms are the most frequent crimes against U.S. citizens in the area.

Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, said that about 70% of the world’s cocaine moves through Ecuador’s ports before being sent to the United States and Europe. Ecuador’s security problems include groups of criminals fighting to control important drug transportation routes.

In 2025, Quito had 32% more murders from January to May compared to 2024. Quito is considered a place where organized criminal groups, such as drug gangs, sell drugs and operate.

Notable people

• Teresa de Ahumada, Discalced Carmelite nun (born 1566, died 1610)
• Jorge Carrera Andrade, poet (born 1902, died 1978)
• Christian Benítez, footballer (born 1986, died 2013)
• Chico Borja, footballer and coach (born 1959, died 2021)
• Ramiro Borja, footballer
• Polo Carrera, footballer (born 1945)
• Sebastián Cordero, film director (born 1972)
• Juan Manuel Correa, racing driver (born 1999)
• Eugenio Espejo, scientist (born 1747, died 1795)
• Ana Estrella Santos, Ecuadorian professor, dialectologist, writer
• Oswaldo Guayasamín, painter (born 1919, died 1999)
• Jorge Icaza, novelist (born 1906, died 1978)
• Juana Miranda, midwife and professor (born 1842, died 1914)
• Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, Catholic saint (born 1618, died 1645)
• Manuela Sáenz, revolutionary (born 1797, died 1856)
• Byron Sigcho-Lopez, politician and community activist (born 1983)
• Teodelinda Terán Hicks, cellist (born 1889, died 1959)
• Christian Zurita, journalist and former presidential candidate (born 1970)
• José Velasco Ibarra, former president of Ecuador (born 1893, died 1979)
• Tábata Gálvez, actress, conductor, and cheerleader