Historic cities

Ecuador's historical treasures

As a culture lover you can indulge yourself in the beautifully restored historic centres of cities such as Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil. Stroll through the streets, visit the best museums and enjoy traditional dishes in the best restaurants in the evening.

The three most important cities of Ecuador

Quito

After Havana in Cuba, Quito has the largest historical centre of Latin America. In 1978, the colonial centre of Quito was added to the list of World Heritage of UNESCO. Together with the Polish Cracow it was the first city in the world whose centre was placed on this list and the historical centre is a real attraction for tourists. The church 'Compañía de Jesús' is one of the most important sights of the city. This church was built between 1605 and 1765 and is made of volcanic rock, decorated with more than fifty kilos of gold leaf. If you are in town on a Monday, it's worth checking out the change of presidential guard at the 'Plaza de la Independencia'.

Cuenca

Cuenca is known for its world-famous Toquilla straw hat, actually called Panama hat, and its extensive ceramics industry. A walk through the cobbled streets with beautiful courtyards, across the flower-filled squares and along the green/white plastered houses with wooden doors and cast-iron balconies, is enough to understand why this city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999. The 52 churches in the historic centre of the city are impressive. The El Sagrario church and the 'old' cathedral are historically the most important. However, the cathedral of The Immaculate Conception, or the 'new' cathedral (built in 1885) is the most impressive of all, with three huge domes and impressive marble interiors.

Guayaquil

The Malecón 2000 is the most pleasant place in town. Here you can stroll along a beautiful wide promenade on the western bank of the wide Río Guayas. It is always busy in this part of the city, but because it is car-free here, there are no problems. As part of the promenade you will find the beautiful park 'Jardines del Malecón' near the Imbabura street. In this park you will find at least 350 plant species, an artificial estuary and a lagoon where ducks, geese and fish live. Because the Malecón connects some of Guayaquil's most famous monuments, this is generally considered by the inhabitants to be the most popular part of the city.

Travel through Ecuador?

Would you like to make a trip to Ecuador yourself, including a visit to the historic cities and are you curious about the possibilities? Then take a look at the travel itineraries that we have put together for inspiration. You can book these trips directly, but we are also happy to create a personal programme based on your wishes and ideas.

Do you have a question? Feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We are happy to help.

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