Friday, September 14, 2018

This evening we departed on a 5.5 hour flight to Quito, Ecuador and arrived in Ecuador’s capital around 10:30pm.  We were delighted to walk outside the airport into pleasing cool temperatures and a smattering of rain.  After an hour drive, we finally arrived at our hotel for a quick night’s rest.  We are already feeling the effects of the high altitude.  Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the world’s highest capital city (9,350 ft above sea level).  The Republic of Ecuador sits near the northwestern corner of South America. It’s bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the south and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Galápagos Islands, which straddle the Equator, are located about 600 miles to the west, in the Pacific Ocean. The country covers an area of 105,038 sq. miles, making it roughly the same size as Colorado.

Hotel:  Hilton Colón Quito