Quito

At 10,000 ft, Quito is breathtaking in more ways than one. You might expect extremely hot weather due to its location 22 miles from the Equator. But because of its high altitude, temperatures feel spring-like all year round. Two seasons - one wet ( termed "winter" for convenience) and one dry - mean Quito is a destination you can enjoy all year round.

Quito is capital of the province of Pichincha. The city is circled by snow-capped peaks, lush forested hills and a fertile valley. Some of the mountains are volcanic; one of which threatened to erupt on a daily basis during the latter part of 1999 but something the Quiteños have been living with for centuries.

North of Quito, a trip to the Mitad del Mundo allows you to straddle both hemispheres, visit the pre-Inca site of Rumicucho and the volcanic crater of Pululahua. There are some fantastic haciendas and accommodations you can visit in the surrounding areas of Cotopaxi and Otavalo.