Quito, Ecuador

Quito is a large city and the capital of the Republic of Ecuador. It is located in the northwestern part of the South American continent. Within Ecuador, the city lies in the northern region of the country, in the highlands of the northern Andes. Quito sits at an elevation of about 9,350 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. Another remarkable feature of Quito’s location is its proximity to the equator.

The city is approximately 110 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and it is about 45 miles from Santo Domingo. The distance from Quito to Ambato is roughly 90 miles, and the major port city of Portoviejo lies about 225 miles to the southwest. Another large port, Guayaquil, is located approximately 260 miles southwest of Quito.

Quito is situated within the basin of the Guayllabamba River and is surrounded by numerous mountains such as Guagua Pichincha, Cayambe Volcano, Cotopaxi Volcano, Sumaco Volcano, Iliniza Sur, and Reventador Volcano. In addition, many natural parks and ecological reserves are located near the city, including Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve, Antisana Ecological Reserve, El Boliche Recreation Area, Guajalito River Reserve, Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, and Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park.

The city has several nearby neighborhoods and urban areas, including Tumbaco, Ascázubi, Tabacundo, Calacalí, Pifo, Puembo, Tambillo, Sangolquí, Chillogallo, and Amaguaña.