We depart London Heathrow and fly via Amsterdam to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. From here we transfer to our hotel. On Day 2, we embark on a guided city tour of historic Quito, which at 2,850m above sea level, is the highest capital in the world. Our tour takes us through the vibrant Old Town, the first location in the world to earn UNESCO Heritage status. The historic centre is rich in monuments and classical Latin American architecture. We pass a number of Quito's stunning religious buildings, including the 19th century Cathedral of Quito and the impressive Basilica del Voto Nacional. One of the highlights of the tour is arguably the 200-metre tall El Panecillo, a hill topped with a statue of a Madonna. We also make the short journey just outside of the city to visit the Middle of the World monument, an imposing structure that marks the location of the equator.
