Quito
Long thought of as just a pit stop en route to the Galapagos, the capital of Ecuador is finally coming into its own, thanks to a burgeoning culinary and nightlife scene, new attractions ranging from botanical gardens to cultural heritage museums, and the opening of several luxury hotels. Quito’s Old Town, having just completed a seven-year, $200 million restoration, is at the heart of the city’s regeneration; designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (30 years ago, as of 2008), its colonial mansions and churches now flaunt fantastic facelifts. A distinctive geography also puts Quito above much of South America (literally!): At an elevation of some 9,200 feet, and encircled by Andean peaks and volcanic craters, the city’s heights helps counter its sizzling just-below-the-equator location, resulting in pleasantly mild year-round temperatures hovering in the 70s.
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