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Quito Warnings or Dangers
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Quito Warnings or Dangers

Beautiful Quito! - Quito
Beautiful Quito!
by elsadran
Quito travel tips posted by real travelers and Quito locals.
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Quito Warnings or DangersTips 1 - 10 of 43  
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Dodgy neighbourhoods
  • Tip Rating:
    • b1bob
  • By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • San Roque on the Panecillo - Quito
    San Roque on the Panecillo
    by b1bob
    Like all cities of any size at all, Quito also has its dodgy neighbourhoods. Most of the tourist areas are in the north. Many of the dodgy areas are on the south side and in the hills just above town. There is really nothing much to see south of the Basilica del Voto Nacional. The one area where tourists may clash with a bad neighbourhood is the San Roque neighbourhood on the Panecillo below the Virgen de Quito. Tourists have been robbed making the trek on foot. Taxis are cheap, so be safe and not sorry.

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    Altitude
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    • b1bob
  • Updated By b1bob on November 22, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • 2483 m. at Mitad del Mundo - Quito
    2483 m. at Mitad del Mundo
    by b1bob, 1 more photos
    The altitude in Quito is quite high, averaging 2800 m. (9200 feet). When I found out it was that high, I wrote into "Fox News Sunday House Call" and Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld read my submitted question on the air. Dr. Rosenfeld recommends a day to take it easy (certainly not bed rest) to acclimate yourself to the altitude. That means don't go higher into the mountains or do anything strenuous. The altitude didn't have any adverse effects on me until, well into the trip, I took the Teleferiqo up to 4100 m. (13448 feet). I managed to take all the photos I needed, but I was keen to get back to the base at 3165 m. (9680 feet). If you are older or have heart or respiratory problems, see your doctor before organising a trip to here or any other high altitude city.

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    Volcanoes and earthquakes
  • Tip Rating:
    • b1bob
  • Updated By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • Cotopaxi off in the distance - Quito
    Cotopaxi off in the distance
    by b1bob
    Quito is surrounded by eight volcanoes: Cotopaxi (pictured at 5897 m. 19342 feet), Antisana, Sincholagua and Cayambe to the east; Illiniza, Atacazo, Pinchincha and Pululahua to the west. The most interesting of the lot is Cayambe, which is east-northeast of Quito. Although it hasn't erupted since 1786, it is the only mountain or volcano on earth that lies directly on the equator (the southern flank, at least) and has a permanent snow cap and glaciers.

    Quito is the only capital in the world to be directly threatened by an active volcano. Guagua Pinchincha, only 21 km. (13 miles) west, has continuing activity and is under constant watch. The largest eruption occurred in 1660 when over 25 cm (10 inches) of ash covered the city. The latest eruption was recorded on 5-7 October 1999, when a large amount of ash was deposited on the city. Although not devastating, the eruption caused significant disruption of activities, including closing the international airport.

    Activity in other nearby volcanoes also can affect the city. In November 2002, after an eruption in the volcano Reventador, the city was showered with ash for several days with greater accumulation than the previous closer eruption.

    The region also is vulnerable to earthquakes. The worst known earthquake to have hit Quito occurred in 1797 and killed 40,000 people. The most recent major seismic event, with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, occurred in 1987 with an epicentre about 80 km (50 miles) from the city. It killed an estimated 1,000 near the epicentre, but Quito itself suffered only minor damage. About a year before my first visit, the city felt a quake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale, but no major damage was reported. While I was there, some said a small earthquake happened, but I sure enough didn't feel it.

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    El Panecillo
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    • tejanasueca
  • By tejanasueca on February 18, 2005
  • Quito Page by tejanasueca
    • While you have to be careful where ever you are in Quito (even though, in general, the north is safer than the south). There is one rule that should never be broken: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WALK UP TO THE PANECILLO. Take a taxi up there and ask them to wait for you while you check out the view. There have been plenty of misfortunate incidences with people who have tried to walk up.

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    Steep hills
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    • b1bob
  • By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • city of hills and valleys - Quito
    city of hills and valleys
    by b1bob
    Quito is a city of hills and valleys. Be careful whether you walk or drive. The streets are very narrow and cars often drive too fast for safety. If you walk, make sure you are in shape to make the climb. The locals are used to the 2800 m. (9200 ft.) altitude, but many outsiders not be able to climb these hills.

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    Fog
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    • b1bob
  • By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • fog - Quito
    fog
    by b1bob
    My first experience in Quito was the foggy drive from the airport along the winding roads through the hills through to Cumbayá. I want to make it clear that, while fog is common at night, it doesn't get foggy every night. Fog is even more rare at any time during the day. When fog does happen, keep a better distance than normal.

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    the deadliest view
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    • richiecdisc
  • Updated By richiecdisc on November 8, 2007
  • Quito Page by richiecdisc
    • steep? Yes. Worth it? Most decidedly. - Quito
    steep? Yes. Worth it?
    Most decidedly.
    by richiecdisc,
    1 more photos
    The Lonely Planet heralded the climb to Basilica del Voto Nacional as the most deadly one in all of Quito. Though there were some parts best not attempted by those afraid of heights, most of it was not bad at all and just about everyone can make it to the final ascent ladder. This is the view from above and though it was steep and perhaps a bit exposed with regard to what you can see, it is very safe with plenty to grab a hold of as you try not to look down. Yes, it is well worth it. That extra climb affords quite a view of both the cathedral and the entire city.

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    Rotten drivers
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    • b1bob
  • By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • rotten driving skills on display - Quito
    rotten driving skills on
    display
    by b1bob
    Save your hate mail on this one. It is my observation that many of the folks in Quito don't know how to drive. They take traffic lights as suggestions, they rarely signal, they never look where they're going, and they don't hesitate to cut folks off like the idiot in the picture did to us. (No, this isn't an isolated example. If I had a nickel for every time that happened down here when I was there, I could buy a round-trip ticket: first class.) As bad as the drivers are, the pedestrians are even worse! It's some wonder with the rain, fog, steep hills, bad roads, and a heaping helping of rotten drivers that there aren't more accidents on Quito's roads.

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    Weather Changes
  • Tip Rating:
    • namastedc
  • By namastedc on March 9, 2005
  • Quito Page by namastedc
    • Clouds in Quito - Quito
    Clouds in Quito
    by namastedc
    In Quito, the weather can change before your eyes. The sun will be shining as rain pours down. You will be sitting at a streetside cafe, placing your order in summer heat, and by the time the order arrives you are sitting inside the restaurant to escape pounding hail.

    It is best to always be prepared for precipitation in Quito - at least an umbrella - but a rain jacket in your bag definately helps.

    Also remember that, even on the hottest days, as soon as the sun goes behind the clouds it gets COLD!!!

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    Don't worry, but use common sense
  • Tip Rating:
    • b1bob
  • By b1bob on November 18, 2007
  • Quito Page by b1bob
    • my first meal in Ecuador included salad - Quito
    my first meal in Ecuador
    included salad
    by b1bob
    The worrywarts often say for people not used to Quito to wait a few days to eat local fruits, vegetables, and salads. I had salad an hour after landing and suffered no ill effects. The key is to make sure the produce has been thoroughly washed before you eat it. That is, any reputable-looking restaurant or the people in whose home you stay will be more likely to be mindful of that than a street vendor or at a lesser restaurant.

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