Free Walking Tour of Quito

Quito's Centro Histórico earned its UNESCO World Heritage status in 1978, and this walk shows you exactly why. Starting from Parque de la Alameda, your local guide leads you into Plaza Grande, the seat of Ecuador's government since colonial times, then inside La Compañía de Jesús, whose interior is covered almost floor to ceiling in gold leaf, and on to the San Francisco Church and Convent complex, one of the largest religious sites built anywhere in colonial Latin America.

Along the way you'll walk cobbled La Ronda, once home to the city's poets, musicians and guitar makers, and hear how Quito's altitude, its volcanoes and its layered Inca, Spanish and republican history shaped a downtown that has barely changed in four centuries. Expect three hours of walking at altitude, so pace yourself and bring water.