What is the capital of Ecuador?
Ecuador's capital is Quito, located at 2,850 meters altitude in the Andes mountain range. This colonial city of 2.8 million inhabitants is home to Latin America's best-preserved historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Quito, political and cultural capital
Quito has been the constitutional capital of Ecuador since 1830. Perched at 2850 meters altitude on the slopes of Pichincha volcano, it is one of the highest capitals in the world after La Paz in Bolivia.
A city with exceptional heritage
The historic center of Quito is among the first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. Its baroque churches, paved squares and colonial houses bear witness to four centuries of history. The modern city extends to the north with the financial district of La Mariscal.
Key facts
- Population: approximately 2.8 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area
- Altitude: 2850 meters, plan for acclimatization
- Mountain equatorial climate: stable temperatures year-round (15-25°C)
- Economy: Guayaquil remains the economic capital of the country