There are plenty of reasons to go to Quito, its the second highest capital city on earth, you can enjoying its breathtaking views, its close to the equator so you can sun bathe in its tropical climate and revel in its stunning Spanish colonial architecture which people from all the over the world come to see. So while you're enjoying all this, what else do you do?

Visit the Old Town

This is one of the most well preserved colonial areas in Latin America a testament to the beauty of its architecture. It is home to a number of churches which you can not only enter but climb as well, if you dare, you'll be able to see a 360 degree view of the entire city, where you can spot your next Quito experience.

Explore Plaza de La Independencia

Afraid of heights? no problem, head down to Plaza Grande, the city's central square, it is surround by tourist offices, museums, administrative buildings and is home to the Cathedral of Quito, one of the oldest cathedrals in South America.

Take A Stroll on La Ronda

This is a quite peaceful calm street by day ideal for a daytime stroll, but quite lively by night, you will be surrounded by musicians, performers and street vendors, not only will you get to enjoy Quito culture but you can carry home a souvenir or two. Restored in 2006, the once colonial houses are now cafes, bars, craft shops and galleries. Speaking of bars, they have quite some interesting spirits that you should definitely try.

Feel the beat at La Mariscal

So you've tasted a small part of Quito's culture and want to experience a real party. New Town's La Mariscal is where you should be heading, otherwise known as "Gringolandia" due to it being a tourist hot spot. There are plenty of locals too, resulting in a really diverse mix of musical genres . You will find many salsa clubs as well where you can learn the passionate dance.

Trek at TelefériQo

It's time to get out of the city. Quito is actually a quite mountainous landscape,but don't worry, you won't have to walk all the way, you can take the sky tram which will take you on a 2.5km ride close to the top of Volcan Pichincha, You can also hike to the top of Rucu Pichincha which will take you around 3 hours. There are also horses you can ride in the are and Vulcan Park, a children's amusement park at the base station.

Revel in La Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

The Church of the Society of Jesus, usually called La Compañía, is back in town near the Plaza Grande. When you're finished experiencing the view from the mountains and you want a truly unique and mind blowing view from the inside, this is the place to go. The interior is capped by green and gold domes, The construction of this church began in 1605 but wasn't completed until 160 years later, the central altarpiece took 20 years. This is a truly magnificent sight to behold and definitely worth the trip to Quito.

Enjoy the Parque El Ejido

Separating the new and old city's is El Ejido Park, which is often crowded on the weekends with visitors shopping for art, crafts and jewelry. This is also fun for kids as they have pedal gokarts. The street leading to El Ejido is Avenida Amazons which is only open to pedestrians on Sundays, so grab a bike and enjoy ride.

Take in La Mitad del Mundo

This is a 100 foot high monument and museum near representing the equator, which has an elevator which you can use to see spectacular views of the park. The real equator actually lies about 240 meters from La Miatad del Mundo. Once home to an indigenous village who discovered the point of a century ago. There are also some pretty fun experiments that you can only do here.

Visit the Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco

To get a bite to eat you should visit the Church and Monastery of St. Francis, or El San Francisco, it is located in the garment district. An attractive open still plaza rests infront of the church where you can dine.

Get a bite at Ceviche

Something interesting and tasty to eat, Ceviche, Ecuadors national dish, it is a combination of tomato, onion and lime seasoning of raw prawns served cold and topped with popcorn. The citric acid from the limes cures the prawns so don't worry if you're not a fan of raw seafood, you'll be getting the freshest and the best.