Liveaboard Diving in Quito
WHAT TO EXPECT IN QUITO
Quito is the capital city of Ecuador, lies 2,850 meters above sea level, and is the highest official capital city in the world. Guests from a liveaboard to the Galapagos Islands will arrive at the international airport in Quito or Guayaquil. With a population of 2.671.191 (2014), Quito is Ecuador's second most populous city after Guayaquil.
Quito has a historic center and was declared, along with Krakow, as the first World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1978. It has undergone massive restoration work and is a wonderful place to stroll around. The architecture, museums, churches, little squares, and convents make for a pleasant afternoon. The rest of the town is modern and has anything you would expect from a capital city: shopping centers, museums & art galleries, restaurants & clubs, and much more.
LIVEABOARD DIVING FROM QUITO
Quito is landlocked in the center of Ecuador and does not actually offer diving opportunities. However, the city is the perfect entry point in Ecuador to start your trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands. Some Liveaboard safaris will actually start in Quito, where you board your domestic flight to either San Cristobal Island or Baltra Island.
GETTING TO QUITO
There is an International Airport in Quito: Quito's Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre is 37 km east of the city in a broad valley near Tababela. It's a modern facility with the longest runway in Latin America and the second-highest control tower (after Cancun); however, the terminal is significantly smaller than Guayaquil's. Please check where your chosen liveaboard departs to decide if Quito or Guayaquil is a better arrival port.
