In Quito, old meets new, mountain high becomes valley deep, and spring prevails year-round. Nestled in the valley of the Incas, surrounded by the grandeur of the Andes and the luxuriance of the rainforest, Quito is a compelling blend of history, architecture, cuisine, art, people and legend. In 1979, UNESCO declared Quito's historic centre a World Heritage Site, the first city in the world to receive the accolade. In 2004, the city continued to garner praise as the Cultural Capital of the Americas. Without doubt, it's the jewel in the crown of the city's attractions.

When one adds Quito's surrounding regions, the result is five distinct zones, each with its own unique flavour and potential for discovery.

Quito's charm lies in its beautiful Colonial Centre, full of legends woven over hundreds of years and still alive in the memory of its people. Folk tales are entwined in the city's history, in the narrow cobble stone streets, behind the doorways of the churches and convents, hidden in the darkened corridors and enchanting patios.

Untold legends, like the age old traditions, have been kept alive; passed down from generation to generation, the belief of the people keeping the legends and traditions alive and firing the surrealist sentiment of magical possibility. One must not be fooled into thinking that these legends and traditions are fable, for everyone of them holds elements of truth.

Evenings spent round open fires, stories of daily goings on swapped and exchanged, filtering onto the streets, amplified and metamorphosed until they became truth. Tales of good and evil, black magic and otherworldly characters, a permitted mythology from a fascinating blend of cultures and religions.

Listen to the legends, live the history of Quito through its people, feel the life of the city through its own personalized interpretation of its history and its identity. Legends have an important place in the history of the City, they are the tradition, the oneness and the magic. Explore Quito by way of its legends, and learn the true essence of an enchanted city in the heart of the Andes.