The world's second-highest capital, Quito, boasts a fantastically preserved Latin Quarter lined with old churches and colonial mansions. Ecuador's most prestigious museum, Museo del Banco Central, is a must for its pre-Columbian art and intriguing Amazonian exhibits. For an evening of local drama, cinema, or dance, try Casa de la Cultura.
The Intiñan Museum in San Antonio de Pichincha lets you tread the imaginary equatorial line! Cuenco's Pumapungo Museum is set within Incan ruins, offering visitors a glimpse of rainforest cultures and coastal farmer life. Meanwhile, over 5,000 artifacts, some 15,000 years old, lie in wait at Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes, also in Cuenca.