Ecuador is one of the most beautiful nations in all of South America and the capital city of Quito is a must see destination if you’re visiting this country and a popular jumping off point for those looking to explore the rest of South America as well.

Not only will you have opportunity to explore a decent amount of the Amazon rain forest while visiting Ecuador, but you’ll also be within easy travel distance from the Andes as well as the Galapagos Islands – making Quito a popular hub for travelers looking to soak up as much of South America as possible.

At the same time, this isn’t to suggest that Quito is without issues or concerns.

The city has a reputation for being very friendly, very welcoming, and very open to foreign travelers, but there is also crime like pickpocketing and petty theft, as well as other concerns that have travelers a little bit nervous about whether or not it is really an ideal destination to squeeze into their Ecuadorian travel itinerary.