Humboldt Kolleg 2023 · Quito

Event location

From 12 to 15 September 2023, Quito, an Andean capital and World Heritage city, hosted the congress on the PUCE campus. This guide gathers the essentials about the country, the city and the venue.

  • 2,850 m altitude
  • US$ official currency
  • UTC−5 local time
  • PUCE congress venue

The country

Ecuador: many worlds in one country

Few places pack so much variety into so little territory. Fourteen Indigenous languages are spoken alongside Spanish, and each region keeps its own festivals, food and ways of speaking: an ideal setting for a congress on linguistic diversity.

  • 14 Indigenous languages live alongside Spanish
  • 4 regions: Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galápagos
  • 0° latitude: the equator gives the country its name
  • Kichwa · Shuar official languages of intercultural relations
Video Play “Magical Ecuador”
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Four regions, four landscapes

  • Coast

    Pacific beaches, mangroves and a cuisine built on coconut, green plantain and seafood.

  • Andes

    Snow-capped volcanoes, Indigenous markets and colonial cities such as Quito and Cuenca along the mountain range.

  • Amazon

    Rainforest and mighty rivers, home to peoples such as the Amazonian Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar and Waorani.

  • Galápagos

    Volcanic islands almost a thousand kilometres offshore, with wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

The city

Quito, a capital among volcanoes

Stretched along an Andean valley at the foot of Pichincha, Quito became one of the very first cities on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1978. Its colonial centre sits side by side with modern districts, huge parks and views of the Andes.

Population
≈ 2.7 million
Altitude
2,850 m · 9,350 ft
Temperature
10–25 °C · 50–77 °F
Local time
ECT · UTC−5
Currency
US dollar
Middle of the World
25 km away

Practical tips

  • Take the altitude slowly

    At 2,850 m the air holds less oxygen. Drink plenty of water, eat light and save strenuous hikes until after day two; tiredness or a mild headache usually fades quickly.

  • Spring all year round

    Sunny mornings, frequent afternoon showers and cool nights. Dressing in layers and carrying a light rain jacket works in any season.

  • Equatorial sun

    UV levels are very high even under cloud. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are essential.

  • Pay in US dollars

    The US dollar is the official currency. Carry small notes: many shops and taxis will not take 50 or 100 bills.

  • Getting around

    Use registered yellow taxis with a meter or book a ride through an app. The Quito Metro and bus corridors run the length of the city, north to south.

  • Stay safe

    Carry little cash and a copy of your passport instead of the original. In busy areas, keep your phone and wallet in sight.

  • Emergencies: 911

    One number for police, fire and medical help anywhere in the country.

  • 110 V sockets

    110 V power with type A and B plugs, as in North America. Travellers from Europe will need an adapter.

Places to visit

Six places not to miss

From the colonial old town to the equator line, a handful of classics for seeing Quito beyond the congress rooms.

  • North · 25 km

    Mitad del Mundo

    The monument marking latitude 0° in San Antonio de Pichincha: one foot in each hemisphere, plus museums on how the shape of the Earth was measured.

  • North · La Carolina

    Botanical Garden

    A green retreat inside La Carolina park, with orchids, bromeliads and plants from Andean páramo and cloud forest.

  • Historic centre

    La Compañía Church

    A jewel of Quito baroque: its interior of gold leaf and carved wood took more than a century and a half to complete.

  • North · Pichincha volcano

    TelefériQo cable car

    Gondolas climb the slopes of Pichincha to almost 4,000 m, with the whole Quito valley below you.

  • Centre · viewpoint

    El Panecillo

    The hill overlooking the old town, crowned by the great aluminium Virgin of Quito. Best visited by day and by taxi.

  • North · Guangüiltagua

    Parque Metropolitano

    A vast urban forest with eucalyptus trails and lookouts over the valley and, on clear days, the volcanoes.

The venue

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Sessions took place from 12 to 15 September 2023 on PUCE’s main campus in north-central Quito, among gardens and teaching buildings a few minutes from the city’s main neighbourhoods.

Address

Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca
Quito, Ecuador

Congress spaces

  • Auditorio de Pedagogía (Education auditorium)
  • Torre 1 (Tower 1)

Getting there

  • The main entrance is on Av. 12 de Octubre, a few blocks from La Floresta and La Mariscal, neighbourhoods full of hotels, cafés and restaurants.
  • By taxi or ride-hailing app, ask for “PUCE, 12 de Octubre y Roca”; from the historic centre the trip usually takes 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Mariscal Sucre airport is in Tababela, roughly 45–60 minutes from campus by road.
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