Travel by land and air to other points in South America and the world is easier than from most other locations within the country. Its location makes it ideal for access to most other areas of the country, including beaches, mountains, and the Amazon basin. For visitors, especially visitors who enjoy shopping, Quito is Ecuador's most important marketing center for the country's artisan products, lying very close to some of the major production areas and indigenous markets. While life in Quito is not the least expensive within Ecuador, it was considered as recently as four or five years ago to be the cheapest capital city in the world when expenses are calculated in dollars. Mountains and valleys, volcanoes, rivers, and varied plant life provide spectacular scenery in the area of Quito.
Picturesque scenes abound.
It is full of old houses, Spanish colonial churches, museums, and more. As such, it is very easy to arrange various trips from the city. Quito, one is just 4-5 hours away by bus from the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. The Academia Latinoamericana resides in a former ambassadors compound located in one of the many beautiful residential neighborhoods of Quito. The school was founded approx.