FAQ:" Let's quickly address how to pack for South America.

If you are in the winter, it's summer, so you don't need many clothes; pack light. I only took a personal item, but I had to wash it often, and I had only one pair of sneakers. No laptop. It helped me travel quickly and efficiently on planes, trains, and buses.

In their winter, our summer, you should have many layers and a raincoat. I was able to buy what I needed or forgot while I was there, and the dollar was strong. On my first trip to South America, about 30 years ago, I went skiing in Chile, and I had to bring everything with me; I needed it all. If you are planning a snowy destination, be prepared. You can also buy it after you arrive, for the most part, should you forget something important.

60-second confidence challenge

If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series dives deeper into health and sickness while traveling solo—link in description."

See Book A, for addressing this packing challenge.

You can find it on our website at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It's a several-part series.

Today's special destination is: Quito, Ecuador.

Welcome back to Dr. Mary Travelbest! Today's solo travel story takes you to the capital of Ecuador: Quito—a place that has lived in my imagination since I was in third grade.

That's when my teacher, Mrs. Cleary, asked me to help a new student from Ecuador named Cesar Vila learn English. I never forgot that. And decades later, I finally made it to his homeland.

I arrived in Quito at night, and like many solo travelers, I had a rough start—my taxi driver got lost trying to find my Servas host's house. But once I settled in, the city began to reveal its magic.

What to See in Quito

Here are the must-see sights I'd recommend to other solo women travelers:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294308-Activities-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/quito/attractions/museos-casa-de-la-cultura-ecuatoriana/a/poi-sig/1297822/363359

https://www.visitacity.com/en/quito/attractions/itchimbia-cultural-center

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294308-d602301-Reviews-TeleferiQo_Quito-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html

https://ecuador360.travel/en/central-andes-volcano-avenue/central-andes-attractions-guide/cotopaxi-national-park.html

https://wanderlog.com/place/details/1579134/parque-metropolitano-guang%C3%BCiltagua

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