Welcome to the middle of the world! The Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) outside Quito, Ecuador is one of those landmarks you have to check off the list while traveling through Quito.
This Equatorial Monument (in Spanish called La Mitad del Mundo) above is a representation of the imaginary Equatorial line that is is said to have been built exactly on the latitude line 00 00′ 00.”
It takes about 40 minutes by bus to get to the Cuidad Mitad del Mundo and once there, you are engulfed with all the greatness of being at the Spanish-style tourist compound in the middle of the world. There are tons of tourist shops and even a planetarium to enjoy! Wahoooo!
However, there is a bit of skepticism with the grand 0 latitude monument. Just 400 meters away from this world famous Equatorial Monument is a museum called “Inty-Nan” where your GPS and gravitational experiments (between northern and southern hemisphere) clearly indicate the true latitude line.
There you will be assigned a tour guide who takes you around the funky museum and tells you about the indigenous tribes of Ecuador and puts you through the tests of how balanced you are along the equator.
The Cuidad Mitad del Mundo was cool and so was the Museum down the road. No place I’d ever go again but, I did it, I was at the equator in Ecuador, check.
Here are some more photos…
I leave you with the best line of the day from our tour guide who left us with these wise words of advice…
“Please enjoy Ecuador everyone, but remember, do not pee in the water.”
5 Responses
Hello Gareth, I was in Ecuador recently and visited the “new” Mitad del Mundo. But I think this one has more fun and touristy things to do. 🙂
Priyank (Final Transit) recently posted..5 free things to do during a layover in Miami airport
Which one is the “new” Mitad del Mundo? The real one right? If so, I agree there is a lot more information about Ecuador and stuff to do at the real site.
Hi! I’m ecuadorian and i’ve never been there yet 🙁 neither have eaten guinea pig, but i don’t feel bad about it jeje!! hope you have enjoyed my country 😉