How to visit the Equator in Ecuador

Last Updated on June 28, 2024

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There are only 13 countries in the world, that the equator passes through. So, when you visit one of them, especially the one that got its name from being located on the equator, it’s almost an obligatory stop. Visiting the Equator in Ecuador was a must for me, once I knew I will be in Quito for a couple of days, I could not pass up the opportunity to stand on the imaginary line separating Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Visiting the Equator line from Quito makes for a fun half day trip. Since it’s one of the top attractions in the area, there are plenty of organized tours from Quito (like this one), as well as private ones. You can try to get there by using the local buses, but honestly, it’s a lot of hassle, and you’ll get a much better experience going with a tour, especially if you go with a private guide.

Where is the real equator in Ecuador?

As I started researching how to visit the Equator in Ecuador, I came across two different places being mentioned as the place. Mitad del Mundo, with its big stone monument and a village built around it, was one of them. Intinan Museum, located just a few minutes away, was the other. The reason behind it is quite simple. For years Mitad del Mundo was believed to be the real equator, until the invention of GPS proved otherwise. With the new, more accurate measurement, it was discovered, that the real equator line runs some 250 meters to the North. A small outdoor museum was built around the new line, and even though it’s less popular than Mitad del Mundo, it’s far more interesting.

So which Equator line in Ecuador should you visit? – Well, you don’t really have to pick one over the other, because they are so close to each other, there’s no reason not to see both. Even though now we know Mitad del Mundo is not the real Equator, it’s still worth a visit. It’s actually quite impressive, that at that time without all the fancy technology, the French scientist’s calculation wasn’t that far off. The nearby Intinan Museum, although much more modest, is not to missed either. It compensates for its smaller size with a much more interesting and interactive set up.

Mitad del Mundo

Visiting Middle of the World is probably one of the most popular things to do in Quito. The tall monument and the yellow line running through it, is the highlight, and a great photo opportunity. A little village Ciudad Mitad del Mundo was built around it, where you can visit a planetarium, buy variety of Equator related souvenirs or have a snack in one of the cafes. It’s definitely the more touristy place of the two. A lot of people who visit, still don’t realize this is not the real equator line anymore and little effort has been made on site to inform visitors about it.

Right in the center of Ciudad Mitad del Mundo stands a huge, almost 100 feet tall monument, built to commemorate the French Geodesic expedition, that led 3 scientist to that spot in 1736. After measurements have been made, the spot was marked as the equator and it remained as such for quite a while. Until the invention of GPS, that calculated, that the measurement was off by 250 meters.

Admission fee: $5

Opening hours: daily from 9 am – 5 pm/6 pm

Intinan Museum – the real Equator in Ecuador

Museo de Sitio Intinan sits a bit away from the main street on a small piece of land, just a 5 minute walk from Middle of the World. This place is more low key and less touristy. Instead of a huge monument, there’s just a red line and a sign proudly announcing you are at the real equator line “00° 00’ 00’’ calculated with G.P.S.

An interactive outdoor museum was built around the line, with the replica of an Inca village and displays of animals you can find in an Amazon jungle like snakes, spiders and deadly fish. The admission price includes the guide (in English or Spanish) and I highly recommend taking advantage of it. I found it to be really informative and interesting. We learned a lot about Ecuador’s natives, Amazonian indigenous people, their traditions and customs.

One thing you get to see at the Museum, that you definitely don’t see every day, is a display of a shrunken head. It turns out, it was a common practice of some native tribes in deep jungle to shrink the heads of the enemies they killed. They believed that such practice helped trap the spirit of the dead. A huge wall display illustrates the process step by step. It was a bit eerie, but quite fascinating to have a glimpse at the Ecuadorian indigenous culture.

In case you have some doubts, you are on the real Equator, to further convince you, you can participate in various experiments. Certain activities are supposedly only possible on the equator. So you get to balance an egg on a nail, walk straight on the equator line with your eyes closed, and witness the Coriolis effect. Whether that’s true, or is just for the visitors pure entertainment, it sure makes for a fun and interactive visit.

Entry cost: $5 (includes a guide in either English or Spanish)

Open: daily 9.30 am-5 pm

How to get to the Equator from Quito

Hire a driver

Both places are located 16 miles (25 km) north of Quito, and it takes about 30 minutes to get there. Since it’s one of most popular things to do in Quito, finding a driver to take you there is not a problem. Most hotels will help you arrange one, so if you don’t want to go on your own or take a group tour, this is the best way to do it.

Having your own driver is not only convenient, but also gives you freedom as you decide when you want to leave and lets you customize your own tour. I highly recommend adding a visit to Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve nearby, which is something our driver suggested. It was not on my list of places to visit in Quito, but it was a great stop.

Equator Organized Tour

If you want to leave all the planning and logistics to someone else, taking an organized tour is the best and easiest way to visit the Equator from Quito. Below are some of the highest rated and recommended tours to the Equator in Ecuador:

If

Take a bus

Taking a bus is the cheapest option, and pretty straight forward, but it does require changing buses. First, you need to take a Metrobus from Quito to a stop called The Ofelia, which is the last stop on the line. Then you need to change to a bus that goes to Mitad del Mundo.

READ MORE:

• Best things to do in Quito, Ecuador in 2 days
• What’s it really like to visit and hike Rainbow Mountain in Peru

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