Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
An equator park about 26 km north of Quito. Standing on the yellow line in front of its 30-meter monument lets you stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo was built on the equator as determined by a French geodesic expedition in the 18th century. At its center is a 30-meter obelisk topped with a globe. The monument houses an ethnographic museum, and you can climb to the top. The grounds include a town-style square, pavilions from various countries, and chocolate and beer shops, and folk performances are common on weekends. According to GPS measurements, the true equator is about 240 m north of the monument, near the Intiñan Museum. Admission is about USD 5 and up, with prices varying by attraction. Take a bus to the Mitad del Mundo stop, or a taxi, which takes about 40 to 60 minutes.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Intiñan Solar Museum
- Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
- Parque Metropolitano Guangüiltagua
- La Carolina Park & Quito Botanical Garden
- Capilla del Hombre (Guayasamín Museum)
- Pichincha Volcano (Rucu Pichincha)
- TelefériQo
- Guápulo