Have you ever dreamed of visiting the middle of the world? Well, you can, and we did just that for a day en route to the Galapagos Islands!

The zero latitude line is located just outside of Quito. For a long time it was thought to be located at the site of this very tall monument — the Monument to the Equator! In the late 1970s, the Monument to the Equator was erected in order to highlight the exact location of the equator, which had been determined by scientists in 1736.  They even drew the equatorial line so you can stand with one foot in the southern hemisphere and one foot in the northern hemisphere!

Did you notice that there is an O instead of a W for west?  That is because in Spanish, the word for west is “oeste”!

Other than the monument, which you can climb up by the way (for a nominal fee), there is also a museum you can visit.  There are a couple of shops and (overpriced, touristy) dining options on the complex as well. Getting here is not that difficult.  It is about 16 miles north of Quito. You can take a cab, a private car, or a bus to get here. The Metrobus in the city center is the cheapest option at $.25 USD.  You take that to Ofelia bus station, where you catch the Mitad del Mundo bus (you won’t miss it; it’s written on the bus in huge letters) for about $.50 USD. A taxi will cost you about $10 to $15 USD. The entrance fee to Mitad del Mundo, where the Monument to the Equator is located, is $3 USD.  If you want to climb up the monument and visit the museum, it’s an additional $3 USD. However, in 2000, some Americans came with their fancy newfangled GPS and ruined the party for everyone! As it turns out, the true equatorial line is not actually located where the big Monument to the Equator was built (OOOOPPSS!).  It is instead located at a site that is 240 meters (or .15 miles) north of the marked line. I mean, when you think about it, having a discrepancy of less than three football fields away for some 18th century scientist with primitive instruments is not too shabby. And now the Ecuadorians have two tourists attractions to offer its visitors! It’s a win-win, really. The real Mitad del Mundo entrance fee is $4 USD, including the guided tour. Bring your passport with you because after your visit is over, you can get your passport stamped! Admittedly, the first part of the tour is a little cheesy and touristy, but towards the end, you see the true equatorial line and they have a bunch of exhibits and interactive experiments in which you can participate.

Did you know that on the equator, you can balance an un-boiled egg on the head of a nail? There is also a Coriolis effect demonstration to show you how water turns/drains based on what hemisphere you are in (clockwise, counterclockwise or straight down with no circular movement). Then there is an experiment that is kind of like taking a field sobriety test.  Apparently, most people don’t have great balance on the equator; except for me! I have excellent balance on the equator (thanks, Pilates!).  They ask you to stand on the equatorial line with you arms out, hand open with thumbs up, head up, eyes closed, and walk the line heel to toe.  Most people stumble right off; except me. In the battle of me vs. the equator, I win (Chad, not so much)! Once the experiments are over, you are lead through their gift shop (of course), and then, on your way out, you can get your passport stamped with this cool little stamp!

But, being the center of the world is not Quito’s only claim to fame: at an elevation of 2,800 meters above sea level (or 9,186 feet), Quito is the highest capitol city in the world. So, if you are prone to altitude sickness, take precautions because there are no coco leaves for you here! Quito’s historic center is one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved in the Americas. And Quito, was one of first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978. As such, there are plenty of colonial style, colorful buildings and churches dripping in gold. If you have just one day to visit Quito, make it a Monday. Why Monday, you ask?  Well, every Monday morning at around 11:00 a.m., the president of Ecuador comes out to say, “Hola,” and gives a progress report. Pageantry ensues. Think of it as your welcome party.  I did! Unlike some other Latin American cities (like Cartagena, for example), the street art scene hasn’t really taken off here, but there are a couple of pieces around the city. There are other charming and, quite frankly, odd things about this city, too.  For example, every day, the indigenous people from the surrounding villages come into town to sell their produce for really cheap on the streets. There is kind of a constant farmer’s market around the city, and they are typically traditionally dressed. That’s the charming part. And then there is this guy.  Apparently, he’s the weight police.  He sits outside with a scale, and for $.25 USD, he will weigh you (by the way, the official currency in Ecuador is the U.S. Dollar). Why on earth anyone wants this service is beyond me.  Public weighing?!? No, thanks! According to our guide, many people don’t have scales in their home, but they like to weigh themselves, so they come weekly, and some come daily.  The only saving grace is that, apparently, you weigh 2 pounds less on the equator, which may be enough to have me just move here for good!Another interesting facet to this city is that in Quito – more so than in other Latin American countries – the melding of the Catholic religion with the secular culture of the indigenous people is more pronounced and pervasive in daily life.  Case in point: on almost every corner, you can find a Jesus store. These stores sell figurines that are supposed to be depictions of Jesus from all walks of life. People buy various “Jesus dolls” for prayer, offerings, and good luck.  For example, we saw baby “Cheff” Boyardee Jesus and many other kinds of Jesus, like gaucho pilgrim Jesus, scales of justice Jesus (or as Chad called him, baby lawyer Jesus), and Pope Jesus. Please don’t construe this as sacrilege; rather, simply a statement of fact about what you will find in Quito. People actually buy and use these Jesus dolls – as exemplified by this girl, who we saw checking into our flight back home with baby airplane Jesus.

After a full day of touring, you will likely be hungry; and that’s okay, because Quito has some fantastic restaurants, like Zazu.

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It is also trying its hand at the craft beer scene: And, you will find a cute and delicious ice cream spot called Dulce Placer Heladeria. Everything is homemade using local ingredients, and you can enjoy the ice cream on a small colonial balcony overlooking the neighborhood. If you have more time to spend in Quito, consider a hike up Pichincha Volcano to the lookout point called Cruz Loma. If hiking isn’t your thing, take the TeleferiQo Cruz Loma, which is the highest aerial lift in the world, rising from 10,226 feet to 12,943 feet. There are also a few day trips that you can take, like a trip to the National Park of Cotopaxi and the Cotopaxi Volcano, a trip to the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest, a trip to the indigenous markets of Otavalo and/or CotaCachi, a trip to the Papallacta Thermal Baths, or the one I was most interested in, a day-trip to Lake Quilotoa, a crater lagoon.

On our way back from the Galapagos Islands, we had a 5 to 6 hour layover between our flight into Quito and home, so we booked a day use room with dinner at a little gem called Su Merced, which is close to the airport. This little hacienda was part of an old massive land grant from Spain.  The proprietor, Elisabeth, spent 5 years restoring the property and converting the 400 year old buildings into a small boutique hotel.  The grounds are beautiful, the staff is warm and friendly, and the food is authentic and tasty. Also, if you like antiques, this place is a treasure trove! I hope you enjoyed this post.  Have you visited the middle of the world? If so, I would love to hear about it. Please send me an email or leave a comment below. If this post has inspired you to travel to Quito, helped you plan your trip there or gave you tips during your travels, I would also love to hear about it!