Itinerary

1. 9-Hour Middle of the World and Historic Downtown Quito Tour

   08:15 – Hotel Pickup in Quito

   • Pick up travelers from their hotel in Quito.

   • Board private transportation and drive north along Mariscal Sucre Avenue.

   • Travel for approximately 45 minutes to the San Antonio de Pichincha parish.

   09:00 – Middle of the World Tourist Complex

   • Arrive at the Middle of the World Tourist Complex, located at zero latitude.

   • Purchase entrance tickets and enter the complex.

   • Walk through craft shops, cafes, and galleries.

   • Visit the Middle of the World Monument, built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the French Geodesic Mission (1736–1744).

   • Learn about the equatorial line that divides the Earth into two hemispheres.

   • Explore the permanent exhibition of Ecuadorian peoples and nationalities.

   • Go up to the monument viewpoint for panoramic views of the surrounding area.

   10:15 – Inti Ñan Museum

   • Drive a short distance north to the Inti Ñan Museum, meaning “Path of the Sun” in Kichwa.

   • Spend approximately 45 minutes learning about Andean cosmovision and ancestral knowledge.

   • Understand the importance of the Sun in early Andean civilizations.

   • Participate in interactive equatorial experiments unique to this location.

   11:30 – Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve or Sun’s Temple

   Option 1: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve

   • Drive approximately 10 minutes to Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve.

   • Complete visitor registration at the entrance.

   • Walk to the Ventanillas viewpoint.

   • Observe San Isidro de Pululahua village, one of the few villages in the world located inside the crater of an active volcano.

   Option 2: Sun’s Temple

   • Visit the Sun’s Temple to discover artwork by renowned Quiteño artist Cristobal Ortega Maila.

   • Learn about his tributes to Andean Ecuadorian culture and his hand-painting technique.

   • Gain insight into ancestral medicine and sacred plants traditionally used by Andean civilizations, including Ayahuasca, Wachuma, and sacred mushrooms.

   12:30 – Return to Quito City

   • Drive back to Quito city.

   • Head to a local restaurant for lunch.

   13:00 – Typical Ecuadorian Lunch

   • Enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch.

   • Taste a meal consisting of a hot soup, a main course, and fresh fruit juice, or select an à la carte dish.

   • Choose from daily menu options that may include chicken, beef, pork, or fish.

   14:30 – Basilica del Voto Nacional

   • Begin a guided walking tour of Historic Downtown Quito.

   • Visit the exterior of the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest neo-Gothic church in South America.

   • Learn about its architectural style and its symbolic role as a protector of Ecuador.

   15:00 – Plaza Grande

   • Walk along Venezuela Street toward Plaza Grande.

   • Explore the historic heart of Quito and Ecuador.

   • Learn about political, cultural, and religious events that have shaped the city since colonial times.

   • Observe daily life and historic landmarks surrounding the square.

   15:30 – La Compañía Church or María Augusta Urrutia House Museum

   Option 1: La Compañía Church

   • Walk along García Moreno Street to reach La Compañía Church.

   • Enter one of the finest Baroque churches in Latin America.

   • Admire its interior decorated with 24-karat gold leaf.

   • Learn about artworks created by masters of the Quiteño School.

   Option 2: María Augusta Urrutia House Museum

   • Visit the historic house museum of María Augusta Urrutia.

   • Observe original furniture, decorations, and artwork from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

   • Learn about social work carried out through the Mariana de Jesús Foundation.

   16:00 – San Francisco Church and Plaza

   • Walk west along Sucre Street to San Francisco Plaza.

   • Visit the San Francisco Church complex, the largest religious architectural complex in Latin America.

   • Learn about its churches, cloisters, museum, library, and extensive collection of colonial art.

   16:30 – Panecillo Virgin

   • Drive south for approximately 10 minutes to El Panecillo Hill.

   • Visit the Virgin of El Panecillo, the tallest aluminum religious sculpture in the world.

   • Enjoy panoramic views of historic and modern Quito.

   • Learn about the cultural and spiritual importance of this hill to native inhabitants.

   17:15 – Return to Hotel in Quito

   • Drive back to the hotel.

   • Drop off travelers at their accommodation.

   • End of the tour.