Day 01
8-Hour Middle of the World Experience in Quito
08:15 - Hotel Pickup in Quito
- Pick up travelers from their hotel in Quito.
- Drive north of the city toward the Middle of the World area.
- Enjoy a scenic drive of approximately 40 minutes.
09:00 - Middle of the World Monument
- Arrive at the Middle of the World Tourist Complex, located at zero latitude.
- Purchase entrance tickets and enter the complex.
- Walk through the facilities, including craft shops, cafes, and galleries.
- Visit the iconic Middle of the World Monument, built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the French Geodesic Mission (1736-1744).
- Learn about the equatorial line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- Explore the permanent exhibition showcasing the peoples and nationalities of Ecuador.
- 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 the development of early civilizations in this region.
- Participate in interactive equatorial experiments that can only be experienced at this latitude.
11:30 - 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 only villages in the world located inside the crater of an active volcano.
12:30 - The Sun's Temple
- Exit the reserve and continue to the Sun's Temple.
- Discover artwork by renowned Quiteño painter Cristobal Ortega Maila.
- Learn about his tributes to Andean Ecuadorian culture and his unique hand-painting technique.
- Gain insight into ancestral medicine and sacred plants traditionally used by Andean civilizations, including Ayahuasca, Wachuma, and sacred mushrooms.
13:45 - Typical Ecuadorian Lunch
- Visit a local restaurant for a traditional Ecuadorian lunch.
- Enjoy a meal consisting of a hot soup, a main course, and a fresh fruit juice, or select an à la carte option.
14:45 - Catequilla Hill
- Drive to Catequilla Hill, located at the true equatorial point (0° 0' 0'').
- Visit the only hill in the world crossed precisely by the equator.
- Explore the archaeological remains of an ancient astronomical observatory and ceremonial site.
- Learn how early Ecuadorian civilizations observed constellations from both hemispheres.
- Understand how the site was used to create calendars and honor Pachamama (Mother Earth).
15:30 - Return to Quito
- Begin the return drive to Quito.
16:15 - Hotel Drop-Off in Quito
- Drop off travelers at their hotel.
- End of the tour.
