Middle of the World Tour

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Duration: 3h
Location: Mitad del Mundo, San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador | San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador


Category: Tours & Sightseeing

Highlights:
Visiting a monument built to mark the midpoint of the world
Chance to straddle the Northern & Southern hemispheres
History of the research that showed the equator's location
Reflecting on the equator's scientific & cultural value
Expert local guide providing insightful information

Inclusions:
Guided tour of the Middle of the World
Admission to La Mitad del Mundo monument
Roundtrip transportation
Commentary in English and Spanish

Description:

Visit a monument built to mark the exact location of the Earth's equator, the imaginary line that divides our planet into northern and southern halves. Step between the hemispheres and reflect on the scientific work that helped to define the size and scope of the world.

After you meet your group at the pickup point in Quito, head north to the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, a rural area where the Southern and Northern hemispheres meet. See the monument, built to commemorate the work of 18th-century scientists who calculated the equator's position to within one-seventh of a mile (240 m).

As you view the monument and its surroundings, find the line made on the plaza to mark the equator and stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Take the opportunity to learn about the significance of this imaginary border, after which the country of Ecuador is named.

Nearby, for an extra charge, you can choose to explore the Ethnographic Museum and learn about Ecuador's different regions and native ethnic groups, or pop into the quirky Intiñan Solar Museum for a look at some strange phenomena that supposedly only occur on the equator.