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Monument · Quito, Pichincha
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Complex north of Quito with the 30-meter monument marking the Equator line, an ethnographic museum, pavilions and a plaza with restaurants. There you can take the photo with one foot in each hemisphere.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is in San Antonio de Pichincha, about 25 km north of downtown Quito. The complex was built around the Monumento a la Mitad del Mundo, a stone tower about 30 meters high with a globe on top, marking the Equator line as calculated by the French Geodesic Mission in the 18th century. A yellow stripe painted on the ground divides the northern and southern hemispheres.
Inside the monument is an ethnographic museum showcasing the diversity of Ecuador's peoples, clothing, objects and customs, and there is a viewpoint at the top. Around it are pavilions dedicated to the countries that took part in the French mission, a planetarium, replicas of colonial houses with shops and restaurants, and a plaza with music and dance performances on weekends.
GPS measurements show that the exact Equator line passes about 240 meters from there. A few minutes' walk away, the Museo Intiñan is closer to that line.
The trip there passes through the dry northern neighborhoods of Quito, with the Pululahua volcano nearby.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1.5 to 2 hours; half a day with the Museo Intiñan.
Best time
In the morning, before the strong midday sun, or on weekends when there are performances in the plaza. Confirm the schedule before you go.
How to get there
It is about 25 km north of downtown Quito, a 45-minute to 1-hour taxi ride. There are city buses that go there from the northern bus stations, and tourist buses on the city circuit.
Tip
Combine it with the Museo Intiñan, a few minutes' walk away, to see the experiments on the line. Bring sunscreen: the sun is strong on the Equator line even with the cool air.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Is the monument’s line the exact Equator?
The monument follows the 18th-century measurement. With GPS, the exact line lies about 240 meters from there.
How long does it take from Quito to the Mitad del Mundo?
About 45 minutes to 1 hour by taxi, depending on traffic; slightly longer by bus.
What is inside the monument?
An ethnographic museum about Ecuador’s peoples and an observation deck at the top.