Mitad del Mundo: Walk on the Equator in Ecuador!

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to step on the equator, you can in Quito, Ecuador! The equator is an imaginary line directly between the north and south poles that passes through 13 countries around the globe. And it just so happens that you can walk on the equator in Ecuador. In fact, Mitad del Mundo, where you can find the equatorial line, is one of the most visited attractions in Ecuador.

About Mitad del Mundo

Mitad del Mundo is a monument situated in a small square that has a yellow line drawn down the middle of it, which divides the Northern hemisphere and the Southern hemisphere. The translation of Mitad del Mundo is ‘middle of the world’ and the attraction gained popularity for people wanting to walk on the equator (myself included).

The line has been drawn on the latitude line 0°-0′-0″. You will switch hemispheres as you walk around the monument, depending on whether you are on the north or south part of the line. And if you stand directly on the line, you are essentially standing on the Equator.

But there’s more than just the monument. It’s also referred to as Ciudad Mitad del Mundo which translates to ‘Middle of the World City’. There’s a long walkway up to the monument, a square surrounded by shops and restaurants, and other museums you can pop into as well.

Is it the Actual Equator Line?

So…the short answer is no. Evidently, the monument was built based off calculations from the 18th century in which a mission set out to determine its exact location. And well, 18th-century measurements aren’t quite what they are today and the whole thing is some 240 meters off. So where’s the equator in Ecuador?

1. The original monument was built in 1936 and was based off of those measurements, which are 240 meters off. It was moved 4 miles (7km) down the road to Calacali when they decided to build Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City). So is Calacali the real equatorial line? Not quite. It’s about 160 meters off. (Not sure why they picked this location to move it to…)
2. Mitad del Mundo was built in the same original spot as the first monument but is three times the size. But still 240 meters off.
3. Another place you’ll see on tours being offered is the Intinan Museum. They claim to be the real, real equator line with a red line defining the spot behind the museum. But evidently, it’s slightly off itself.
4. The real, real, real location is at Catequilla Archeological Site. The site is located on a mountain top overlooking the surrounding valleys and has evidence of astronomical observation dating back to pre-Incan time. This is said to be the actual coordinates of the equator.

Mitad del Mundo is not the actual location of the equator line but it’s still a fun place to visit for photo ops.

Getting There

Mitad del Mundo is located just 16 miles (26 km) north of Quito, which is about a 40 minute drive. There are several options to get there. If you’re driving yourself, there’s a small fee (a couple dollars) for parking at the attraction. You can go by public bus and though it’s the cheapest option, it will likely be the longest. Hiring a taxi or private transport is your easiest option and it’s about $13 per person (see below).

Tours:

If you don’t want the hassle of getting there yourself, you can jump on a tour from Quito or even organize inexpensive transportation to Mitad del Mundo. Here are some options below:

• Small Group Tour + Tickets: $25/person, includes transportation, tickets and an English-speaking guide.
• Quito City Tour + Mitad del Mundo + Teleférico: $119/person, full-day tour to visit the top attractions in Quito including Mitad del Mundo and the Teleférico with an English-speaking guide, meals and entrance tickets.
• Transport ONLY: $13/person, includes transport to the monument only, entrance fees not included.

Things to Do at Mitad del Mundo

There are several things to do while you’re here. Admittedly, it’s a touristy spot but how many places can you actually go and walk on the equator? (A supposed equator anyway.) Plus, it’s a nice area to walk around with some beautiful mountain views. The main walkway leading up to the monument is lined with statues and very scenic.

Walk on the Equator in Ecuador

Obviously, the main reason the place draws so many tourists is so that they can walk on the equator in Ecuador. They’ve pained a bright yellow line leading up to the monument that even goes through the main square as well. One of the main photo ops is to walk the line between hemispheres.

Other Photo Ideas:

You can spend some time walking around outside because there are numerous picture opportunities.

• One foot in each hemisphere – Because of this divisional line, you can be in two places at once! “Okay. Right now you’re straddling the [equatorial] line. …You’re in two places at once.” -A Walk to Remember (I COULDN’T NOT PUT THAT IN HERE.)

• Duplicating yourself so that you are in each hemisphere – Use the ‘pano’ option on your phone’s camera to shoot the landscape and run around to the other side. It’s easy to mess this one up, but fun trying. (Tip: there are less people on the back side of the monument! Though the line wasn’t as freshly painted here.)

• Take a picture with the coordinates – There are several places to do this as you’ll see 0′-0′-0′ Latitude signs all over, including on the painted line and on the monument itself.

Go Up the Monument

Once inside the monument, you can take a lift to the top where you are met with a different view of the grounds below as well as a look at the surrounding mountains. If you go to the east side, you’ll have a great viewpoint of the square and the north and south letters on the lawn.

Walk Through the Ground Floor Museum

On the way back to the ground floor, there are different displays set up to look at while going down the stairs, as well as maps and pictures that make up the Ethnographic Museum. The timeline takes you through Ecuador’s cultural history.

There are 11 countries that the equator goes through on land + 2 countries where it goes through water owned by the country. The 11 countries are: Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, São Tomé and Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia and Indonesia. The two island nations are the Maldives and Kiribati. (This map from the museum is a little outdated.)

Explore the Square

The surrounding square is a charming and peaceful way to spend the afternoon with colorful shops to look into and a few restaurants scattered about. There are a few little shops along the way that you can pop into for colorful, woven souvenirs.

The square and the surrounding side streets also have some other museums you can visit if you have the time. There’s a planetarium and a Cacao Museum as well!

Get a Bite to Eat

There are a few places to eat in the area as well. Head to the 2nd floor of Plaza Sol for a large cerveza and camarones al ajillo (garlic grilled shrimp–very tasty!) while enjoying the view. If your lucky, you may even visit on a day where they have live music in the square!

Listen to Some Live Music

On the weekends, you might be able to see some cultural events or catch some live music in the square.

Ride the Train (for kids)

There’s a little Tourist Train that goes around the monument. I’m not sure where else it takes you but it’s there to hop on and might be fun for kids to do. There’s also a little playground off to the side for kids as well.

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Taking a walk on the equator in Ecuador is a fun thing to do in Quito and made all my Walk To Remember dreams come true. Be in two places at once? Check! Though it isn’t the actual location of the equator, it’s close enough I guess, ha!

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