CityBuddy
Middle of the World City
Best time to visit
Visit around midday for the sharpest shadows and best photo lighting on the equatorial line. Weekday mornings before 10 AM are significantly less crowded than afternoons or weekends.
Budget tips
Entry costs around $5 for adults, with separate fees for the planetarium and interactive exhibits. Skip the pricey guided tour and explore the outdoor monument area on your own.
Recommended for
Families with kids, Photography enthusiasts, Science nerds, First-time visitors to Ecuador
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: A monument marks the precise equatorial line where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. The yellow stone monument towers 30 meters high and draws over 1 million visitors each year who come to straddle the planet.
Highlights: The monument's shadow disappears entirely on the equinoxes, when the sun aligns perfectly overhead at noon. You can watch water drain straight down a sink on the equator, no swirling direction at all, a simple trick that still baffles first-time visitors.
Insider tips
- Wear closed-toe shoes, the stone ground gets scorching hot by late morning.
- Bring a GPS device to see the latitude read 00°00'00" for a fun verification shot.
- Skip the overpriced souvenir shops inside and buy magnets from street vendors outside the gate.
- The egg-balancing trick really works on the marked line, ask a staff member to show you how.
Where to Stay in Quito
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