5 tips for visiting La Mitad del Mundo

5 tips for visiting La Mitad del Mundo

It is estimated that 90% of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Before our big trip, the closest I came to the equator was Baros Island in the Maldives and had never visited a country south of the Divide. Six months in the Pacific changed that, especially our last minute cruise where we crossed the equator back to the northern half of the world. Two months later we found ourselves in Ecuador, right on the equator of the same name.

La Mitad del Mundo (“the middle of the world”) is located 22 km north of Quito and was declared the official equator line in the 18th century by the geographer and mathematician Charles-Marie de La Condamine. Unfortunately, modern GPS suggests that the real equator is about 300m north, but that hasn't diminished the site's appeal. Tourists and locals flock to the monument and nearby museum on a fun day trip from Quito. Here's what you should keep in mind when traveling to Middle-earth.

1. Get clear directions from your hostel

Get a map and ask your hostel staff to mark the exact point from where you will take the bus to La Mitad del Mundo. We looked for the mythical direct bus up and down Avenida Amazonas but never found it. Instead we went to Ofelia train station, from where we took another bus to the monument itself. If you have trouble finding the direct bus, it may be easier to take one to Ofelia ($0.25) and then transfer to the bus to La Mitad del Mundo ($0.15). The ride takes over an hour and can be crowded, but stops right outside the site. If you have the budget, you can take a taxi instead ($15 each way).

2. Be patient and wait for your photo session

Yes, it's cheesy, but who wouldn't want a picture of them spanning the (sort of) equator? You're sure to come across a cheeky couple or two hell-bent on taking 1,742 seemingly spontaneous selfies, but be patient and wait for your photo op. It's worth it, if only for bragging rights.

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3. Miss the planetarium

If dodgy graphics and mushy Spanish are your preferred methods of learning about the universe, then you should definitely get your mind blown. Otherwise, you may want to skip the planetarium. Instead, visit the various pavilions scattered throughout the complex to learn about the nations that helped Charles-Marie de La Condamine in his quest to map the equator.

Also worth a visit are the observation deck and ethnographic museum at the top of the monument ($3), which offers an interesting insight into Ecuador's indigenous groups.

4. Don't miss the Museo Intiñan

After leaving the monument, walk a few hundred meters further north – to the left of the exit – to the Museo Intiñan ($4 USD). Here you can take a 30-minute guided tour around the "real equator" and learn about Ecuador's native culture and customs (shrunken heads, anyone?).

Visitors are invited to participate in a variety of activities aimed at demonstrating a range of interesting physical phenomena unique to the equatorial region. Unfortunately, these are probably more staged entertainment than scientific experiments, as the Coriolis effect has little influence on the direction of the water in our sinks! Nonetheless, the demos are great fun, so join in.

5. Take your passport with you

If you like collecting cool stamps around the world, you might want to take your passport with you to La Mitad del Mundo. Visitors to the Museo Intiñan can have their passport stamped to prove that they have indeed visited the middle of the world.

The essentials

What: La Mitad del Mundo, the official (but inaccurate) equator line in Ecuador, followed by a visit to the nearby Museo Intiñan.

Where: San Antonio de Pichincha, 22 km north of Quito. We traveled from the capital, where we stayed at the Quito Backpackers Guesthouse, a cozy if sparse hostel near the historic center. If you're looking for something more lively, book Secret Garden Quito, a bustling hostel with fantastic views from its rooftop breakfast bar.

When: High season across Ecuador runs from mid-June to early September (dry season) and late December to early January. The weather in Quito and surrounding areas is pleasant all year round, so you may want to visit outside of high season (we went in March and it was lovely).

How: Take a bus to Ofelia ($0.25) and transfer to the bus to La Mitad del Mundo ($0.15) or take a taxi ($15 each way). As mentioned above, we had trouble finding the mythical direct bus. So if you catch him, please let us know!

For more information about visiting La Mitad del Mundo, check out the Lonely Planet Guide to Ecuador.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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