Tourist traps. We typically run the other direction. Every now and then you have to bite though, right? I mean we were in Ecuador. Ecuador = Equator, so why not go check out it out. As it was only a $15 Uber ride away, we jumped at visiting the middle of the world.

There are two tourist attractions you can visit when you want to check out the middle of the world. Many people get frustrated when they go to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City) and find out it isn’t actually where the equator is located.

That is completely reasonable, but I think of it more as a historical museum than visiting the actual equator.

The Intiñan Solar Museum is also nearby and claims to be the real equator. In fact it is actually not on the actual equator line either. I actually thought it was when we were there. I totally got duped.

Keep reading to see how to visit the actual middle of the world, if it is worth it, and what to expect visiting the Mitad del Mundo (Middle Of The World City) and Museo Intiñan.

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Where Is The Actual Middle Of The World?

So, neither of the popular tourist spots actually sits on the real equator. I know, I know. This is kind of a bummer, right?

The true equator line passes through an archaeological site called Catequilla, about 240 meters away from all the painted lines and monuments. Modern GPS technology figured this out, but those French surveyors from 1736 did pretty well considering they were working with way less fancy equipment.

The Intiñan Museum gets closer to the real deal than the Middle Of The World City, but it’s still off by about 150-240 meters. So technically, none of us tourists are actually standing on the equator when we take those classic straddling-two-hemispheres photos.

Can You Visit Catequilla Archaeological Site?

Yes, you can totally visit Catequilla! It’s an actual pre-Columbian archaeological site that sits precisely on the true equator line. It is the only pre-hispanic site in the Americas with that distinction.

But it’s pretty much the complete opposite of those touristy equator spots.

Despite being the true center of the world, Catequilla gets only a tiny fraction of visitors compared to the famous monuments nearby.

This would normally draw me to the location. However, what you’ll find is a somewhat dreary place whose significance far exceeds its physical appearance.

There’s a 6-meter-tall totem in the middle of a circular platform and a simple marker that actually rests on zero latitude. It’s basically the anti-Instagram version of an equator visit!

Getting There

Getting to Catequilla is pretty challenging since only a handful of unpaved, pothole-ridden roads connect the mountain with the town below.

You’ve got two main options:

• Drive yourself: You can make your way up. From what I hear, it is pretty much straight uphill road that isn’t well maintained.
• Take a taxi: This is probably your best bet if you don’t have a car as the bus doesn’t really get close. Just make sure your driver knows where they’re going since it’s not exactly a popular destination!
• There was also a random guy who came up to us after we got out of our Uber at the Middle Of The World City site claiming that the “real” equator line was on top of a hill off in the distance. He was willing to take us there for $25. So I guess you could do that? But I wouldn’t. 😬 It feels a little too shady for me.

Is The Real Equator Line Worth Visiting?

Honestly? It depends what you’re after. The site’s high elevation gives you great views of several Andean peaks and the nearby Inca ruins. You can actually verify the true equator location, but the site itself isn’t really anything special.

If you want to stand on the actual equator without the tourist circus, it’s pretty cool, I guess. It’s more of a “I did it for the bragging rights” kind of experience!

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Mitad Del Mundo – Middle Of The World City

The most popular equator line attraction is called Mitad del Mundo, which means the middle of the world.

How To Get To The Middle Of The World City

You have options for how to get from Quito to the Mitad del Mundo. If you are traveling on a budget, you can get there on the public bus. It isn’t the most convenient and honestly if you are traveling with kids, I don’t think it’s worth the hassle.

Your best bet will be to take a taxi or Uber. It will cost about $15 dollars and is only about a 20-30 minute drive. Well worth it! We took an Uber there and then caught a taxi on the way back to our Airbnb.

Pro Tip: Be sure to negotiate prices of taxis before getting in them, so you don’t get ripped off!

There are organized tours that you can take to go to the Middle of the World too. I honestly don’t think it is worth it, but if you don’t want to have to think about navigating, it could be the way to go!

What To Expect When Visiting The Middle Of The World City

This touristy spot is only $5/adult to enter and $2.50/child. It is open Mondays – Fridays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Saturdays and Sunday they stay open until 6:00pm.

Its main feature is a huge monument that commemorates the French surveyors that were in Ecuador in 1736 measuring the earth. 

The monument is large and impressive. You can make your way to the top if you pay a little more or walk on the “equator” line. While it isn’t the actual equator, it is where it was believed to be located before there were more advanced ways to measure it. Nowadays, it’s more of a historical monument. 

We had fun taking photos with the monument!

Other attractions that can be found in the Middle Of The World include a little chocolate museum that shows you how chocolate is made, a very very small beer museum (not a museum, really, but you can drink the beer there! 🤷🏼‍♀️), and an exhibit of ancestral homes where you can see how people lived in Ecuador many years ago. 

There are a few playgrounds for the kids to play on, a number of restaurants, and lots of souvenir shops.

In summary, it is very touristy, but we felt it was worth it, especially if you are visiting with kids. It is cheap and the monument was impressive.

Intiñan Solar Museum

Our next stop, literally right next door, was to the Intiñan Museum. You can just walk there from the Middle Of The World City.

This museum cost slightly more than the Mitad del Mundo. I believe it was $15-$20 for all of us to enter and be guided around.

Look at us in the middle of the world on the “actual equator line.” As you can see, the guides at the Intiñan museum lead you to believe this is all true.

This museum includes a guided tour that talks about the history of certain traditions in Ecuador (for example shrunken heads in the Amazon) and also includes little experiments that you can do. We all got a kick out of these experiments even though we weren’t on the equator line. 

We were able to balance an egg on a nail, attempt to walk the equator line with our eyes closed, and watch how water drains when it’s on one side of the line or the other, in the Southern Hemisphere and also in the Northern Hemisphere.

One of the other experiments had all of us line up in the Southern Hemisphere and hold our arms straight out. Then, our guide tried to push them down with both hands.

She couldn’t do it, even Isaac! Then we moved to the Northern Hemisphere and did the same thing, but she only pushed our arms down with one hand. She was able to push all of our arms down with minimal effort. Can you explain that one?

Well, actually all of the experiments are little tricks. Egg balancing can happen anywhere and has nothing to do with the equator, and the arm trick thing all depends on how much pressure the guide puts on your arms.

Was it fun? Yes. Do we feel tricked. Also, yes. I’m kinda glad I went in not knowing that it wasn’t real, though. Made it more fun.

Which Would We Recommend?

Of the two sites, my favorite was the Intiñan Museum. It was more interactive and entertaining. Although if I knew all the experiments were fake, I might not feel the same.

Honestly, I don’t really care that our picture was taken about 200 meters off the equator line. We were pretty darn close.

If you have the time though, checking out both of the sites to the middle of the world is worth it as long as you come into the experience with the understanding of what to expect.

If it annoys you that you aren’t actually on the equator, you might want to skip both experiences.

Check out other day trips in and around Quito:

• Take the TelefériQo for the Best Views of Quito
• What to See in Quito’s Historic Downtown?
• A Must Visit to the Pristine Lagoon of Quilotoa
• “The Best” Day of Adventures at Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador