Quito to Equator Monument and Pululahua Volcano: Day trip

In 1739 humanity attempted to measure the circumference of the globe, establish the fixed length of a mirror and find the line between North and South. At least in regards to that final part, this mission proved unsuccessful. So while the true Equator is 240 m north of this location, this monument still stands as a testament to humanity’s quest for knowledge, as well as the missteps we take on our path there. Still, there is much to see beyond a mistaken line. The location offers a variety of attractions, including an exhibition on the ancient houses of the amazon, a chocolate museum, a scale model of colonial Quito, a craft beer museum, a small retro planetarium and a viewing point to look over the entire thing. The monument itself is an imposing structure, surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and ornate busts of the original expedition. It might be wrong, but it’s beautiful!

Pululahua Volcano is less of a traditional mountain-style volcano and more of a huge depression surrounded by volcanic “domes”, which in reality are small mountains in themselves. The result is a spectacular valley-like plateau surrounded by high pointy hills covered in vegetation, a truly beautiful site. The view from the Mirador de Ventanillas is particularly awe-inspiring, and a trail leads down to the extinct volcanic crater from here (it takes around 90 minutes to walk there and back). Pululahua crater’s claim to fame is that it is one of only two volcanic craters which are inhabited, and the only one with sustainable farmland. Indeed the soil is so fertile and productive that it serves to not only sustain the local population, but also is sold at a profit. The best viewing time is in the morning when the mists are less likely to obscure the crater.