The city's northern fringe reaching towards the equator monument at Mitad del Mundo — quieter, more suburban and green, with the famous 'middle of the world' line and the volcanic Pululahua crater nearby. Calm and away from the centre; the base for travellers who want the equator on their doorstep and a quieter, greener setting, accepting a longer ride into the historic core. A novel, out-of-town option for a night.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$25–50
typical per night in Ecuador
Easy on the wallet
Among the cheapest areas to sleep in Quito.
Where it sits
The circle is Mitad del Mundo & the north edge and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- TelefériQo cable car62 min taxi20.6 km
- Guápulo69 min taxi22.8 km
- Ecuadorian food69 min taxi23.0 km
- Basílica del Voto Nacional73 min taxi24.3 km
- Plaza Grande & the Old Town75 min taxi25.0 km
- La Compañía de Jesús75 min taxi25.2 km
- Plaza & Church of San Francisco76 min taxi25.2 km
- El Panecillo & the Virgin78 min taxi26.2 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 5.Mitad del Mundo (the Equator) — Stand with one foot in each hemisphere at the 'Middle of the World' — the monument marking the equator just north of the city, where you can straddle the line (and, at the nearby Intiñán museum, watch quirky equator experiments like water spinning both ways and balancing an egg on a nail). Touristy but genuinely fun, and a bucket-list photo; combine it with the stunning Pululahua volcanic crater nearby. A novel, only-in-Ecuador half-day out from the city.
- 6.TelefériQo cable car — One of the highest cable cars in the world climbs the flank of Pichincha volcano to over 4,000 m, with a spectacular ride up and a breathtaking view over the whole vast city in its valley, ringed by snow-capped peaks. From the top you can hike higher up the volcano (take it slow at this altitude). A thrilling, airy perspective on Quito's dramatic setting; go on a clear morning before the clouds build. Wrap up warm — it's cold and thin-aired at the top.
- 16.Cotopaxi National Park — One of the world's highest active volcanoes, a perfect snow cone an hour south — wild páramo, herds of wild horses, and a hike up to the glacier line. Ecuador's grandest day out.
- 17.Otavalo market — The great indigenous market two hours north — a Saturday explosion of textiles, ponchos and crafts, plus an animal market at dawn. The best shopping in the Andes.
- 18.Quilotoa lagoon — A jaw-dropping emerald crater lake in an extinct volcano — hike down to the water, or just gasp at the rim. A long but staggering day trip south.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Mitad del Mundo & the north edge; flights via Google Flights.