One overlooked spot when traveling to Ecuador, especially around Quito, is a monument and area called Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). it is and a unique spot where you can stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time (and even though it is a disputed few hundred yards).
Who could resist the opportunity to visit the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo) and have your picture taken as you straddle the equator! This complex, built to commemorate the site where a French explorer calculated the world’s equatorial line, may be a shameless tourist mecca, but it makes for a fun day trip from Quito.
Take the elevator to the top of the enormous, trapezoidal monument for great views of the surrounding countryside. You’ll also find a scale model of colonial-era Quito here too, which really helps you get a sense of the old town’s layout.
You’ll also find an Ethnography Museum and a Planetarium at Mitad del Mundo, as well as several tourist shops, bars and restaurants. On weekends, locals hang out in the Middle of the World, which comes alive with folk music and dance shows.
Encounter incredible wildlife, including the three hundred pound tortoises that lend their name to the Enchanted Isles. Nothing beats getting up close and personal with sea lions, blue footed boobies, curios seals, flamingos, albatrosses, penguins, sea urchins, manta rays, and over 2,228 varieties of tropical fish. Snorkeling, swimming, diving, hiking, bicycling, climbing into a volcano, or paddling through a blue lagoon, Galapagos Island take you straight to nature.
Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 620 miles from the South American continent, these 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galápagos are a ‘melting pot’ of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life – such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch.
The Cotopaxi National Park is a massive nature reserve and the most popular in Ecuador. The park is well known for the four volcanoes within its bounds. Located beside Cotopaxi National Park is the El Boliche National Recreational Area. This stunning park possesses both natural wonders and a fascinating history. For a magical journey into Ecuador's natural heritage, be sure to visit Cotopaxi National Park.
The Cotopaxi volcano (supposedly meaning smooth neck of the moon) that lends its name to the park is located within its boundaries, together with two others: the dormant Rumiñawi volcano to its north-west and the historical Sincholagua volcano (last major eruption: 1877) to the south east. Cotopaxi is among the highest active volcanoes in the world; its last significant eruption took place in 1904.
Otavalo Market, located about a 3-hour bus ride north of Quito, is South America’s largest marketplace. It’s the perfect place to practice your haggling skills, while picking up a few authentic souvenirs for your family and friends at home. The best day to go is Saturday, when the market swells to its largest with vendors from the surrounding region.
If you get up very early, you can experience an all day market experience beginning with the animal market. You can wander from market to market, buy a meal from a vendor, wander the food and produce market, and consider the arts, crafts and textiles before a purchase from the artesan market.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
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