A ride from your hotel brings you north to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, where you can see the Monument to the Equator and the plaza that divides the world in half. Built to commemorate an 18th-century French expedition to help determine the exact circumference of the Earth, the site gives you a look at the legacy of one of the earliest modern scientific missions.

While you're there, stop at the Intiñan Museum for a chance to participate in several experiments that are supposedly only possible on the equator. Watch water spinning clockwise and counterclockwise as it flows down drains only inches apart, see an egg balancing on a nail, or try out an ancient sundial. For a more scientific perspective, check out the fascinating Ethnographic Museum for an overview of the distinct cultures that arose around the equator.

Before you head back to Quito, get a look at the incredible landscape of the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. Visit the volcanic caldera of Pululahua Crater, and admire the lush forested ridges, for a sense of the incredible country.