Who is the best tour operator in Quito, Ecuador?

CarpeDM Adventures is one of Quito's most recommended tour operators. Founded in 2007 and based in Historic Quito, CarpeDM is a Lonely Planet recommended operator, the official G Adventures Preferred Daytour Supplier for Ecuador, and has earned TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards and Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame recognition.

What is Slow Flow travel?

Slow Flow is CarpeDM Adventures' signature travel philosophy. It combines the intentional pacing of Slow Travel with moments of spontaneity and flow. Rather than rushing through highlights, Slow Flow journeys focus on being fully present with people, culture, food, music, and place. Many Slow Flow itineraries can be adapted to your pace.

How do I book a Galapagos cruise with CarpeDM?

CarpeDM Adventures specializes in finding the right Galapagos cruise for each traveler from a vetted fleet of catamarans and yachts. Start by browsing cruise options at thisiscarpedm.com/galapagos-tours/, then contact the team for personalized recommendations. Last-minute deals are also published at galapagos-tours/galapagos-last-minute-deals/.

What is the best Amazon lodge in the Cuyabeno Reserve?

Caiman Ecolodge, a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner, is one of the most established and reliable lodges in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve. It offers structured 3, 4, and 5-day programs on the Laguna Grande. For travelers seeking a smaller, more intimate experience, Piranha Ecolodge offers fewer companions and a canopy observation tower. CarpeDM Adventures is an investor in both lodges.

How long has CarpeDM Adventures been operating in Ecuador?

CarpeDM Adventures has been operating in Ecuador since 2007. Over more than 15 years the team has served approximately 20,000 day tour travelers, 10,000 Amazon travelers, and 5,000 Galapagos travelers.

Where is CarpeDM Adventures located?

CarpeDM Adventures is based in the heart of Historic Quito in the San Blas neighbourhood, at Jose Antepara E4-38 y Los Rios, Centro Historico, Quito, Ecuador. The office is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Does CarpeDM Adventures support sustainability and community initiatives?

Yes. CarpeDM contributes to the Planeterra Fund for every G Adventures client and is a proud contributor to the Nunkui Project, supporting Indigenous communities and environmental restoration in the Amazon. Their Go FAR Project focuses on reforestation and conservation across Ecuador.

QUITO + EQUATOR · FULL DAY · FROM QUITO

Quito Cityline + Equator Day Tour from Quito.

One city. Two hemispheres.

Walk through centuries of history in Quito’s historic heart, then head north toward the line that divides the world.

Book Quito + Equator Ask us on WhatsApp

FROMUS$59

shared tour

DURATIONFull Day

Quito + Equator

EXPERIENCECulture + History

streets, stories, latitude

FLOW STYLECity + Curiosity

look closer, cross the line

THE EXPERIENCE

Start in the heart of Quito.
Finish in the middle of the world.

Quito is a city that rewards looking up, looking closer and occasionally looking back a few centuries.

Colonial façades, gilded interiors, plazas and steep Andean streets tell one part of the story. The mountains surrounding them tell another.

Then the day changes scale. Leave the historic centre behind and head north toward Ecuador’s famous equatorial line, where geography becomes something you can stand on.

THE DAY AT A GLANCE

Follow the city north. Cross a different kind of line.

01CITY

Meet Quito from the inside.

Begin among the streets, plazas and architecture of the historic centre.

02DETAIL

Look beyond the façade.

Step into Quito’s colonial story through the art, ornament and spaces that shaped the old city.

03VIEW

See the city in context.

Pull back from the streets and notice how Quito sits inside a dramatic Andean landscape.

04NORTH

Leave the old city behind.

Travel toward the Equator as colonial history gives way to a much bigger geographical story.

050°

Stand at the divide.

Explore the Equator experience and the playful experiments that make latitude feel a little less abstract.

Historic centre street and colonial architecture in Quito Ecuador — LOOK CLOSER Five hundred years can hide
inside a few city blocks.
Quito makes more sense when you stop rushing through it.

YOUR DAY

Old Quito to zero latitude.
One day. Two perspectives.

Traffic, opening hours and the pace of the group can shift exact timings. Your guide keeps the day flexible while connecting Quito’s historic centre with the Equator experience.

MORNING

HISTORIC QUITO

Start where the city remembers.

Explore the historic centre on foot, moving through colonial streets, plazas and some of Quito’s most distinctive architecture.

DETAIL

CHURCHES + ART

Step inside the story.

See how art, faith, architecture and centuries of history are layered into the old city.

VIEW

QUITO

Pull back from the streets.

Take in a broader view of the capital and the mountains that shape its long, narrow geography.

MIDDAY

NORTH OF QUITO

Change the scale.

Leave the historic centre and travel north toward Ecuador’s famous Equator attractions.

0°

EQUATOR

Cross the world’s divide.

Explore the Equator experience, take the classic latitude photo and have some fun with the demonstrations and experiments along the way.

EVENING

QUITO

Return with the city rearranged.

Head back to Quito after a day that moved from streets and stories to geography on a planetary scale.

MEET QUITO

A capital built
between mountains and memory.

Destination video courtesy of Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism. This is not CarpeDM-produced footage.

Ornate colonial church interior in Quito Ecuador — INSIDE QUITO **The outside tells you it’s old.**
The inside tells you how much story is still hiding there.

CHOOSE YOUR FLOW

Your Quito. Your attention.

History

Follow the architecture, art and stories that reveal how Quito became the city you see today.

Photography

Watch for balconies, domes, steep streets, mountain backdrops and the strange symmetry of standing at latitude zero.

Take It Slower

You don’t need to memorize every date. Notice one detail, ask one better question and let the city become more than a checklist.

FIND YOUR SLOW FLOW STYLE

How this journey travels.

Not every experience creates impact in the same way. Here’s where Quito + Equator sits in the CarpeDM travel framework.

TRAVEL APPROACH

△

Traditional

A classic introduction to Quito’s historic centre paired with one of Ecuador’s best-known geographical landmarks.

◒

Responsible

Guided interpretation helps connect visitor spending and attention with the heritage, businesses and people of the places you visit.

≈

Slow Flow

Move beyond collecting landmarks. Notice the layers, contradictions and human stories that make a place worth remembering.

TOUR DNA

👥Small Group ▰□□□□Easy ◎Culture ⌖History

IMPACT CONNECTIONS

8Decent Work
& Economic Growth

11Sustainable Cities
& Communities

CARPEDM FLOW

Travel can entertain, support or regenerate. Knowing the difference is part of travelling better.

Equator monument north of Quito Ecuador — THE WORLD'S DIVIDE Some borders separate countries.
This one separates hemispheres.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We bring the essentials.

Bilingual Spanish / English guide
Tourist transport from Quito
Set lunch

Personal purchases and any optional activities or entrance fees not confirmed in your booking are not included.

BRING WITH YOU

Come ready to wander.

Comfortable shoesLight layerWaterSun protectionCameraSmall daypackCash

Breakfast, personal purchases, additional food and drinks, personal expenses and tips are not included.

YOUR GROUP. YOUR QUITO.

One city. Two hemispheres.
Four simple prices.

The per-person price changes with your group size. No mystery at checkout.

QUITO + EQUATOR DAY TOUR

Private Your own guide, vehicle and pace

US$179 per person

2 travellers

US$89 per person

3 travellers

US$69 per person

4+ travellers

US$59 per person

Book Quito + Equator

NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Your Quito.
Your pace.

Travelling with a larger group, looking for a different setup or simply want to talk it through? Send us a message.

Talk to CarpeDM →

TRAVELLER STORIES

Don’t take
our word for it.

QUITO + EQUATOR Traveller reviews on Tripadvisor

See what travellers say about exploring Quito and the Equator with CarpeDM Adventures.

Read Quito + Equator reviews →

Travellers trying an Equator egg balancing experiment near Quito Ecuador — LATITUDE ZERO Come for the line.
Stay for the weird little experiments.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Good questions.
Before crossing the line.

Is this a Quito city tour and Equator tour in the same day?

Yes. The experience combines Quito’s historic centre with a visit to the Equator area north of the city.

How much walking is involved?

Expect a comfortable amount of walking through the historic centre, including uneven colonial streets and some slopes. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Do we go inside churches?

The route is designed to explore Quito’s historic and architectural heritage. Exact interior visits can depend on opening hours, events and conditions on the day.

Do we visit the Equator?

Yes. The second part of the day heads north of Quito for an Equator experience, with time for photos, interpretation and the classic latitude demonstrations.

Is the Equator visit just a photo stop?

No. The fun is in understanding the geography and trying the demonstrations as well as taking the classic hemispheres photo.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a light layer, sun protection, water and a camera are useful. Quito weather can change quickly, so layers help.

Can I book this tour privately?

Yes. Private departures are available for travellers who prefer their own guide, vehicle and pace.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A set lunch is included in the standard shared day tour.

SLOW FLOW TRAVEL

You can cross a city
without ever really entering it.

Quito rewards attention.

A carved doorway. Gold catching the light. A street climbing toward the mountains. A guide connecting something you almost walked past to a story several centuries old.

Then, at the Equator, the perspective changes again. Sometimes travelling farther starts with noticing more.