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.

EQUATOR · FROM QUITO · HALF DAY

Equator Day Tour from Quito.

Half the world on either side.

You came to stand on a line. Turns out the line is only the beginning.

Book the Equator Ask us on WhatsApp

FROMUS$39

per person · 4+ travellers

DURATIONHalf Day

from Quito

EXPERIENCEGeography + Culture

latitude, experiments, stories

FLOW STYLECuriosity + Play

cross the line, question the obvious

THE EXPERIENCE

Come for latitude zero.
Leave with a bigger map.

The Equator sounds simple: one invisible line circling the planet.

On the ground, it becomes something much more playful. Monuments, experiments, stories and landscapes turn a coordinate into an experience you can walk through.

Head north from Quito to explore Ecuador’s famous Middle of the World area, then look beyond the classic photo and into the culture, geography and curiosity surrounding latitude zero.

THE EXPERIENCE AT A GLANCE

Cross the line. Then look beyond it.

01NORTH

Leave Quito behind.

Travel north from the capital as the city opens into the landscapes surrounding latitude zero.

02MONUMENT

Meet the famous line.

Take in the iconic Middle of the World setting and the classic hemispheres photo.

03CURIOSITY

Turn geography into play.

Explore the demonstrations and experiments that have made the Equator experience famous with travellers.

04CULTURE

Look beyond the coordinate.

Connect latitude with stories and cultural interpretation at the Equator area.

05LANDSCAPE

See the bigger picture.

Look out across the volcanic landscape around the Equator and remember that geography is never just a line on a map.

Aerial view of the Middle of the World monument near Quito Ecuador — LATITUDE ZEROYou came to stand on a line.
Turns out the line is only the beginning.
Geography gets more interesting when you can walk through it.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

Quito to latitude zero.
A short distance. A different perspective.

Traffic, opening hours and the pace of your group can shift exact timings. Your guide keeps the experience flexible while connecting the landmarks, experiments and stories of the Equator area.

START

QUITO

Head north.

Leave Quito and travel toward the Middle of the World area.

0°

MITAD DEL MUNDO

Stand between hemispheres.

Explore the iconic monument area, learn why Ecuador became synonymous with the Equator and take the classic latitude photo.

PLAY

EXPERIMENTS

Let curiosity take over.

Try the playful demonstrations associated with the Equator experience and ask what is science, interpretation and good old traveller fun.

LOOK

CULTURE + LANDSCAPE

Go beyond the line.

Explore more of the Equator area and its cultural and volcanic context before returning toward Quito.

MEET THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD

Quito and its landscapes.
Context for the journey north.

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

CarpeDM travellers overlooking the Pululahua volcanic landscape near the Equator in Ecuador — LOOK BEYOND THE LINEThe Equator is invisible.
The landscape definitely isn’t.

CHOOSE YOUR FLOW

Your Equator. Your curiosity.

Classic

Get the monument, the hemispheres photo and the famous latitude-zero experience.

Curious

Lean into the experiments, stories and questions that make the Equator more than a photo stop.

Take It Slower

Look past the line itself and notice the people, landscapes and interpretations surrounding it.

FIND YOUR SLOW FLOW STYLE

How this journey travels.

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

TRAVEL APPROACH

△

Traditional

One of Ecuador’s classic visitor experiences, built around the Middle of the World and latitude zero.

◒

Responsible

Guided interpretation adds context to the attractions, stories, businesses and people surrounding the Equator experience.

≈

Slow Flow

Move beyond collecting the hemispheres photo. Stay curious about the stories, interpretations and landscapes around the line.

TOUR DNA

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

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.

CarpeDM travellers at the Intiñan Equator experience near Quito Ecuador — MORE THAN A COORDINATEThe photo proves you were there.
The story is what comes home.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We bring the essentials.

Bilingual Spanish / English guide
Tourist transport from Quito
Guided Equator experience

Entrance fees, personal purchases and optional activities not confirmed in your booking are not included.

BRING WITH YOU

Come ready to cross the line.

Comfortable shoesLight layerWaterSun protectionCameraSmall daypackCash

Food and drinks, personal purchases, entrance fees not confirmed in your booking, personal expenses and tips are not included.

TRAVEL YOUR WAY

Your group. Your Equator.

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

EQUATOR DAY TOUR

From US$39

PrivateUS$169 per person

2 travellersUS$79 per person

3 travellersUS$59 per person

4+ travellersUS$39 per person

Book the Equator

NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Build it around you.

Different timing, interests or group size? Ask us and we’ll help shape the right Equator experience.

Ask us on WhatsApp →

THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD

One invisible line.
A surprisingly big story.

0° LATITUDEGeography you can walk through

Come for the classic photo. Stay curious about the experiments, interpretations and landscapes that turn a coordinate into an experience.

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.

What is the Equator Day Tour?

This experience travels north from Quito to explore the Middle of the World area, its famous latitude-zero attractions, demonstrations and surrounding landscape.

Is this the same as the Quito Cityline + Equator tour?

No. This tour focuses on the Equator area without the Quito Old Town portion.

Can I take the classic hemispheres photo?

Yes. There is time for the classic Equator photos as part of the experience.

What about the Equator experiments?

The demonstrations are part of the fun and interpretation of the Equator attractions. Your guide can help put what you see into context.

Are entrance fees included?

Only inclusions confirmed in your booking are included. Bring some cash for entrance fees, personal purchases or optional activities.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes, a light layer, sun protection, water, a camera and some cash are useful.

Can I book this privately?

Yes. Pricing changes with group size, with private and small-group options shown on this page.

SLOW FLOW TRAVEL

You can cross a line
without ever really seeing it.

The Equator rewards curiosity.

A monument. An experiment. A volcanic landscape. A guide connecting the things you came to photograph with the questions you did not know you had.

Sometimes the most interesting part of standing on a famous line is discovering everything around it.

READY?

Leave Quito behind.
Meet the middle of the world.

Equator Day Tour from Quito · Group pricing from US$39 per person.

Book the Equator Ask us a question →