Middle of the World & Papallacta Hot Springs Tour from Quito

Stand on the equator, then soak in volcanic hot springs the same afternoon

This full-day tour from Quito takes you to the Middle of the World Monument to stand at latitude 0°, then to the Intiñan Solar Museum where you watch water spiral clockwise or counterclockwise depending on which hemisphere you're in, and finishes at Papallacta Hot Springs surrounded by Ecuador's mountains. A guide leads the route, pickup is included, and you choose between private or shared departures.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Middle of the World Monument1h
2. Intiñan Solar Museum1h
3. Papallacta Hot Springs2h

Visit equator and hot springs

• Stand on equator line
• See Coriolis water experiment
• Learn about Ecuador ethnic groups
• Relax at Papallacta hot springs
• Optional massage at spa

The experience

You start at the Middle of the World Monument, where the equator line physically divides the northern and southern hemispheres. At the Intiñan Solar Museum just nearby, the guide demonstrates the Coriolis experiment: water draining from a sink spirals one direction on one side of the equator and the opposite direction on the other. The museum also has an ethnographic section on Ecuador's ethnic groups, including those from the Amazon rainforest. After the morning at the equator, the route heads east toward the Andes.

The afternoon shifts to Papallacta Hot Springs, where you soak in volcanic thermal pools surrounded by mountain views. The springs sit in a valley with natural hot water fed by the volcanic landscape, and the spa area offers massage services if you want to add one at the site. Lunch is available to purchase on arrival, and the hot spring entry fee is paid when you get there.

The tour runs about seven hours total. You can book as a solo traveler, join a small group, take a shared departure, or arrange a private tour. Each option includes pickup from your Quito hotel and a driver who speaks English or Spanish. The guide handles the demonstrations and explains what you're seeing at each stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation with pickup and drop-off from your Quito hotel.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance to the Middle of the World Monument and the Coriolis experiment demonstrations at the Intiñan Solar Museum.
• access to Papallacta Hot Springs for the afternoon soak.

Options for this experience

4 options

Shared TourUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:30Pickup is included.

Small GroupUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:30Small group option, and pickup is included.

Private TourUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:30Private tour lasting 7 hours, lunch is included, and pickup is included.

Solo TravelUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:30Solo travel option with ticket included, lunch is included, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (7 to 90 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option if you want the route and timing to fit your schedule, or pick the shared or small-group departure if you prefer to travel with other visitors and split the cost. The full-day structure means you see both the equator and the hot springs in one outing, rather than choosing between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What exactly happens at the Coriolis experiment in the museum?

At the Intiñan Solar Museum, the guide fills a sink with water and pulls a plug. On one side of the equator line the water spirals clockwise, and on the other side it spirals counterclockwise. You can stand on either side and watch the direction change, which is caused by the Coriolis effect from Earth's rotation.

Can I add a massage at Papallacta, or is it just the hot springs?

Papallacta Hot Springs has a spa area where massage services are available, but they are optional and booked separately at the site. The tour includes time in the thermal pools themselves.

How much time do I spend soaking in the hot springs?

The tour allocates an afternoon at Papallacta for relaxing in the volcanic thermal water. The exact duration depends on your group's pace, but it is the final major stop before the return to Quito.

Is the equator line at the Middle of the World Monument the actual equator?

The Middle of the World Monument marks latitude 0° and is the official equator line in Ecuador. You stand with one foot in each hemisphere at the monument itself.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay on the day?

Pickup, transport, the driver, and the guide are included. You pay the entrance fee to Middle of the World ($5 USD per person), the hot spring ticket ($25 USD per person), and lunch ($15 USD per person) on site.