It's also a city rich with history, culture, and amazing features all around. Situated high in the Andes Mountains the weather is cool, the scenery sublime, and the people as friendly as they come.

Quito though tends to be overlooked by visitors in favor of Ecuador's big ticket tourist attractions like the Galapagos, the Amazon Basin, and the Otavalo Craft Market. Any Ecuador explorer however would be remiss in skipping over Quito. Aside from all that a city of 2.5 million people has to offer, there are many fabulous day trips that can be experienced right in or near Quito herself. Here are three of the best.

El Mitad Del Mundo (The Middle of the World)

 "Qui" in the native Kichwa language means half while "to" means earth. Even the ancient pre-Colombian civilizations recognized that Quito sits on the equator and today you can visit the official monument and museum dedicated to 0 degrees latitude. It is known as El Mitad del Mundo.