The tour starts by “La Basilica del Voto Nacional “, masterpiece of 100 meters high inspired by the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. As a proof of this similar work, gargoyles are found on outside walls. Different to the French style, these rock statues are faithful to the Ecuadorian fauna with Galapagos turtles, caimans, pumas, iguanas, monkeys or even crocodiles. You will have a choice between visiting the church, and admiring the incredible view offered on the upward hill in addition to the nice park downward the Basilica. If you choose the visit, you wouldn’t regret it because you would come in the biggest South-American church. The Neo-Gothic monument started to be built by the end of the nineteen century and is still unfinished. Inside, you would consider the 22 Ecuadorian provinces represented through 22 chapels on the 24. As soon as I entered there, I was surprised by this huge area in the middle of the Cathedral. Unlighted thanks to lots of well painted stained glasses; the edifice welcomes all of its tourists.

After this stop, you would take the bus for a few minutes till arriving to the Benalcazar square. At this small and red place is found an uncommon map. All of the most important surrounding areas are drawn on the ground. To continue, you will walk until the Independence square, one of my favorite places in Quito. We can describe it as the heart of the City. More than an area where buildings as the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral of Quito and the Municipal Palace are joined, this place is the most vibrant and lively one. You would be surrounded by talking and laughing tourists, students and retirees close to the Independence monument. I also enjoyed discovering small shops and shoe-shiners at the foot of the Presidential Palace, place which is out of access in the others countries. I got the impression that “La Plaza de Independencia” is an area where everyone can find his rightful place. For sure, you would find yours!

Quito has its Virgin on the Panecillo hill, as London has its Big Ben and Paris its Eiffel Tower. This high hill, whose meaning refers to small bread, delimits the Northern part of the City to the Southern one. At 3000 meters high, the Virgin protects the City. Be charged $1 would allow you to visit it and to have an unbelievable 360º view. Quito is 50 kilometers long, so I let you imagine the amazing view you would have there. After the Quito City Tour, you would drive to reach Mitad del Mundo. There, is located a massive bloc made of iron and concrete, overhung by an enormous sphere.Obviously, you would enjoy taking pictures; having half of your body in the Northern hemisphere and the other half in the Southern one. At least, you would believe this at the beginning… Later you would learn that GPS coordinates don’t agree. Of course by that time, they didn’t have as much advanced equipments as we have now. The real middle of the world is located not that far. You could experience it in the Intiñan Solar Museum just a few meters away.A guide will show you amazing experiments proving how items in different parts of the world react. There I felt as fell in an Indiana Jones adventure.