Intiñan Equator Museum

Intiñan Equator Museum

Intiñan Equator Museum
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Located close to the Equator Monument, this onsite museum features interactive exhibits on how the Incas determined the middle of the earth, plus interesting science experiments such as balancing an egg on a nail and the affects of the Coriolis force on earth.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • M&K
    2,005 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting and interactive
    The visit is done in groups in different languages (Spanish, English, etc.) because it is an interactive visit with small experiments on gravity. We had a good time, the guide explained lots of interesting things to us. This museum is definitely more worth it than the Mitad del Mundo Monument.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 19, 2024
  • Dawn D
    Ottawa, Canada229 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited the ‘real’ Equator
    On our trip to Quito we wanted to be sure we went to the ‘actual’ equator line so we ended up at this museum. We had a lovely private tour through the grounds and were able to snap a few photos to mark the occasion. The museum is beautifully designed and we might have been lucky as we didn’t experience any crowds.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 27, 2024
  • giovannaBorneo
    Lugano, Switzerland1,005 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Open-air museum on the true location of the equator
    After visiting the beautiful historic center of Quito, our guide Ramiro Gordin took us to visit the Intinan museum, about an hour's drive away. Here lies exactly the true half of the world dividing the northern and southern hemispheres. This site makes us reflect on how the ancestral Ecuadorian populations managed, without the use of technology or the knowledge of modern times, to locate the 0.00 point of the world. The museum is well divided between different demonstration activities, such as the Coriolis effect, the movements of water, which we already knew and new to us: balancing an egg on a nail, naturally we were unable to balance it. There are areas dedicated to the regions of Ecuador and the various indigenous peoples and the different Andean cultures and lifestyles. We really liked the Amazon area with the explanation of how they shrank the heads of their enemies, as well as the authentically recreated tombs and huts. Everything was well maintained and clean. We were happy with the visit. Don't forget a hat and sunscreen.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 20, 2024
  • Sandra T
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don’t miss it!
    This was the best $5 we spent in Quito. Our guide shared lots of information, and the experiments were very fun. We also went to Mitad del Mundo (also worth a visit), but found this museum more informative and more fun. Suggestion: don’t pay for a full day guided tour of several locations. We took an Uber from our hotel (35 minutes away), walked through Mitad del Mundo on our own, walked less than 10 minutes to Intiñan, and then took another Uber to TeleferiQo. With all of the entrance fees and Uber fees, plus tips, our whole day cost less than $50 each, and we weren’t at the mercy of a tour group. We got to spend exactly the amount of time we wanted at each attraction.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 26, 2024
  • DesertRose
    542 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun to visit the actual equator
    It's certainly worth stopping here and for only $5 it's good value for money. If you're in Quito you don't want to miss the chance to be at the actual equator. However I'm going to look into the science behind the experiment demonstrations some more as a few things said by our guide seemed a bit unlikely. All in all a enjoyable stop.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 11, 2024
  • Bacan Ecuador Tours
    Quito, Ecuador166 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visit Half of the World
    We visited the place with a group of friends to evidence Half the World and the place exceeded our expectations. The infrastructure, the Guide knowledge made our experience really meaningful. The dynamics are very fun and interesting. They also have the cafeteria service where you can rest and eat some dessert. I recommend visiting the place if you want to know the real Half of the World. Thank you so much!! 🤩
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 10, 2024
  • Peter R
    Dartford, United Kingdom1,371 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots to see and do
    Although we had been on the equator in Africa here in Quito they make so much more of it. A guide shows you around the museum explaining the history of such things as how shrunken heads were made by the indigenous people, through to the wildlife of Ecuador. The most interesting part is all about the equator line. There are various activities you are invited to get involved in, such as trying to balance an egg on its point, it is possible, how just a few feet either side of the equator water travels down the plughole in the opposite direction, along with many others. As you leave you can get a stamp, in your passport if you have it with you, depicting the equator.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 30, 2024
  • jodyyyl
    Toronto, Canada40 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must-Visit Spot in Ecuador!
    We visited this site as part of a tour with CarpeDM Ecuador, and it was the perfect way to wrap up our trip! Our guide Jhon Silva was incredibly knowledgeable and had a fantastic sense of humour, making the experience both educational and entertaining. For just $5 entry, it was hands down the best value of our entire trip. We learned fascinating insights about history and the science of the equator, and there were plenty of fun, interactive activities to try. Balancing an egg, walking in a straight line, and watching how water funnels differently on either side of the equator were amazing experiences! The unique experience of standing with one foot in each hemisphere is something you simply can't miss. If you're visiting Ecuador, this site is an absolute must-see!
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 13, 2024
  • agentdes
    Wellington, New Zealand14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Saffars visiting Intinan in Ecuador
    We had the luck to be introduced Leo Aguilhar who explained interestingly about the various people's of Equador, about the Amazonians who shrunk headsby removing the skull and facial bones and then using jungle herbs etc to shrink the skin. He managed to make this gruesome procedure interesting. Then he showed us A the replica house of an Andean woman who lived to be 115 years old and kept Guinea Pigs - their favorite delicacy. Then the magnificent demonstration of exactly where the equator is and his fun way of showing how the equator affects us without our knowing it - unbalanced is, weakening us and only I guy in our group managed to balance the egg on the head os a nail. He was great and one of the best guides that I have met. Thanks, Leo. And thanks to David, our guide for the day all five star service
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 16, 2024
  • Jennifer J
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An enjoyable and fun experience, with many photo opportunities
    We had a warm, welcoming and engaging guide, named Consuelo. This was a very enjoyable experience. Consider bringing large coverage, lightweight sun protection including a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses.
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 17, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
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Chase V
Oklahoma City, OK801 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Friends
First off if visiting here after mitad del mundo área, just walk along the north exit and see a sign for the museum don’t walk along the road as it’s busy and more dangerous to get to the front of the museum. This back dirt path leads to the rear entrance and a worker will guide you to the ticket booth. It’s a good value and fun hour or so. But the tour is way more than just showing you the experiments on the equator. Which is absolutely crazy that only a few steps in each direction can change forces on small objects, worth learning more about the science. Before the area you see all the pictures of they do a history, it was unexpected kind of interesting but I think. They could cut this down to 30 minutes more just about the equator. You’ll see Amazon wildlife examples, the making of a shrunken head (and a real one) and how the indigenous people were wild or not wild based on appearance. It was neat they had indigenous amazonians actually build a hut and blowgun. So some things that were good but I had no clue we had to sit through with our guide. You also sample cocoa seeds and see some ground to get the smell, that part was just to sell chocolate bars and in my opinion should be left out for sure. That’s the only reason for 4 stars. Must visit when there just for the true 0’0’0’ latitude. Crazy feeling
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paladin
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
I loved the experience! For $5 each (SEPT 2022) you get a guided tour through the museum grounds. The guide spoke English better than some Americans I know. And he. knew his subjects (history of Ecuador, science, geography, etc) very well. And super nice. I suspect most people enjoy the demonstrations about how the equator is different than anywhere on earth. And you can walk on the actual equator of the earth (rather than the massive, but incorrect, display some 200 yards or so away. That itself was worth the price of admission.
But there is much more to learn about Ecuador during the tour, including the lifestyle of the earliest settlers to Ecuador, long before the Spanish arrived. Absolutely fascinating.
Others have said that if you only have time to visit on equator museum, this is the one to visit. I absolutely agree. While you can do the tour and walk around on your own in about an hour, plan of staying a bit longer. It is that fascinating.!
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

County-Hunter
Tacoma, WA3,735 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
We wanted to see the actual equatorial line so we skipped Mitad del Mindo and came here instead. It was sort of cheesy but in a funny and informative way. You park the car and lay your entrance fee and a guide takes you around the site. You see diaromas on Ecuadorian life including shrunken heads. The highlight for us was the equator. They do some ticks mine flushing the toilet to see which way it swirls and you get to balance an egg on a nail. It may not be entirely authentic but it is fun. If you have time, I would recommend going to both sites, but if you want to see the real equator, you have to come here.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

goodguyjas
London, UK1,228 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
Enjoyable venue to stand on the real equator. Apparently a nearby monument that purported to be the line between northern and southern hemispheres was wrong and this museum and exhibition on the wildlife of the Amazon, Galapagos and Inca history is the place.

The site has a nice gift shop, cafe and facilities. Places to take pictures to show you are here. There are several paths to follow. Lots are smooth concrete with a few areas of steps. You can hear humming birds and occasionally see them. The staff and guides are excellent. The polish of the site and recreations of period stone work is reasonably successful. The big draw is to stand on both the northern and southern hemispheres. The water gets a bit muddied with a series of audience participation experiments that don’t quite convince. The basic and most famous test involving water going down a plug hole in different directions has been shown by real scientists so I am happy with that test. The globe too was convincing. Not so sure about the balancing act by walking the line or balancing an egg on a nail. There are some dismissive views of this on the internet by those who mention the words physics and science. I get the question marks but I don’t think anyone should dismiss this likeable museum site with a fascinating experience.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Athena53
Kansas City, MO1,822 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
I was on a small group tour with others who happened to be science geeks so we loved this! One person did so some research and found that the "demonstration" of how water circles around a drain was staged (there's not that much variation a few feet away from zero and the guide carefully directed how that water was poured) but we loved it anyway and he knew his stuff. Very pretty outdoor setting.
Written May 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kerimcq
Port Colborne, Canada18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
This is where the true equator lies, determined by GPS. It was far less crowded than Ciudad Mitad Del Mundo, which is 250m south of the actual equator. A guided tour was included with the price of admission and we got to participate in some fun science experiments involving the equator. Definitely preferred this over the flashier Mitad Del Mundo.
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BackRoadBruce
Florence, CO314 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
The tour is great, complete with English and Spanish speaking guides. The demonstrations along the equatorial line are fascinating. There is a nice little restaurant that can be enjoyed without entering the exhibit area. I was both surprised and pleased to find a gift shop with authentic woven wares at reasonable prices within the exhibit area
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK7,179 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Immediately adjacent to the much bigger Mitad Del Mundo. But in their smaller space they have filled it with similar buildings representative of other times and regions of Ecuador, totems from other countries as well as the equator markings. All very tastefully done. You go on a conducted tour, ours obviously English, really well done by an interesting and amusing guide. The phenomenon of being on the equator was brought to life here, much better than next door where you are left to your own devices with not a lot of information. Here, balancing and egg on a nail was explained why it is different. As was trying to heel toe walk a line with your eyes closes. And of course water flowing in different directions when a bowl is emptied just me-tres from each other.
Written February 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cathy g
Indio, CA76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Friends
Great historical tour. The true location of middle of earth. Nicholas was our tour guide and he was really informative and was able to answer our questions. Really enjoyed the activities we could do too. The shop is small but has a lot of variety. There’s a guy that is literally weaving a tapestry by hand without any guides. He said the pattern was in his mind. It was awesome to witness. Had a snack, grateful they had sparkling water. The empanada was average.
Written April 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brendan S
Arlington, VA2,185 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
The “sell” of this Museum is that it is where the actual equator is, while the large and more famous nearby monument is a few hundred meters off. That makes it worth visiting itself. The Museum has a guided tour that is focused half on the Equator and half on indigenous cultures, complete with replica huts and other structures. The tour takes about an hour. It’s More interesting and in depth than what is at the Monument, which is mostly a photo opp with shopping and dining.
Written December 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Intiñan Equator Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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