Quitsa-to, the original name of the city, means "middle of the Earth" in the ancient ‘tsafiqui’ language. Quito is the only site on the planet where the Equator crosses over highlands. On the rest of the Earth’s surface, it crosses through jungle or ocean. Therefore, the pre-Inca cultures could develop their astronomical knowledge aided by the clear landmarks surrounding the city: the Pichincha volcano (15,000 ft) to the West, the Antisana (18,700ft) to the east, and the peak of the snow-caped Cayambe (18,725 ft) to the Northeast, almost precisely on the Equator. The city itself emerges over 9,184 ft above sea level; it is the second highest capital in the world. Thus, Quito could be considered the best natural astronomical observatory.

The temperature in the city varies along the day… in the early morning and at night it can be at 10ºC, and at noon it can reach up to 25ºC. The geographical conditions of the zone give place to a number of ecosystems, thus, Quito’s surroundings offer a diversity of landscapes, each with unique flora and fauna.

The Cotopaxi National Park, named after the highest active snow capped volcano in the world (19.347 ft above sea level), is located 60 km of Quito. It is an hour drive to this national site consisting of 83,829 acres. The park’s altitudes range from 11.152 ft to 19.347 ft above sea level.

The Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the most important monuments of this park. It is the highest active volcano in the world. Adventurous professional mountain climbers are attracted to this site along with many tourists who take pride in reach the top. The volcano offers climbing experiences for all skill levels.

The immense plain that surrounds the volcano offers a wonderful landscape with extraordinary geological conditions and numerous flora and fauna. This park is home to dears, pumas, condors, wild horses and llamas.

Home to ECO-PLANET ADVENTURE Campground base, and host by the Pavacachi native community of Amazonian Quichua, this is one the most isolated rainforest locations on earth that can be reached only by a small aircraft followed by canoe ride on the Curaray River.

This is where our X-treme Challenge Jungle Expedition begins. At first glance, the rain forest is a vast green wilderness. However, as one observes carefully, this ecosystem is full of surprises for its visitors. Not only is each tree very different from the next, but also for every tree there are hundreds of other plant and animal species in constant interaction. Tropical rain forests occupy 7% of the Earth’s surface, but they hold 50% of the world’s biodiversity.

The temperature in this tropical rain forest is quite stable, with a variation between day and night. But this ecosystem is far from being stable. Rainfall is seasonal and results in major changes for the living organisms. Disturbances also add to the high dynamics of this ecosystem.

Many hypotheses have been raised to explain the impressive high diversity in tropical rain forests, and each provides an insight to understand this complex ecosystem better. The competition for resources has lead organisms to adapt to unique niches and thus result in a number of specialized and interdependent organisms.

Many archeologists sustain that some of the oldest cultures that survived (over 10,000 years) are actually from this tropical humid rainforest, impossible to reach for many centuries. In the "Cosmo vision” of these indigenous groups, the human being is a part of the "Amazanga" (rainforest) and the human spirit wanders in this forest every dawn. The human spirit can enter an eagle or a serpent or a jaguar, each one with a symbolism as to their nature according to their beliefs. The rainforest provides their food, medicinal plants, and spiritual richness. To these people, the tropical rainforest is their home, their drugstore, their supermarket, and their religion; thus, their extreme respect to the ecological balance. These people are neither naturalists nor consumers. They are apparently very poor (according to modern world economical standards), however, they have a rich spiritual life and live in peace surrounded by their families, taking from nature only what they need for survival and taking time to meditate and enlighten their spiritual selves. To share a few days of their normal lives is an incredibly enriching experience.

Baños Is a natural sanctuary colorful town, suitable for the practice of challenging adventure sports such as: white water rafting, kayaking, waterfall canyons descending, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, as well as where tranquility and spirituality flow. It is the perfect setting for meditation and relaxation of the soul.

The city has thermal waters of more than 130 F, as well as a variety of SPAs that offer several therapies such as: fang therapy, Pedi therapy, massages, box baths, aromatherapy, etc. These therapies help strengthen the spirit of the visitors.

Baños de Agua Santa is refugee for more than 60 waterfalls and is unique and The city also offers party and joy. Baños has an entertainment district with bars, discos, karaoke and other entertainment centers, which offer tourists the warmth of the local people. It is a safe place to enjoy all kinds of music and the best cocktails.

The tourist that comes to Baños is protected by the sacred spirits of Volcán Tungurahua, by many waterfalls that complement the beauty of 2 National Parks (Sangay and Llanganates), by more that 160 endemic species that this zone posses, by its colorful mountains and rivers.

Otavalo is a small city of about 50,000 inhabitants. It lies at 8,300 ft above sea level in a spring-like valley, situated between the Imbabura volcano (15,118 feet) and the Cotacachi volcano (16,200 feet).

The most famous indigenous market in Ecuador is held here. Although the market is bigger on Saturdays, you can visit it any day and find an impressive variety of all kinds of Ecuadorian handcrafts. At dawn you may see indigenous people arriving the market place from many mountain trails surrounding the city. They come from nearby villages and towns such as Peguche, Agato and Iluman, to sell their products. One may visit the workshops of these local weavers working on back strap and Spanish treadle looms, as well as other artisans at work making felt hats, knitting sweaters or weaving straw mats.

In Ecuador you see a lot of signs saying La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) referring to the fact that Ecuador is best known for the Equator running right through it.

The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth's surface with the plane perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation and containing the Earth's center of mass. In more simple language, it is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface approximately equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole that divides the Earth into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.

Places on the equator experience the quickest rates of sunrise and sunset in the world. Such places also have a theoretical constant 12 hours of day and night throughout the year

Temperatures near the equator are high year round with the exception for periods during the wet season and at higher altitudes. In many tropical regions people identify two seasons: wet and dry. However, most places close to the equator are wet throughout the year, and seasons can vary depending on a variety of factors including elevation and proximity to an ocean.

Located on the actual equator is the Inti Nan museum. Besides sitting atop the actual GPS calculated equator, the museum has hands on exhibits about indigenous Ecuadorian life and where you can participate in experiments to walk the equator line straight, balance an egg on the head of a nail, watch the Coriolis effect in action as water spins down drains and more.