The City in the Middle of the World - Ecuador on 24/05/10 by Alexandria Prain

Holding a unique place in the middle of the world, the capital city of Ecuador, Quito is truly a special place to experience. This impressive city, surrounded by mountains is a World Heritage site and offers visitors the chance to experience a truly mystifying South American culture. Here is a list of our must see destinations in the only city located truly in the middle of the world.

1. Old Town: The most frequented tourist area, this neighborhood offers the city's main plaza bordered by the Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral and the Palacio Presidencial.

2. Mitad del Mundo: The middle of the world, literally, this monument sits just 22km north of the capital city. It offers a planetarium and an impressive full scale model of Quito.

3. Cotopaxi National Park: lying just south of Quito, in Volcano Alley, this stunning national park is home to the 19,400 ft. Cotopaxi Volcano, which is the second highest mountain in Ecuador.

4. Monastery of San Francisco: By far the oldest colonial building in Quito, the monastery is home to the Museo Franciscano, which displays beautiful furniture and paintings.

5. The Market: A definite must is to take an excursion just outside of Quito to Otavalo and Cotacachi. These two fun market towns offers everything from handcrafted wool textiles, to leather goods, food, clothing and home furnishings.