Quito features some of the best museums in South America. As the nation’s capital, Quito is a museum lover’s paradise with many museums dedicated to the history, art, and culture of Ecuador. These museums display a diverse history of indigenous influence and Spanish colonization. Although the multitude of museums can seem overwhelming at first, each provides a unique perspective of the nation, making it challenging to determine which ones to prioritize.

Museo Nacional del Banco Central

Without a doubt, the Central Bank Museum is the most popular in Quito. Here, visitors can explore a vast collection of art that ranges from pre-Inca to contemporary Ecuador.

Although many come specifically to see the ceremonial gold mask, it is advisable to spend several hours here. The museum is filled with intriguing artifacts that span from the pre-ceramic era (4000 BC) to the end of the Inca empire (1533 AD).

Museo Manuela Saenz

This museum is often overlooked, yet it is highly engaging for history enthusiasts. Manuela Sáenz, the companion of Simón Bolívar, played a significant role in the liberation of Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Today, she is celebrated as the “Liberator of the Liberator” and is regarded as one of the most important women in South American history.

After Bolívar’s death in 1830, political tensions led to her deportation to Jamaica. She later settled in Paita, Peru, where she lived until her passing in 1856.

Located in Old Quito within a colonial building, the museum displays love letters exchanged between Sáenz and Bolívar, along with paintings and personal items. Additionally, visitors can view Bolívar’s gun and silver dagger here.

Museo de la Ciudad

Originally a hospital operating from 1565 to 1974, the Museum of the City now serves as a critical cultural hub that recounts the life of Quito from 10,000 BC to present times.

Situated in Old Quito, opposite the Carmen Alto monastery, this museum comprises two floors that surround tranquil courtyards. Ideal for those who prefer interactive learning environments, visitors can engage with paintings, dioramas, wax figures, and sound effects that illustrate the evolution of life in Ecuador throughout the centuries.

Guayasamin Museum

Oswaldo Guayasamín, born in Quito, is recognized as one of Ecuador’s most influential contemporary artists. His museum is located on the Bellavista hillside, a residential area just outside Quito.

Guayasamín’s background is fascinating; his mother was of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent, while his father was indigenous. Growing up in a large family of ten children, he faced poverty firsthand. As an artist, he was an outspoken critic of social inequality in Ecuador and advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples.

Much of his artwork reflects this critique, with his most famous piece being La Edad de la Ira or The Age of Anger.

The museum actively promotes his art and adheres to his beliefs in political activism, with the foundation managing the venue contributing to cultural events and concerts that enrich the nation.

Mitad del Mundo

While not a traditional historical museum and sometimes regarded as a tourist trap, Mitad del Mundo offers a fun experience for visitors. Here, guests can learn about the equator and its significance.

Although the equator passes through several countries, it was here that it was scientifically proven that Earth takes the shape of an oblate spheroid. Visitors can take a bus from Quito to see the grand monument constructed by the French to commemorate the middle of the world.

Interestingly, the indigenous population originally believed the location to be 240 meters off, a notion now validated by modern technology.