Quitsato Solar Clock, Southwest Coast Travel Guide

The Quitsato Solar Clock, built in 2006 and inaugurated in 2007, is a cultural and tourist site located 47 km north of Quito, near Cayambe, Ecuador. This independent, non-profit project spans 2,300 square meters and aims to share the astronomical knowledge of pre-Hispanic cultures.The site features a 54-meter diameter circular platform adorned with a mosaic of light and dark pebbles, forming an eight-pointed star that marks solstices and equinoxes. A 10-meter high cylindrical orange tube stands at the center, acting as a gnomon to project shadows indicating the hours and months. The color variations in the stones demonstrate albedo and its significance in astronomical study.Visitors can learn about the movements of the sun, the seasons, and the history of the calendar. The monument also offers views of archaeological sites and the Cayambe Volcano, the only place where the equator is crossed by snow. Knowledgeable guides offer detailed explanations, and the site includes an impressive agave garden.