Top Ecuador Cultural Tours - page 2

Discover Quito’s vibrant history with this private tour of Quito through the heart of the city's Old District. Explore breathtaking landmarks like the San Francisco and La Compañía churches, the grand Basilica, Independence Plaza, and the government palace, all while uncovering the stories that shaped this UNESCO-listed treasure. Enjoy stunning views from Panecillo Hill and seamless round-trip hotel transportation for a truly immersive experience.

Make the most of your time at shore when docked in Manta, Ecuador with this leisurely tour through the city. Learn about the iconic Panama hat at the Alfaro City Civic Center and visit a local hat maker to see how they are made. You also visit a popular beach where you can have a swim and indulge in a delicious beachfront seafood feast. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

If you’re on a tight schedule this program is ideal to see the highlights of Cuenca city and Cajas National Park You’ll start the day visiting Cajas National Park, one of the most beautiful natural sites in Ecuador. Its landscapes, flora, fauna, and more than 230 lakes, makes it an essential place to visit. After hiking with amazing views, you will return to Cuenca for lunch and a guided tour of the historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see places like the new and the old Cathedral, the 10 de agosto market, Turi Viewpoint and the famous Panama Hat (Straw hats) factory. Because, as a matter of fact, all Panama hats are proudly manufactured in Ecuador! We will tell you all its history while on tour.

Discover indigenous arts and local markets during this cultural tour of Otavalo Market and Laguna Cuicocha from Quito. Escape the city and journey into Ecuador's more rural hillsides as you follow your guide through some of the area's top cultural attractions.

The villages of Gualaceo and Chordeleg with their traditions of producing fine local handicrafts lie just east of Cuenca. With this private tour, browse the colorful wares at your leisure while learning about traditional artisan techniques. Watch as guitars, filigree jewelry, Panama hats, and shawls are being made, taste local fruits only found in Ecuador, and sit down for a local lunch. You’ll have plenty of time to shop in each village.

The Amazon Rainforest boasts some of Ecuador’s most beautiful jungle scenery—but exploring solo means you risk getting lost in the dense undergrowth. On this adventurous tour, Enjoy the one-way transportation from your hotel in Quito and back to the city of Tena, and explore the Amazon Rainforest with key logistics like lodge accommodation, activities, and meals included. Drift along calm rivers, meet local communities, and learn of the native wildlife that calls the Amazon Rainforest home.

Make the most of the journey from Guayaquil to Cuenca, Ecuador. This full-day one-way trip includes a stop at a cacao farm to see how the main ingredient in chocolate is grown and processed. In Cajas National Park, enjoy a short hike through the high altitude paramo moorland which is an important and scenic watershed.

If you’re short on time and want to see all that Ecuador has to offer, take a comprehensive 4-day tour.  Three nights of accommodation and transportation are included between your visits to Quito, Banos, Cuenca, and more. If you'd like to tack on an additional day, a visit to El Cajas National Park and Piedra da Agua Spa is on the itinerary. Where you begin is up to you, as the tour can begin from either Quito or Cuenca.

Take a trip to the Otavalo Market and other destinations on a full-day customizable tour from Quito. In addition to the famous market, you can visit Cotacachi, the Peguche Waterfalls, a condor reserve, and many other attractions. Choose what interests you and your private guide will take you there. Whatever you decide, travel by private transportation, which enables you to comfortably cover more locations during your limited time.

Make the most of your visit to Cuenca with a day trip to three important artisan villages of Ecuador. After pickup from your hotel, take in the Andean landscape on your way to Chordeleg and San Bartolomé. You’ll get an immersive look at the craftsmanship that goes into textiles, guitars, and more.  Let your private guide help you decide on what to eat for your included lunch in Gualaceo.

Discover the long history of the Incas in Ecuador on a private tour to the Ingapirca ruins archaeological complex. Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off ensures that your journey is comfortable and secure from beginning to end. After a private tour of the ruins, enjoy lunch (included) at a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. On the way back to Cuenca, stop in Biblian to visit the hilltop Gothic-style church, the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio.

Laguna Quilotoa, a blue-green volcanic crater lake, sits in the rugged Andean countryside south of Quito. With this tour, escape the busy streets of Quito for an all-inclusive day in the Andes, and see Quilotoa Lake from two different lookouts on the crater rim with views of Cotopaxi in the distance. En route back to Quito, spend some time craft workshops in Tigua.

Discover the true site of the equator during your time in Ecuador when you take this “Middle of the World” tour from Quito. Join a small group and make visit the village of San Antonio de Pichincha and Pululahua Volcano before heading to the landmark. Then, visit the Intiñan Museum, to learn about the science of the equator, and the obelisk that represents the equatorial line.

Spend time at the UNESCO-listed Cajas National Park on a small-group tour from Cuenca. With a guide by your side, all you have to do is enjoy the adventure on a hike that offers spectacular views as well as a look at the Andean flora and fauna.

Explore the history of Guayaquil on this guided evening tour. Visit some of the top attractions like Plaza de San Francisco, Seminario Park (also known as Iguana Park), Malecon 2000, Administracion Plaza, and the colorful Santa Ana Hills. Then, stop by FrutaBar, a traditional bar in Guayaquil, where you’ll be able to grab a drink.

The traditional town of Otavalo lies in the foothills of the Andes Mountains around two hours north of Quito. On this tour, visit the famous Otavalo market and Cotocachi Leather Market, shop for traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, and stop at local beauty spots such as Peguche Waterfalls or Cuicocha Lake.

Otavalo is one of the most famous indigenous fair in the country; although the market has greater activity on Saturdays but it is open every day with an impressive variety of handcrafts, tapestries and weaving made by indigenous people of the surrounding villages. Meanwhile, tourists test their Spanish and bargaining skills at stalls vending colorful and inexpensive knitted sweaters, hats, gloves and much more.

Quito’s Old Town is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its colonial architecture and historic churches. With this small-group tour, visit two of the city’s most important churches and discover other less-visited attractions around the city. Climb up to the dome of the Santo Domingo Church for a magnificent view over Quito and visit the Church of the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as the ‘Golden Church’.

A full-day sightseeing tour to the Ecuadorian craft towns begins with private pickup from your Cuenca hotel. Whether your interests lie in textiles, woodwork, or jewelry, there’s something for everyone to marvel at on this tour.  With the help of your private guide, you’ll gain an in depth understanding of the craft process and have a chance to shop and explore on your own. You even get a traditional lunch.

Ecuador is an amazingly beautiful country where you can experience the Pacific Ocean and Andean Highlands, but around one-third of the country is home to the ever-dangerous Amazon Jungle. Journey into the Amazon with a guide during this Amazon Rainforest 3-Day Tour from Quito to Napo, and explore the jungle terrain with a custom-designed itinerary.

Skip the standard route and discover the Otavalo region on a private full-day tour of the Rose Plantation, Equator Line, and Otavalo market. Stand on the equator at Quitsato Sundial, tour a working rose plantation, and shop for handmade crafts at one of South America’s largest Indigenous markets. Visit Cotacachi for its renowned leather goods and explore Cuicocha, a stunning crater lake nestled within an active volcano.

Cotopaxi Volcano is the centerpiece of Cotopaxi National Park. At more than 19,000 feet (nearly 6,000 meters), its snowy peak dominates the landscape of the park. During this full-day tour from Quito, travelers experience the volcano from many vantage points. Explore a lagoon favored by water birds, learn more about the area at an interpretive center, and hike up the flanks of Cotopaxi Volcano to a recently-renovated climbers' refuge to experience this active volcano up close.

Navigate Quito’s renowned museums with ease on a private tour that reveals the highlights of two top Quito museums— the Guayasamin Museum and Central Bank Museum. You’ll enjoy the undivided attention of your guide as you explore the museums at your own pace, rather than one set by a larger group.

The Ingapirca ruins, the most important archaeological site in Ecuador, lie to the north of Cuenca, considered Ecuador’s most beautiful city. See them both with this full-day tour. Tour Ingapirca Archaeological Site to learn about ancient Incan and Canari civilizations, then head to historic Cuenca for a city tour to the most important landmarks and attractions. You’ll also have time for a walk through the colorful Mercado 10 de Agosto.