Top Ecuador Cultural Tours - page 3

Cajas National Park, with its 200 glacial lakes and numerous hiking trails, is easily one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador. With this tour, travelers with limited time in Cuenca can still spend a few hours exploring the Andean highlands with two guided hikes through two different forest ecosystems.

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

- All Inclusive: Professional Bilingual Guide, Lunch and Tourist Visits. - Tourist Transport from Quito - Quilotoa - Quito - Hiking and horseback riding on the same tour if you decide to return on horseback - Visit indigenous market - Visit indigenous house - Visit Mirador del Quilotoa - Visit and descent to Laguna del Quilotoa - Visit to the Toachi River Canyon - Professionalism and Quality of Service - Shared Tour: Every Thursday and Sunday - Private Tour: Every day.

Discover indigenous arts and local markets that you might otherwise miss during this cultural tour of Otavalo Market and Laguna Cuicocha. Well-suited for travelers staying in Quito, escape the city and journey into Ecuador's more rural hillsides as you follow your guide through a selection of the area's key cultural attractions.

We invite you to discover and marvel at the colors, flavors and aromas in one of our traditional markets in Quito, in addition to venturing to 4100 meters in the Quito cable car, learn about the life of one of the most famous painters in Ecuador and Latin America and Finally, finish with a tasting of one of the emblematic Ecuadorian products such as fine aroma cocoa.

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.

This night tour will take you through the northern district and the Historic Center of Quito aboard a double-decker bus, offering stunning panoramic views of the city. Explore both the modern area and the Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a walking tour with a local guide through colonial squares and streets, listen to captivating Quito legends, and take advantage of free time to have dinner, grab a coffee, or taste authentic local chocolate.

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.

Discover the rich culture and history of Old Town Quito on this 3-hour guided walking tour. Hear the stories and legends behind the Ecuadorian capital’s most iconic landmarks that you visit, including Independence Plaza, Government Palace, the Independence Monument, and the Archbishop’s palace. On this tour, you don’t just sightsee — try your hand at making traditional ice cream, too., using uniquely South American ingredients Visit the market where every kiosk tells a story, and uncover local culture and customs as you explore the heart of Old Town. Plus top off this fantastic day with a stop at an old-school ice cream shop, and sample delightful flavors.

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.

Enhance your experience of the Middle of the World Monument (La Mitad del Mundo) on a private 3-hour tour from Quito. Alongside a local guide, you’ll visit the Intiñan Museum to learn about the discovery of the equator and then straddle the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the Middle of the World Monument (La Mitad del Mundo). Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito are included.

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.

The best tour in Quito city. Your feet in both hemispheres. The center of the earth where the sun appears naked. Place yourself an egg on the head of a nail. Lose pounds by standing on the equatorial line. Make a video about the Coriolis effect. Learn more about the Pre-Inca ethnic groups that inhabited these territories. Explore the Intiñan Museum. See the city from the clouds (check weather conditions). This tramway was built in 2005 by French engineers, giving the city a touch of technology and modernity. The cable car reaches a maximum height of 4,000 meters. Explore the Quito colonial architecture. The most praised colonial center in Americas. Visit La Plaza Grande, La Compañía de Jesús, Quito´s most prominent convent, La Ronda street. The beautiful colonial city of Quito is just a step away from your memories. Quito Unesco City.

After morning pickup, you and your private guide will spend the day visiting Quito’s top attractions.  From the Old Town to La Compañia Church, experience it all at your own pace. The comprehensive tour also takes you to the city’s two biggest markets, where you can sample local foods and buy souvenirs. Afterwards, relax as comfortable transportation takes you back to your hotel.

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.

Discover the amazingly diverse wildlife and scenic beauty of the cloud forests of Mindo during this full-day trip from Quito. This unique ecological area is known for having one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere on earth, including numerous exotic species of birds. During your excursion, stop by the Hummingbird Garden and walk into the forest to admire the beauty of this natural reserve before proceeding to Mindo. Choose from among a range of optional activities (at your own expense), including a visit to a chocolate factory, an orchid garden tour, ziplining, a bird-watching trip with a local expert, and much more.

Rather than be overwhelmed at one of South America’s largest markets, let a personal guide accompany you. On this private day trip from Quito to Otavalo Market, you’ll have a better opportunity to interact with traditionally attired Quichua vendors selling handicrafts, textiles, and even livestock. Savor views of the Ecuadorian Andes on a brief waterfall walk after lunch in Cotacachi, a town known for its leather goods.

Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at an indigenous market and enjoy gorgeous scenery during this 8-hour trip to Otavalo Market from Quito. This fascinating market features a wealth of hand-made creations produced by local Andean communities, including textiles, leather goods and more. Enjoy sublime views of the Andes Mountains and San Pablo Lake during your drive to the site before hunting for souvenirs. On your way home, you can choose to visit Cotacachi, an artisan town famous for its leather goods, or Cuicocha Lake. Your shopping and scenery trip includes a guide, entrance fees, a snack, round-trip hotel transport and an upgrade with lunch.

All Inclusive: - Bilingual professional guide - Ecuadorian lunch and sightseeing tours Tourist Transportation: - From Quito - Otavalo - Quito Activities: - Hike in stunning landscapes - Visit to the indigenous market of Otavalo - Discover the Plaza de Ponchos - Panoramic views from the Mirador of Lake San Pablo - Explore Cotacachi and its renowned leather craftsmanship Quality and Professionalism: - Exceptional service with a professional touch Availability of Tours: - Shared tour: Every Tuesday and Saturday - Private tour: Every day

Nature, tradition and multicolored market you can experience all of this on this excursion. On our trip to Otavalo we will visit the City of Cayambe, known for its “bizcochos”, a type of baked bread that is accompanied with the so-called “Queso de Hoja” and milk delicacy. Then we will visit the Quitsato sundial museum and continue until we reach the Otavalo Market, where you can see crafts of all kinds made by the skilled indigenous artisans of the area. Then we advance until we reach Cotacachi, a picturesque town famous for its creation of leather goods, here our guide will suggest and give the necessary time for lunch. Later we will visit the Cuicocha Lagoon, which originated after a volcanic explosion thousands of years ago. After this visit we will return to the city of Quito.

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.

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’.

Set off on a day trip to Otavalo Market with a private guide. Skip the crowded public transit and enjoy the sights of the Pan-American highway from the comfort of your private vehicle.  Make stops at lesser known points of interest, including the foothills of Imbabura Volcano. Your tour of the Otavalvo Market can be customized to include a visit to Pecuche.

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this private tour visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza, and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south.