Private Gualaceo & Chordeleg craft-making villages tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Cuenca, Ecuador

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

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.

Chance to purchase handmade items directly from the artists who make them
Flexible itinerary with your own private guide
Bonus visit to San Bartolome, known for its handmade guitars
Hassle-free roundtrip transport to and from your hotel in Cuenca

What's Included

Licensed Tour Guide/Driver
Transportation
Lunch

Full-day tour only
Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
All taxes, fees and handling charges

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Itinerary

San Bartolome (Pass By)

Parque Chordeleg

Admission Ticket Free

Gualaceo

Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infant seats available
Not wheelchair accessible
Contact us to info@cuencabestours.com to arrange the exact pick up time please
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Infant meals not included
Near public transportation

A minimum of 2 people is required to operate the tour. We reserve the right to cancel the tour there are not at-least 2 participants
For 1 to 6 passengers, a bilingual guide will also be the driver. For more than 6 passengers, a driver and a bilingual guide will be provided.
Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Reservations made 48 hour prior the tour are subject to guide availability
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 14 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Wonderful experience you won’t want to miss

Thomas_K, Jan 2026

This tour was truly a view into a variety of Ecuador’s artisans, enhanced by our excellent guide, Eddie. At every stop we were able to see how products were made and be amazed by the skills of gifted people, some of whom were self-taught and others who were continuing a craft handed down from earlier generations. Between stops, we were given a thorough history/geography lesson of the region. Eddie is outstanding and we were sad to say goodbye at the end of the tour.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review. We’re delighted to hear that the tour provided such meaningful insight into Ecuador’s rich artisan traditions and that each stop allowed you to truly appreciate the skill and dedication behind these crafts. It’s especially wonderful to know that Eddie made such a positive impact on your experience. His passion for sharing the history, culture, and stories of the region truly makes each journey special. We sincerely appreciate your kind words. Team Cuenca Bestours

Nice trip

Sharon_A, May 2023

The visit to the Makana Museum was very touching and we learned a lot about this ancient tradition. After that, in Chordeleg we had a great time seeing (and buying!) beautiful silver jewelry. Very nice trip!

Gualaceo/Chordeleg village tour

Wes_W, Apr 2022

Our guide, Sebastian, was very knowledgeable about the local craftsmen in the area surrounding Cuenca. We had an enjoyable trip to Chordeleg to visit a local silversmith and see the hat weavers. We stopped at the mercado in Gualaceo and visited the orchid farm. My wife is a weaver and enjoyed seeing the craftsmen at La Casa Museo de la Makana (picture included). It was a very enjoyable day.

This was an extremely worthwhile and...

Way S, Aug 2017

This was an extremely worthwhile and satisfying use of our time and money. Our first stop was in San Bartolomé, famed for its guitars and the craftsmen who create them. We were able to visit one of the family tallers workshops and learn the process of creating a guitar as well as other stringed instruments e.g., the traditional mandolin. It is amazing to see how the craftsman cuts the tiny pieces of wood used to in the inlayed designs on the playing surface of the guitar. My partner was able to try one of the guitars, as he plays. While the visit to Chordeleg was interesting, it seemed mainly an opportunity to visit jewelry stores selling the traditionally worked jewelry in silver, in both old and modern designs. The museum showcasing the crafts of the area is small, but interesting. The visit to Gualaceo was definitely a highlight. We were taken through the whole process of creating makanas shawls and the art of creating designs through the ikat knot-tieing technique, from the different plants used and techniques to make the dyes. We were able to observe both the tying of knots, the weaving as well as tying knots to create intricate designs in a piece. In both this workshop and in San Bartolomé, our guide Pedro of CGT seems to have a warm relationship with the Cañari craftspeople. He, too, was able to provide us with background and knowledge about the villages and the peoples.

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