Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting
Recommended by 93% of travelers
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Quito, Ecuador
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Stroll through Quito's historic center, including Independence Plaza and the Government Palace
- Visit one of the city’s most important traditional markets and sample tropical fruits and juices
- Make your own ice cream using uniquely South American ingredients
- Hear about the stories and history of Quito from an informative guide
What's Included
- Visit Quito’s Central Market and learn about local traditions
- Explore Quito’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and colonial landmarks
- Make Ecuadorian ice cream with native ingredients
- Admire La Compañía de Jesús church and its gold-covered interior
- End at La Ronda, Quito’s iconic cultural street
- Join a small-group walking tour (max 12 guests) led by a local Quito guide
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Teatro SucreC. Guayaquil &, Quito 170401, Ecuador
Entrance of the Teatro Sucre (Plaza del Teatro), Old Town Quito. View on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/zNjR21pBqSaEj24g8
End point
- Independence Squareand Chile St Venezuela, García Moreno N5-16, Quito 170401, Ecuador
Old town Plaza Grande
Operating hours.10:00 am
Itinerary
Step out on a guided walking tour of Old Town Quito and experience the sights, smells and flavors of this sky-high capital as the day comes to life. Visit the market where every kiosk tells a story, and uncover local culture and customs as you explore the heart of Old Town. Begin your 3-hour adventure on the cobblestone streets of Old Town where you’ll meet your informative guide.
Kick off your sightseeing at Independence Plaza, home to the Independence Monument, Government Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace. Travel through energetic crowds as your guide unlocks the history of this central Quito stop.
Swing by La Compañía de Jesús, a Jesuit church boasting an elaborate façade made entirely out of volcanic stone, and an interior rich in gold leaf. Visit the University of San Gregorio and make your way to La Ronda, one of the most picturesque streets in Old Quito.
Switch to culinary delights as you learn how to make ice cream using uniquely South American ingredients. Follow your guide’s recommendations and try flavors that you’re not likely to find back home.
After this sweet note, your tour ends at La Ronda street.
Kick off your sightseeing at Independence Plaza, home to the Independence Monument, Government Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace. Travel through energetic crowds as your guide unlocks the history of this central Quito stop.
Swing by La Compañía de Jesús, a Jesuit church boasting an elaborate façade made entirely out of volcanic stone, and an interior rich in gold leaf. Visit the University of San Gregorio and make your way to La Ronda, one of the most picturesque streets in Old Quito.
Switch to culinary delights as you learn how to make ice cream using uniquely South American ingredients. Follow your guide’s recommendations and try flavors that you’re not likely to find back home.
After this sweet note, your tour ends at La Ronda street.
1
Mercado Central
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande) (Pass By)
Quito Metropolitan Cathedral (Pass By)
Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania (Pass By)
Basilica and Convent of San Francisco (Pass By)
La Ronda (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Can kids join the tour? Yep! Kids aged 6 and up are welcome, as long as they're with an adult.
- What should I wear for the tour? We recommend comfy clothes, walking shoes, a sweater or light jacket, sunglasses, and a hat—Quito’s weather can change quickly!
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 95 reviews
Daria_W, Apr 2026
It was just my husband and me, and it was as if we had booked a private tour! We visited such beautiful and historic sites. Plus we stopped for handmade ice cream! Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour.
Michael_F, Mar 2026
Marcellus is incredibly knowledgeable about the history and details of Quito. This is a easy walk, some uphill portions. We didn’t make ice cream but we tasted some great sorbet in the Bishop’s palance.
Antonio_R, Mar 2026
Guide was a no show after confirming the day before. Fortunately they are giving me a refund. Better luck next time.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello Antonio_R,
We're truly sorry for the inconvenience caused by your guide not showing up, especially after your booking was confirmed. This falls well below the level of service we aim to provide to our guests. While we're pleased you received a refund, we understand how frustrating and disappointing this was. Please accept our sincerest apologies, and know that we are working to improve our processes to prevent this happening again. We'd love the chance to welcome you on one of our tours in the future for a much better experience.
Warm regards,
Intrepid Urban Adventures Management
Flora_P, Mar 2026
Marcelo was my guide and he was very knowledgable and great company. Showed me the Market, took me to the Basilica, pointed out important details. Explained the history of Quito Old Town- it was a fascinating walk.
ShekoSusan_K, Nov 2025
I did this tour on my first day in Quito. Its a good introduction to the old town and the fruit, chocolate and ice cream tasting are fun. We learned a lot about the city and saw some important sites.
David_K, Nov 2025
Morcelo gave us an excellent introduction to the beautiful city of Quito. We covered everything from local food at the market, history, everyday life and of course Ice Cream.
Cheryl_L, Nov 2025
Take this fun tour and get informed on historic Quito. Our guide Marcello was excellent and the Gelato is so good!
Ben_H, Sep 2025
The tour was a great introduction to Quito. Marcelo was an informative and friendly guide. We started with a tour of the market, before moving to the historical area. A break for ice cream, with some local flavours on offer, was included.
Hugh_H, Jul 2025
Marcello treated us to a fantastic and private tour through the local markets, blending history, culture, and flavor into a truly memorable experience. We sampled fruits native to Ecuador, got a crash course in traditional medicinal herbs, and soaked up stories of the area's rich past—all while comfortably stopping along the way to sit and chat in historic spots.
One of the highlights? Ice cream and tamales at San Augustin—unique, delicious, and served with a side of spontaneous street sweeper dance magic that stole the show.
We absolutely loved this tour and highly recommend it to anyone visiting. One small note for the tour operator: We noticed that booking at the last minute would have given us a significantly lower price—just something to keep in mind for future travelers.
Tony_H, Jun 2025
Very good guide who gave an informative tour. Gave us a good insight into the history and culture of Quito
Anonymous, Mar 2025
I was the only participant but they didn’t cancel. The guide was very knowledgeable. It was a long tour,
Toni_W, Jan 2025
Really loved this tour, very informative and a great intro to this beautiful city. We covered a lot of historical events giving meaning to the history behind many of the old buildings, and even had ice cream and chocolate tastings. Highly recommend.
Susan_S, Dec 2024
Marcello was an exceptional tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about Quito history, architecture, religion, the Andean culture, plants and flowers and politics in Ecuador. He was never in a hurry, welcomed our questions and we learned so much about Quito- past and present.
PRASHANTH_M, Dec 2024
Was very educational not just about the Centro Historico,but also about Quito and Ecuador overall. Marcelo was really patient with us, answered all our questions and got us to taste a ton of local food, fruit, drink and chocolate.
A great way to spend our only day in Quito!
Michelle_D, Oct 2024
Marcelo was excellent: knowledgeable, personable, and great at keeping our group of six (three separate pairs) moving along at a pace that worked for everyone. His English was impeccable and his informative tour through the local market was a side of Quito we would not have otherwise seen. We also appreciated the side tour to a free chocolate tasting. Highly recommend this tour to anyone who only has a day or two in Quito and wants to get immersed in the history and culture.
Vee_K, Sep 2024
Such a lovely day exploring Quito and learning more about the city. My guide was amazing and even stopped at an art gallery that wasn’t included in the trip because he knew I liked art. He had so much knowledge about Quito and Ecuadorean people.
Julie_G, Jun 2024
Marcelo was wonderful - knowledgeable, friendly, and ensured the tour was comprehensive and enjoyable! I enjoyed visiting the church and convent, an art museum, public squares, a marketplace rich in history with natural remedies and customs, and tasting local fruit. A great tour for your first day in old town Quito.
Kay_B, Apr 2024
If you’re in Quito, Ecuador, be sure to book the tour. My tour guide Marcelo was very knowledgeable about the history of Ecuador. He took his time to explain certain areas within Quito, we enjoyed food tastings, and great conversations with the locals. I highly recommend!
Tammy_R, May 2023
Overall the tour was very good and learned so much about Quito history. We had a miscommunication about the meeting place. Missed first hour of the tour. After we finally met up. Our tour guide was very nice and made tour interesting. We really enjoyed fruit tasting. Guide was very helpful on where to buy chocolate and coffee. He also recommended an excellent restaurant close to end of the tour. I would highly recommend this tour for history of old Quito.
Tim_T, Feb 2023
Local market was great and awesome insight to the churches and ongoing election. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area.
K_K, Jan 2023
Our guide Carlos was excellent. We wanted to spend more time on some stops and he was very flexible. Our itinerary was great The views from the top of the cable cars was amazing and being able to take in the beauty that is Quito was wonderful. We got a great overview of history and volcanos and earthquakes. We highly recommend this to families or couples.
ADAMARIA_O, Nov 2022
I totally enjoyed the almost 4 hours city tour. I leaned a lot about history, architecture, religion, food culture and more. Marcelo is a very professional and friendly guy. His knowledge is impressive. I highly recommend this tour.
Marilyn_H, Apr 2022
Our guide Etiel was very knowledgeable about Quito and Ecuador. He was very attentive to our comfort and interests, and we enjoyed a great introduction to the historic center's sites and gastronomy. Highly recommended!
peter p, Feb 2018
This was a fabulous tour with a passionate, knowledgeable tour guide. He took us to some unusual hidden spots, for example showing us a great sculpting demonstration and a chocolate-making demonstration.
Joyce N, Feb 2018
Pablo was an excellent guide. He gave us the political, historical and economic background of Ecuador. As we walked he told us so much interesting information as we went through the sites and side streets. It could not have been better! Joyce N.
Megan_V, Jan 2018
The weather was horrible so the guide altered the tour to help keep us dry in a rain and thunderstorm. Wish I saw more and wasn't so wet and cold! but appreciate the guide being flexible and still making it a great day! He was very knowledgeable about the history of Ecuador and a great conversationalist.
Ronald F, Dec 2017
Old world charm and an interesting guide makes this tour worthwhile. Sampling local food also a very enjoyable aspect to this tour.
john g, Dec 2017
guide was very good, full of interesting details,ice cream flavours amazing , chocolate fantastic
Julia B, Aug 2017
Great tour! Fun and knowledgeable guide, and loved the chocolate.
Mary Faith T, Aug 2017
Pablo was amazing! He could/should be a university lecturer. We all were impressed by the volume of information he shared about history of Ecuador, comparative analysis of colonial activity in other countries at the same time periods, how the different Catholic orders and competing religious groups affected the growth of Quito. It was really fascinating and delivered in a very dynamic style that kept the group including our 2 teenagers engaged--and that was really only the first half of the tour. The subsequent ice cream and chocolate stops were delicious and a lot of fun. Friends at home were very happy to receive their scrumptious artisanal chocolates as souvenirs.
From $29.19
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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