Here you can find some samples of the most popular tours that can be taken in and around Quito as pre or post cruise tour’s extensions. You can always have your tours tailored by one of our destination specialists. All of our tours are private with bilingual and specialized tour guides and private transportation. Your guides are flexible to accommodate all your interests.

Quito City Tour

Half or full day tours available

This interesting and renovated city tour starts with a visit of the Itchimbia neighborhood, which is a place that offers an spectacular view of the old and new city. Then you will visit the old colonial Quito starting in Santo Domingo Plaza walking through one of the oldest streets in the town “La Ronda Street” where you will see how the colonial houses were built and how the Quitenos lived in the sixteen hundreds. Your walk takes you through the city museum to San Francisco Plaza, making a quick stop to try the typical sweets of Quito. San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito and it is full of history and legends.

Before visiting the church we highly recommend to visit the USHINA jewelry, a place where you will find fine art and exclusive designs made of silver, definitely a must in our city tour. After this, a visit to La Merced church is organized to see the arabesque and baroque style that was used to decorate this church. Finally a visit to the main square…. Where the presidential palace, the main cathedral and some other important buildings can be appreciated. La Compania de Jesus church is one of the most beautiful churches in South America or perhaps the world, this is the last treasure to be visited in our program before your guide takes you back to the hotel or just continue the day to a visit of the Equator.

Quito tour by night.

5 hours.

Your tour starts after sunset, you take a panoramic tour of the colonial city of Quito; the city looks amazing at night when the lights are on. You will walk through the independence square and you will see the most important buildings of the city like the White house, the main Cathedral and the Archbishop palace which now holds a number of restaurants and cafes inside. Then you will continue your walk through La Compania church and will end up at San Francisco square.  Then your guide will take you to one of the most traditional restaurants in Quito where you can enjoy a nice dinner with live music. Ask for the especial Folklore show on Sundays.

The Equator and Museums.

Half and full day tours available

This tour is for those people who love to collect information and learn deeply about cultures and traditions of the places their visit. The Equator lies just 20 km north of Quito. You will visit the historical point where the French Geodesic Mission measured the circumference of the earth in 1736 and found the latitude cero. You will also visit the ethnographic museum and complex, and then visit the INTI ÑAN site museum which contains interesting explanations of natural facts applicable only at the Equator. The Central bank museum at the Ecuadorian Cultural House and the Guayasamin museum are optional and can be included to your tour at an additional cost.

Otavalo full day tour.

Just an hour and a half north of Quito lie the lush volcanic highlands. This land is rich in friendly and colorfully attired indigenous people, historic working haciendas, and towering volcanoes with verdant slopes. Our destination is the Otavalo Indian craft market. As we pass into the highlands, we’re treated to a sweeping view of Imbabura and Cotacachi Volcanoes rising above San Pablo Lake.

Our first stop is Calderon where the locals make bread dough figures as part of a big tradition of the country. Then it’s on to the Otavalo market, which dates back thousands of years and is famous throughout the Andes for its handicrafts, textiles, tapestries and local traditions. Although the main day of the market is on Saturdays you can enjoy of a less crowded plaza from Sundays to Fridays.

Lunch will be served at one of the local haciendas built between the 17th and 18th centuries with a typical Andean ambience. After lunch we’ll visit the village of Peguche where native weavers demonstrate their craft, as they have for centuries. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Papallacta Thermal Springs.

full day tour (8 hours)

Adventurous spirits will enjoy a tour through the high plateau of the Andes. This is the habitat of the condor, the puma, bears, and other species, which belong to this area.

The "Termas de Papallacta" (Papallacta Thermal Springs) owns the "Rancho del Cañón", a protected area of 250 hectares (625 acres) located at the entrance of the ecological reserve Cayambe-Coca.

The Papallacta River crosses both the hacienda as well as the high section of the valley, and it offers to the visitor a spectacular view of the Antisana Volcano (5.704 meters / 19,800 feet above sea level). In this beautiful area, we offer walks along the ecological paths, where nature lovers can appreciate the local flora and fauna.

This area is a treasure for ornithologists, with more than 160 different species of birds, including hummingbirds, tangaras and occasionally the great Andean Condor. Afterwards, enjoy the Hot Springs of Papallacta, whose thermal waters emerge from deep geological layers through fissures up to the surface. This will be a day of nature, health and relaxation.

Note: Over night at Thermas de Papallacta can be arranged upon request.

Cotopaxi National Park one day tour.

Full day tour (8 hours)

Today we start an early day driving about 60 km south of Quito by the Pan-American Highway also called the avenue of the volcanoes by Alexander Von Humbold. In this area we find  Cotopaxi volcano (5.897m - 19.460ft), considered the highest active volcano in the world. We will learn about the flora and fauna of the Paramo, depending on the weather conditions, we go up to the refuge (4.800m - 15.840ft). Lunch is at Tambopaxi base camp.

Note: Over night at Hacienda can be arranged and the next day we visit an indian market available.

Saquicili Market full day tour.

Only on Thursdays.

Saquisili is probably the most colorful market in the Ecuadorian Andes, an early morning drive about 90Km south of Quito through the avenue of the volcanoes will take you to this interesting cultural place where you can see the animal market and people trading their llamas, horses, sheep, etc... and its 7 plazas. Enjoy walking around just feeling the culture or have fun shopping a diverse variety of local handicrafts. Lunch at La Cienega.
Note: Over night at Hacienda can be arranged and the next day we visit Cotopaxi National Park.

Latacunga Market full day tour.

Only on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Capital of Cotopaxi Province a place where the abundance of light gray pumice has been artfully employed, offers this colorful market with local people trading fruits, vegetables, meat and a bit more. Visit the food market; it is interesting to see what the locals eat. If the conditions are good we can see the 9 volcanic cones around Latacunga. The colonial character of the town has been well preserved.

Note: Over night at Hacienda can be arranged and the next day we visit Cotopaxi National Park.

Baños.

3 days, accommodation and all meals.

Located at 1800 m.a.s.l we find this beautiful small town at the feet of Tungurahua Volcano. The town brings tourist from all over the world, well known for its thermal springs and warm weather, we can also see some of the cloud forest and its vegetation with beautiful waterfalls as we get in to the jungle, this town offers a lot of activities around.

Day: 1.- We leave Quito early in the morning and we visit Cotopaxi National Park, we learn about the flora and fauna of Paramo. We have lunch at Hacienda and then continue with our journey to Baños.

Day: 2.- Today we explore the surrounding areas of Baños. Hiking biking, rafting and horse back ridding available upon request.

Day: 3.- Today we have a tour of Baños and we visit a balsa wood craft shop and also a Tagua (vegetable ivory) craft shop, we will see our artisans working their crafts by hand, we have lunch in Baños and go back to Quito.