Tour Details

Old Town & Gastronomic Tour

From: £57.67

Duration: 6 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Food, Drink & Markets

Group size: 1 - 12

Set off on a Quito walking tour to discover the unique sites of the Old Town.  Get a taste of the capital during a market visit before exploring the wealth of colonial sights dotted throughout this historic area.  Enjoy a traditional lunch and discover the stories and legends behind the facades of the city’s most famous buildings for a unique insight into this fascinating city.  Visit with a local family in their home and learn to make typical culinary treats like empanadas and tamales.

Highlights

  • Experience the atmosphere of a local fresh produce market
  • Sample the flavors of Ecuador 
  • Visit with a local family to learn how to prepare Ecuadorian specialties
  • Walk through Quito’s Historic Center (Old Town)
  • Admire the wealth of ornate churches
  • Listen to the stories and legends of the Historic Center and visit a traditional candle factory
Pick up:
Quito Urban Adventures Office (Reina Victoria N21-226 between Carrión and Roca in La Mariscal).
Drop off:
Quito Urban Adventures Office (Reina Victoria N21-226 between Carrión and Roca in La Mariscal).
Included:
English speaking guide, private transport, entrance fees and lunch
Not included:
Items of a personal nature and gratuities for your guide
Clothing:
We suggest wearing comfortable clothing, a sweater or light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses and a hat.
Tipping:
If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour

Tour Itinerary

Set off on your adventure heading for the cobblestone streets of the Historic Center of Quito.  Visit the Central Market to meet the vendors selling Ecuador’s most famous roses and to sample some of the wide variety of exotic fruits and vegetables on offer. 

After admiring the wealth of colorful produce, we head into the heart of the Old Town – Independence Plaza – for a walking tour.  From the plaza, admire the impressive Independence Monument, the city’s cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Government Palace and learn about their significance in Ecuador’s rich history.  We then continue on to La Compañía de Jesús, a breathtaking old Jesuit church with a façade carved entirely out of volcanic stone and an interior covered in gold leaf.

 Next, enjoy lunch at a restaurant known for its traditional, Quiteño cuisine.  From there we head to the San Francisco Monastery, an imposing structure that occupies two city blocks – a must see destination!  Visit its museum, chapel and convent and listen to the stories and legends of the people who have occupied this impressive building for hundreds of years.  After this trip into the past, stop by a small, family-run factory to admire the flower-shaped, handmade candles they make and to learn how this traditional art form is being passed on to the next generation.

From here we will stop in to visit with a family in their home where there’s always something going on in the kitchen!  They will teach us to make traditional treats like empanadas and tamales we can sample accompanied by fresh juice, hot chocolate or coffee.

Nearby tours

  • tours

Quito Culinary Tour and Cooking Class

Duration: 6 hours
From: £50.38

Discover the flavors of Quito on this culinary tour packed with sweet treats, tasty tamales and mouth- watering pastries such as ‘majar de leche.’ Meet artisan bakers and talented cooks and learn the secrets to ma...

read more

Old Town Quito Sightseeing and Food Walking Tour

Duration: 6 hours
Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing
From: £57.40

Visit the Old Town Quito and discover some of the city's most historic buildings as well as the local food culture on this full-day walking tour! Tour the Monastery of San Francisco and learn about its impressive hist...

read more

Private Tour: Ecotourism Adventure in Mindo Rainforest including Lunch

Duration: 8 hours
Categories: Sightseeing, Outdoors, Special
From: £153.07

Explore the ever changing and diverse landscapes of Ecuador on a full day private tour to Mindo from Quito. See waterfalls, rivers, natural forest and unique species of insects and birds. This family friendly tour is ...

read more

Private Tour: Papallacta Thermal Center and Spa

Duration: 8 hours
Categories: Sightseeing, Special
From: £102.68

Wind your way from Quito along the road leading to the Amazon jungle until arriving at the Papallacta Thermal Center where a full day of pampering and relaxation are in order! This place has the particularity to have...

read more

Private Tour: Middle of the World Monument from Quito

Duration: 3 hours
Categories: Sightseeing, Special
From: £35.07

Ecuador is home to the middle of the world! Travel on a guided private tour from Quito to the location where the southern and northern hemispheres meet and view the monument which stands to represent this great divide...

read more

Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

20%

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

40%

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

60%

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

80%

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

100%

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

20%

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

40%

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

60%

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

80%

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

100%

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

25%

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

50%

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

75%

For those who like to travel in comfort

100%

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon