Things to do in

Azuay

Begin your journey of the Cajas National Park — southern Ecuador's most famous national park — with a hotel pickup, where you will be greeted by your guide who will take care of you throughout the day.  Head straight to the park, whereupon arrival your guide will take you on a walking tour through the Andean flora and fauna. Breathe in the incomparable fresh mountain air and challenge yourself by walking along the park trails at 4,000 meters. Make sure to stop and admire several turquoise lagoons and the famous Polylepis trees — unique to the Andes — on your walk. Best of all, choose from either a small-group or private guided experience to make your trip special.

Ingapirca is the most important archaeological complex in Ecuador, situated 2 hours north of Cuenca. On your way to the site, there will be a stop at the Virgen del Rocío Church in Biblián, one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Once you reach the top of the 140 steps, enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Learn about traditional food culture as well, as you watch a pig being cooked over an open fire, a typical food preparation in the area.  Finally, you will arrive at the Ingapirca complex where your guide will teach you about the Cañari and Inca cultures and you will enjoy the unique Tahuantinsuyo elliptical temple, one of the highlights of the site, walking 10 minutes more you will get to a stunning rock formation named The Inca Mountain Face This tour can be customized and your guide can change the order of the visits if you wish. The tour typically lasts approximately 8 hours. Afterwards, you will be returned to your accommodation.

Visit the most important places in the historic center of Cuenca and its surroundings on a guided walking tour. Start with a pickup from your hotel in downtown Cuenca in private transportation. Observe the city from the top of the Turi mountain and marvel at the stunning views. Then, walk through its cobbled streets and enjoy its colonial and republican architecture. Take advantage and enjoy a delicious Cuenca snack on the street of the Herreras, and do not miss the opportunity to buy a famous toquilla straw hat, made exclusively in Ecuador. Stroll through the plaza de las Flores, Central Park, New Cathedral, and the most beautiful buildings in the city.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and then you will head to Cajas National Park. During the tour, you will visit two altitude levels within the park. In the middle part, you will walk around for two and a half hours in the Toreadora area. The trek will give you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then, move on to enjoy a local lunch in a nearby restaurant. Afterwards, visit Llaviuco, located in the lower part of the park. This area is part of a different ecosystem, known as montage primary forest. Here you will walk around the lake for about half an hour before you return to your hotel.

Embark on an express tour that immerses you in the natural splendor of Cajas National Park, located just west of Cuenca. This tour is perfect for nature enthusiasts seeking tranquility and breathtaking landscapes. Begin your journey with a visit to Laguna de la Toreadora, where you'll walk along scenic trails and learn about the park's significance to Cuenca from your knowledgeable guide. The park is renowned for its evergreen cloud forests and hundreds of lagoons, making it a haven for diverse fauna. Next, head to Mirador Tres Cruces for panoramic views that will leave you in awe. This viewpoint offers a unique perspective of the park's rugged terrain and lush greenery. Continue your adventure with a stop at the beautiful Hostería Dos Chorreras, a charming spot where you can relax and soak in the serene atmosphere. The tour concludes in Cuenca's Central Park, providing you with the perfect opportunity to explore the city's vibrant heart. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this express tour offers a memorable experience of Cajas National Park's natural beauty and cultural significance.

This 8-hour tour takes you on a trip to explore three towns in the province of Azuay, located east of Cuenca. It's a great opportunity to learn more about local craftsmanship and to support Ecuadorian artisans.   The first stop is San Bartolomé, a pretty town with colonial-style houses and gardens filled with medicinal plants. It is also known for producing the best guitars in the country. Next, you will visit Chordoleg, famed for its intricate jewelry. Here, you can explore the different jewelry workshops before enjoying a tasty traditional lunch. Last but not least, the tour takes you to Gualeco, where artisans in traditional dress sell a range of different products. Visit the historical town center with its colonial-style houses then explore a famous makana workshop to see how the traditional shawls are made.

This comprehensive city tour will show you the best that Cuenca has to offer. Travel through the third largest city in Ecuador, visit the new cathedrals, modern arts museum and more on this half day tour. Your tour includes: The city tour will start at the Plaza San Sebastian, which constitutes the western colonial border of the city of Cuenca. Then visit the modern arts museum where many contemporary artworks are displayed. We will walk by the downtown historical area to visit the San Francisco market, the flower market, the culture house, the Abdon Calderon Park, and the old cathedral (we will not enter). We will enter in the New Cathedral, it’s the biggest in the country there we’ll observe the famous gold leaf canopy. We continue the tour to the Homero Ortega Panama Hat factory to observe the complete process of manufacturing of the Panama hat which is undoubtedly most important to our country. Later we will visit the “barranco” with its colonial style terraced houses located next to the “Tomebamba River”. Also we will also observe the “broken bridge” and finally visit the tourist balcony of “Turi” where we can see a panoramic view of the whole city of Cuenca. Then return to the Hotel.

Step into the enchanting city of Cuenca, Ecuador, and embark on a captivating half-day journey. Immerse yourself in the city's profound history, uncover hidden cultural treasures, and marvel at its stunning architecture. This tour allows you to explore Cuenca's rich cultural heritage, embrace its natural beauty, and delve into its storied history, all in just a few short hours. We will start this exciting journey directly from your hotel. We will begin with a warm welcome and provide general information about the tour. Our itinerary includes: Parque Calderón Iglesia del Sagrario Catedral Inmaculada Concepción Stroll through Parque de las Flores and visit the Monastery and Church of Carmen Exploration of the San Francisco square and time for shopping Visit to the Traditional Market 10 de Agosto Museum of the Panama Hat Not included: Meals Tips Entrance tickets Join us in this unforgettable cultural experience as we explore Cuenca's treasures on an exciting and enriching tour. Please note that the route may vary depending on your starting location."

Experience Cuenca's top two must-see attractions on a full-day tour. Visit the largest Inca archaeological site in Ecuador and the only elliptical temple of the Inca empire. Later, visit two artisan villages where crafts such as ikat weavings, fine filigree jewelry, and more are made. Start your tour with a ride towards the valley of Cañar through the enchanting highlands, offering amazing views along the way. Arrive at Ingapirca, Ecuador’s major Inca archaeological site, located approximately 60 miles northeast of Cuenca at 10,500 feet above sea level. Stroll through the fascinating ruins and listen to the facts and information provided by your guide. The time in the ruins highlights a visit to the Cañari constructed temple of the moon and the Inca constructed Temple of the Sun, 2 incredible places characteristic to both those ancient civilizations. Continue your tour to Gualaceo and Chordeleg, two charming villages famous for handicrafts. Visit a workshop in Chordeleg where artisans produce the finest silver filigree in Ecuador. There will also be time for shopping or simply admiring the interesting atmosphere of the town. Your final stop will be at a local family’s workshop where you’ll see the process of weaving shawls and ponchos on antique looms, using dyes extracted from plants. At the end of this full-day tour, you will be returned to your accommodation.

During this tour we will know the city of Cuenca from the inside, we will walk through the hidden places of this city and we will combine it with quality information about the city and Ecuador. We will enter old colonial houses and we will see with our eyes every single detail, besides these houses are very nice to take pictures. We will visit the museum of the Ecuadorian hat and we will have the opportunity to learn about its elaboration process along with an actual demonstration of the manufacture of hats. On our tour we will have the opportunity to taste and taste organic cheese French style combined with various spices and different flavors, a coffee or a quality organic chocolate, in a place where we can see how the coffee is ground at that time, we will have the opportunity to taste Ecuadorian sweets 100% handmade and at the end of our tour we will visit a brewery where we can buy Ecuadorian craft beer and drink it on the spot. Without a doubt we will enjoy getting to know Cuenca in a different way and in a very short time.