2. Quito Discovery Walking Tour
Meet your guide at Plaza de San Blas located in the Old Town to begin your cultural tour into the city’s historical heart. Experience the sights, smells, and flavors of this sky-high capital as the day comes to life.
Start this 4-hour adventure on the cobblestone streets of the city to visit: the Mercado Central, a vibrant and colorful market to immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere; follow your guide past stalls bursting with exotic fruits and fresh vegetables and discover sizzling local dishes. You will also visit the Independence Plaza, home to the Independence Monument, Government Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace. Stop to absorb the colonial charm of the La Compañía de Jesús, a Jesuit church boasting an elaborate façade made entirely out of volcanic stone, and an interior rich in gold leaf.
Next, adventure to the legendary San Francisco Catholic Church to explore convents and a monastery, then walk down through Rocafuerte Street, which in the Seventeen Century was known as “the long Street to the hill”. Explore La Ronda, one of the most picturesque cobblestone streets in Old District of Quito. Following your guide’s recommendations and try flavors that you’re not likely to find back home — like colaciones, empanadas etc... Enjoy a shot of "Canelazo" using your newly learned phrases to greet locals or stop in a chocolatería to taste and have a full explanation of the whole process of making chocolate. Your guide is happy to provide assistance in getting back to your hotel.
