Things to do in Ecuador, Ecuador: The Best Cultural Tours

October 3, 2021 Leonardo Torrence

Coordinates: 2°00′S 77°30′W / 2.000°S 77.500°W / -2.000; -77.500
Restaurants in Ecuador

1. Quito City Tour Including Teleférico and Horse Ride in Pichincha Volcano

Latin Adventures
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Get to know this World Heritage UNESCO site on horseback, for a full-day tour riding for almost 3 miles in the Andes, with a great view of Quito surrounded by volcanoes.

Inclusions: All activities, Certified English/Spanish speaking guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, Admission fee Teleferico and La Compañia Church, Horses

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Tips

Reviewed By Bretekiel

We had a great day trip from Quito to Cotopaxi with our guide Daniel. He picked us up from our hotel on time at 8am and drove expertly to Cotopaxi taking a scenery road which allowed us to appreciate the geography of the inter-valley region. The drive took about 1.5 hours. His approach takes you around the volcanoes from all angles. Daniel was truly passionate about Ecuador and very knowledgeable about wildlife and vegetation of the region. He stopped plenty of times for awesome picture opportunities. We hiked from the parking lot (15K ft) to the refuge (16K ft) doing the zig-zag approach and experienced no issues with altitude sickness whatsoever (he stopped by a kiosko where we could buy coca candy and leaves if needed before entering the park). The weather was awful as we ascended, with small hail and dust from the strong winds, but he was patient and set the pace perfectly for us to successfully reach the refuge. We grabbed hot chocolate up in the refuge (2.5 per cup, bring change) and warmed up before going back down. On our way back to Quito, we stopped by an authentic local restaurant around 3pm where we had a soup, a pork dish, and an ice cream. Back to the hotel by 5pm promptly. This is a great experience for a Quito escapade which you should consider if you're looking to do something based off the city.

2. Equator Line and Pululahua Crater - Half Day Tour

Rebecca Adventure Travel
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

On this half day tour you will go to the  Intiñan Equator Museum, located 200 meters from the Middle of the World Monument, and after that you will have time to go to the Pululahua´s Crater. With an interesting history. Nearby are a lot of little shops where you can find creative handmade souvenirs. Before you will be brought back to your hotel you will be offered a delicious empanada. *If you would like to visit the monument of the Middle of the World, you can do it instead of visiting the Intiñan Museum. Please let us know in advance.

Inclusions: Professional driver/ guide, Private transportation from and to your hotel in Quito (urban zone), Meals as described in the itinerary (1x snack), Activities as described in the itinerary, Entrance fee museum, 24/7 assistance in Dutch, English and Spanish

Exclusions: Optional tips for guide, Extra food and drinks, Personal expenses

Reviewed By mbennaton

We (my husband and I ) had an amazing time in the Galapagos Islands! We did this trip at the end of October 2020 after the stressful lockdown covid months, so we were looking forward to unwind and visit for the first time the enchanted islands as our vacation. The tours designed by Rebecca Adventure were perfect and customized to our taste and needs. We visited Santa Cruz and Isabela and it was perfect because there weren't many tourists at the time due to the pandemic. We were truly impressed with all the activities, the wildlife and the services provided by our tour guides. We got to see most of the land and marine fauna that we expected, including hammerhead sharks. It was without a doubt one of the most memorable trips of our lives. We highly recommend Rebecca Adventure as your tour agency for the Galapagos and Ecuador. Biosecurity measures were very well respected on the islands, so its safe to travel! If you're looking to come to Ecuador and the Galapagos this is the time, still less tourists, the wildlife is truly impressive and besides life is short, take risks and ENJOY IT!

3. Full Day Cotopaxi & The Chuquiragua Trail

GUIDEcuador Travel
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Unique Andean views a long the way to Cotopaxi Park Best chance to experience the Andes not far from Quito Hiking admiring the Andes Visit to an Hacienda with more the 3 Centuries of History

Inclusions: Private transportation, Certified English Speaking Tour Guide , Park Admission Fee , Saquisili Indian Market Visit ( ONLY ON THURSDAYS)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch, Personal Expenses

Reviewed By SunriseFitness

I highly recommend this tour! It’s active but not strenuous, covers a lot, and Alex was friendly and knowledgeable throughout. It felt nice to have a blend of parks and the city, stopping along the way for photos, explanations and history, sweeping city views and gelato on a balcony.

4. Quito City Tour Private

Ecuador Wonders Tour Operator
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Quito city tour with us is the best experience! Our goal is to show travelers all over the world the true Quito with its unique nature, culture, hospitality of the city's inhabitants, offering individual high-level services, taking into account and taking care of every detail of the tour to fully satisfy our most demanding customers.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Bottled water, English or Spanish-speaking guide, Food and drinks, Private transportation

Exclusions: Gratuities, Items not specified, Personal expenses

Reviewed By Experience782516

Raul was our guide through the beautiful and historic city of Quito. He was very prompt on his arrival to pick us up at our hotel in the historic district. He was very informative and knowledgeable on the many stops on our tour. Never rushed and very relaxed, which was very good for a couple of guys from sea level trying to hike around at the top of Teleferico !! I highly recommend this tour and hope you enjoy your time in Quito as much as we did

5. This is Quito

Teatro Bolivar, Quito, Eugenio Espejo, Quito 170401, Ecuador Bondabu
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Experience the perfect balance between the highlights at the Colonial district plus the magic happening off the beaten path. Enter the Golden church, the main patios and Squares. Savour the exotic food market. Finish the journey Delighting your palate with a handmade chocolate and coffee tasting.

Inclusions: You'll sample traditional street food, You'll eat lunch at traditional food market, You'll try hand made chocolate

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Reviewed By Greg S

My group of 6 friends did this tour (booked on Viator) yesterday. Overall we liked the tour guide Jose, he had a good personality. But due to value, food chosen, and hiccups made by him, we would not recommend this tour. First issue is the driver came to our hotel looking for another couple. He left when the hotel reception told him “Brinn” isn’t staying at the hotel. Apparently, Brinn is another couple who booked this tour but were staying at another hotel. By the time they figured out the mistake, we started the tour 45 minutes late. Instead of being cognizant of this, Jose started the tour with a 45 minute, long winded conversation about the center of the world. This tour is called “Street Food with Drinks.” This is an exaggeration- we had “drink” (singular) and no street food. We went to a bar and had a local cocktail (very tasty). Went to a hole in the wall and had a tamale, chicken gizzards and an empanada. Finally, went to a cafe and had an herbal tea. Overall, it was about $60 worth of food for our group and it $462 ($77 a person). And the food was forgettable. Maybe the pandemic has made the street food tour less than ideal. It is a fact that many places have shut down since last year. But perhaps the tour should be put on hold until the situation in Quito improves.

6. Rose Plantation, Equator Line and Otavalo Market Private Tour

Ecuador Best Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Don't waste your time waiting looking for the "typical" tour to Otavalo. Protect your family and avoid unnecessary crowds. Visit a wonderful and charming rose plantation, and also stand at the most accurate site where the equator line passes through..! Have a very relaxing time at the biggest Indian Market of South America, and explore Otavalo's surrounding areas! All this exciting adventures are awaiting for you very close to Quito! Make your stay in the capital city of Ecuador an unforgettable life experience!!

Inclusions: Private transportation, Certified English speaking guide, Mentioned itinerary and visits

Exclusions: Drinks, Meals, All Fees and Taxes

Reviewed By JeannePlantation

I had only one afternoon in Quito to sightsee. I contacted Ecuador's Best Tour with late notice by email and Luis replied right away. Luis has a great laid back, no worries attitude and assured me he would take care of everything and pick me up at my hotel. He arrived early to pick me up. I was thrilled to visit the beautiful Church la Compania. Luis was very knowledgeable about the history of the church and architecture. Next we visited a beautiful view of the city with the statue Virgin of El Panecillo. I only had a few hours to visit and Ecuador's Best Tours really helped me make the most of my visit. I highly recommend booking this with this company and you will be lucky if Luis is your guide. His English is extraordinary and he's just a pleasant guide to be around. I have toured many places around the would and I would say Luis was one of the best guides I have encountered. I got some great photos from my visit and hope to return someday. I would certainly use Ecuador's Best Tours again.

7. City Tour in Guayaquil - Parque de las Iguanas - Malecon 2000 - Las Peñas

Parque Seminario, Chimborazo, Guayaquil 090313, Ecuador Free Tour Guayaquil
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

City Tour in Guayaquil, English and Spanish. We travel through the most tourist places of Guayaquil. such as: Iguana Park (Seminar Park) Malecon 2000, San Francisco Square, Guayaquil Administration Palace and Las Peñas. Tour in Guayaquil of excellent quality but cheap in price. We don't do Guided Monologues! We are a professional team, lovers of Guayaquil, we are passionate about tourist guidance and meet friends from all over the world. We will be your friend accompanying you, while we show you the best of the city of Guayaquil.

Inclusions: Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch, Breakfast

Reviewed By DrJessicaPierce

We had a great downtown tour with Javeth. We walked around downtown while he told us about the rich history. The tour was around 2 hours which was just what we were looking for. We felt very safe.

8. Private Day Tour of Quito and Middle of the World

Let's Go to Ecuador
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5.0 based on 24 reviews

Visit the first Unesco site in the World, with spring like weather is home of the largest, best preserved Colonial Architecture in the Americas, where people will welcome you with an smile. We will explore the Historic Center and its Churches, Basilica, Panecillo Hill and its Virgin. During this day you can ride a cable car up to 4,000 meters elevation, (Teleferico)  for amazing views of the Volcanoes, you can also visit the Middle of the World site the Monument or/ and the Intinan Museum. During this Custom Made Full Day Tour, you can add other sites from Farmer's or Artisanal Market to Interesting Museums and also  Culinary Experiences, you decide the sites to be visited, the time to spend on each site and the time you would like to get back at your Hotel.

Inclusions: Round Trip Private Transportation, English Speaking Guide, bottled water., Bottled water

Exclusions: Meals or drinks, Personal expenses

Reviewed By kitz-travellers

During our intensive planning of our trip to Ecuador last December and January 2021 we found very positive comments regarding the Canadian-Ecuadorian tourguide couple Angela and Jamie (Letsgotoecuador.com) which guiding private tours in Ecuador. We wrote our expectations at first for all together four day tours to Mindo, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and so on. Just from the first replies of Angela we knew we are "on the right place" to plan our private tours. We are a couple from Austria who travels the world since 30 years and if we need a tourguide we prefer only private tours which are custom made with our expectations. We wrote to Angela and Jamie what´s our focus and what we would like to see in Ecuador and we got back a detailed, well organized tour plan, customized to our ideas. With many emails and What´s app messages we finished the details of our tour. Regarding the quick changes during the Covid pandemic we had chanced some parts of our journey, which ended in seven day tours with two overnight stays. Every day was very well organized, perfect selection of places to go, eat and visit. We traveled by Minibus with driver or with Angela and Jamies private car. Everyone was very safe driving, we felt very well and relexed. The preparing of every kind of circumstances was absolutely perfect, couldn´t be better. Angela organized PCR-Tests for us to be able to go to Galapagos islands, where the laboratory people came to our Hotel and did the test, Very comfortable! She reserved one test for us at Guayaquil airport after returning from Galapagos. Thats really tricky to get a test on carnival weekend in South America ! She made it possible ! After the cancellation of our Amazon trip (Covid again) from our travel agency in Europe Angela and Jamie booked a wonderful Lodge (Sacha Lodge) for us at the Amazon. And we did it !! At the end, we will say, it was the best decision to book the tours with Angela and Jamie. They are very well knowledgeable about their country, everything was perfect organized and absolutely safe. These couple is helpful far over you will expecting !! We absolutly recommend to book tours with Letsgotoecuador.com from Angela and Jamie ! They are doing a great job !! Thank you for everything !!!

9. Cultural Tour of Otavalo: Market and Cuicocha Lagoon visit all inclusive

Juan Leon Mera Y Mariscal Foch, Quito 170143, Ecuador El Barak Ecuador Travel
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

- All Inclusive: Professional Bilingual Guide, Lunch and Tourist Visits. - Tourist Transport from Quito - Otavalo - Quito - Trekking - Visit indigenous market - Visit Ponchos Square - Visit San Pablo Lake Viewpoint - Visit and hiking in the Cuicocha Lagoon - Visit to Cotacachi, known for the elaboration of leather goods - Professionalism and Quality of Service - Shared Tour: Every Tuesday and Saturday - Private Tour: Every day.

Inclusions: Professional Tourism Guide, Tourist visits, Lunch, Private transportation

Exclusions: Breakfast, Tickets, Personal expenses

Reviewed By Malejavr12

I had a very good hike with them. They took you from Baños to Chimborazo in a van, and from the first refuge you walk 50 minutes to get to the Condor Cocha Lagoon. The guide is very promptly and kind, he answered every question I had. The downhill was so good. The guide is near you in the van just in case. Highly recommended.

10. Dolphin Watching in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil

Guayaquil, Ecuador Perfect Destiny
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

The guide will pick up you in the lobby of ypour hotel ( Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of Guayaquil) In this tour we will watching Dolphins then we will go to Puerto Villamil to take the lunch and see the sea

Inclusions: Transportation , Professional guide, Hotel pick up and drop-off, Lunch, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By geierdianne

A nice way to spend a few hours bike riding on trails; then walking to see wildlife including crocodiles.

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