Top Quito Cultural Tours

Tour the capital city of Quito at your leisure aboard this popular hop-on hop-off bus tour. Enjoy hassle-free double-decker transportation through narrow city streets as you make your way to numerous city attractions and landmarks. Choose to get off at any of the stops and make the most of your time in Quito.

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this private tour visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza, and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south.

Are you looking for a tour that mixes history, culture and gastronomy? This tour is the perfect opportunity to get to know the city of Quito and its hidden wonders, along with its landscapes you will have beautiful photographs to remember all your life.

Discover the best that Quito has to offer as you embark on a sightseeing tour of the city. Alongside a private guide, take in the views of Quito from the teleferico cable car and take a guided walking tour of the Old Town. Then, visit the 'Middle of the World' monument to learn more about the effects of the equator line.

Venture away from the city and head into Ecuador’s more rural areas for a 3-day adventure. See volcanoes in Cotopaxi National Park, learn about indigenous culture in Tigua, swing over the Toachi Canyon, zipline over a river, and much more over the course of the tour. Avoid the hassle of planning and booking several hotels and activities with this package.

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.

Discover the amazingly diverse wildlife and scenic beauty of the cloud forests of Mindo during this 8-hour day trip from Quito. This unique ecological area is known for having one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere on earth, including numerous exotic species of birds along with a wealth of fun attractions. During your excursion, you'll first stop by the Hummingbird Garden and walk into the forest to admire the beauty of this natural reserve before proceeding to Mindo. In Mindo, you can choose from among a range of optional activities (at your own expense), including a visit to a chocolate factory, an orchid garden tour, ziplining, a bird-watching trip with a local expert, and much more.

Cotopaxi Volcano is the centerpiece of Cotopaxi National Park. At more than 19,000 feet (nearly 6,000 meters), its snowy peak dominates the landscape of the park. During this full-day tour from Quito, travelers experience the volcano from many vantage points. Explore a lagoon favored by water birds, learn more about the area at an interpretive center, and hike up the flanks of Cotopaxi Volcano to a recently-renovated climbers' refuge to experience this active volcano up close.

Mindo, just two hours from Quito, is in a biodiverse cloud forest that's home to hundreds of species of birds and butterflies. This full-day tour with a private driver and guide includes a visit to a butterfly farm and a tour of a chocolate factory plus one other eco-adventure of your choosing, including ziplining, hiking, or an orchid farm visit, for a customized experience.

See where the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres on this tour of the Middle of the World Monument from Quito. Climb aboard a 20th-century replica tram to head to the museum built to honor a French expedition and where numerous Ecuadorian crafts and items are displayed. This tour highlights one of Ecuador's most popular attractions and allows travelers plenty of time for exploring, shopping, and learning, too.

Journey to the beautiful Quilotoa volcano, driving through stunning mountain scenery and stopping to visit local Andean communities, during this day trip from Quito. Travel along the spectacular ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’ passing beneath its towering peaks, eventually stopping at a village of an indigenous community, to explore a local home and learn about their daily life. Finish your day with a trip to the lagoon inside Quilotoa volcano. This day trip includes a guide, entrance fees, round-trip hotel transport, and lunch.

Don’t worry about confusing and time-consuming public transit in Quito; instead, opt for a comprehensive full-day excursion which covers several city highlights and includes private transportation. Ideal for visitors with limited time in the city, visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, tour the old town, and more in the company of a local guide, learning more than you could if exploring independently.

Skip the public transportation and enjoy an easy Arrival, Airport and Ground Transfer in Quito. After landing in Mariscal Sucre International Airport join other travelers to depart for your Quito hotel in a shared minivan.

Enjoy this full-day tour of Otavalo Marketplace, the largest Indigenous market in Latin America. Departing Quito, you’ll travel to Otavalo Marketplace, to browse stalls for colorful, artisan souvenirs and delicious flavours. See, too, the Lago San Pablo where you will be able to admire its beaty and take in the calm of this place.

Laguna Quilotoa, a blue-green volcanic crater lake, sits in the rugged Andean countryside south of Quito. With this tour, escape the busy streets of Quito for an all-inclusive day in the Andes, and see Quilotoa Lake from two different lookouts on the crater rim with views of Cotopaxi in the distance. En route back to Quito, spend some time craft workshops in Tigua and La Victoria.

Discover the rich culture and history of Old Town Quito on this 3-hour guided walking tour. Hear the stories and legends behind the Ecuadorian capital’s most iconic landmarks that you visit, including Independence Plaza, Government Palace, the Independence Monument, and the Archbishop’s palace. On this tour, you don’t just sightsee — try your hand at making traditional ice cream, too., using uniquely South American ingredients Visit the market where every kiosk tells a story, and uncover local culture and customs as you explore the heart of Old Town. Plus top off this fantastic day with a stop at an old-school ice cream shop, and sample delightful flavors.

The Equator line and the Pululahua Crater are two of the most visited attractions around Quito. This private half-day tour combines both, with a visit to the Intiñan Equator Museum, followed by a scenic tour of Pululahua. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito's Urban Zone is included.

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

Boasting a huge diversity of birdlife, the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve draws ornithologists worldwide. It’s also a popular destination for anyone wishing to escape the busy streets of Quito. With a private guide to help you set the itinerary, you can visit a butterfly farm, trek to waterfalls, go river tubing, and taste locally made chocolate and coffee. Transport is made easy with private hotel pickup in a 4WD vehicle.

Take a break from sightseeing in order to relax mind, body, and soul on a day trip to Termas de Papallacta Spa from Quito. A serene experience ideal for tired travelers, this tour covers the thermal springs of Termas de Papallacta Spa. Spend ample time soaking in the steaming waters of the pools, created by volcanic activity and natural heat. Refreshments and entrance fees are included.

Check out two of Ecuador’s top natural attractions—the Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa lagoon—and their natural landscapes with ease on this day trip from Quito. Head to Cotopaxi National Park to see its snow-capped volcano—stopping to drink coca leaf tea on route to reduce altitude sickness—before visiting Limpiopungo Lagoon and Quilotoa’s turquoise caldera lagoon. Plus, during your trip, stop to browse a local market or two.

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing outside Quito the easy way with this guided tour. After being picked up from your accommodation in Quito you'll make a breakfast stop at Chuquiragua Lodge, beneath Cotopaxi Volcano. Continue to the Toachi River Canyon and the dazzling Quilotoa Lagoon. Also check out the workshops of local artisans and take a guided hike at Mirador Shalala.

Embark on this full day tour to the magical town of Mindo, a place full of color, nature, and biodiversity! You will have the opportunity to hike in the middle of a humid forest, swim in a natural waterfall, and learn how to make the famous chocolate from Mindo.

Discover the cuisine of one of Latin America's tastiest capitals, Quito, during this street food and drinks tour. Walk around the city with your guide and stop at several locally-known vendors to sample delicious Ecuadorian dishes. Explore the bohemian neighborhood of Guapolo and watch the sunset from a scenic viewpoint. Your night ends with a drink at a local speakeasy.