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.

Start the day with a visit to San Bartolome, a charming town at the foot of the stunning Andes mountain range, with amazing views of the sprawling valley below. San Bartolome is famous for its crafty guitar artisans, so take some time to visit a traditional shop to observe the process of making this musical instrument. Continue on to the town of Chordeleg, renowned throughout the country for its ceramic, gold and silver jewelry and, above all, for its fine filigree work made of gold and silver threads. Spend some time browsing the many fascinating stores, and learning more about the town's many talents. The last stop of the day is the town of Gualaceo, where you will visit two important markets, known for their variety of products and the colorful scenery. Enjoy a short break for lunch, and then continue to a textile shop where you'll observe some back strap loom and horizontal loom weaving. You'll also learn about the captivating Hispanic technique of “Ikat” to make shawls and ponchos.

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.

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.

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.

Be picked up at 9:00 at your hotel, then you will visit San Sebastián Plaza and the Modern Art Museum. Later the bus will take the group to Cruz del Vado, Condamine and Mercado 10 de Agosto. After that we go for a walk tour through Mercado de San Francisco and Parque de las Flores.  The next stops are the Catedral Inmaculada Concepción (New Catedral), Catedral El Sagrario (Old Catedral), Parque Calderón and Palacio de Justicia.  Finally we will visit the Paja Toquilla hats manufactures and followed by a walk through the Barranco Route, Mirador de Turi, Vega Gallery or similar. Return to the hotel.

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.

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.

Following your arrival at the convenient meeting point, get ready to depart after getting familiar with your bike and choosing your helmet. Begin your bike tour of the beautiful city of Cuenca by heading for the cliffs of Barranco, the name given to the buildings that hang above the rushing Tomebamba River which is flanked by grassy riverside and gorgeous colonial buildings.   Next, see Puente Roto, the broken bridge originally built in the 1840s by Juan de la Cruz Pugara. The bridge was destroyed in 1950 when the river broke its banks and took the bridge with it, along with other bridges in El Vado and El Vergel. It was reopened as a monument in 1961 and is used for open air markets and events. Continue onwards to the Pumapungo Archaeological Park, the central city of Tomebamba ordered to be built by the Inca commander Topa Inca Yupanqui after the Inca defeat of the Cañari. In its splendor it was said to have rivaled the Inca capital of Cuzco.   See also El Paraíso Park, the largest park in Cuenca covering 17 hectares. The park opened its doors for the first time in 2003. Two rivers pass through the park — the Yanuncay and Tomebamba — and you'll also find hundreds of trees including eucalyptus, willow, and alder. Lastly, visit the colonial house Quinta de Bolí­var, the location at which Simón Bolívar used to rest and plan military and political actions when in Cuenca. It is now a cultural center used to exhibit work related to the life of Bolívar and his ideology.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of Ecuadorian cuisine for a truly memorable culinary experience in the heart of Cuenca.  After getting picked up from your hotel, pay a visit to Cuenca's main market. Here, pick up the ingredients required to prepare your chosen menu and get a glimpse into daily life for the locals. Learn more about Andean products and how to bargain with vendors from your guide. Then, enjoy a short walk through the old town to reach the chef's kitchen. Here, learn how to prepare the starter, main course, and desert that you have chosen. Learn more about the techniques and recipes used in traditional Andean food from your local chef. At the end of the class, savor the rewards of your efforts as you sit down to eat the meal you have prepared.