Azuay

Food & Drinks

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.

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.  If the tour takes place on a Sunday, there is also an additional visit to the indigenous market at Cañar. Here, the guide will inform you about the different products sold at these markets and you can learn about the traditional clothing of the Cañari. Finally, you will arrive at the Ingapirca complex where your guide will teach you about the Cañari and Inca cultures. Be sure to check out the unique Tahuantinsuyo elliptical temple, one of the highlights of the site.  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 your four-day Quito adventure with a visit to the Cotopaxi National Park where you can walk around Limpiopungo Lake and enjoy the scenery of one of the highest and most active volcanoes in Ecuador. The next day, explore the charming city of Baños to enjoy the famous Avenida de las Cascadas. Visit the Pailon del Diablo waterfall where you can try what’s known as the “swing at the end of the world.” The following day, get picked up by your guide and travel to Chimborazo Faunistic Reserve. Walk around and enjoy the scenery of the highest mountain in Ecuador, Chimborazo. Spot some vicuñas. Take time for lunch before visiting Balbanera church, and then traveling south to Ingapirca, the most important archaeological complex in Ecuador, where you will learn about the Cañari and Incan cultures. Stay overnight in Cuenca, known as one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador which you can continue to explore the next day with a visit to the historic center, and Cajas National Park or Gualaceo and Chordeleg.

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.

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.