2-Day Cuenca Tour: Inca Ruins, Crafts & Cajas National Park

Walk Inca ruins and high-altitude lakes in one itinerary

A 2-day tour from Cuenca that combines history, crafts and nature across four stops: Ingapirca ruins with a guided walk, the food and artisan markets of Gualaceo and Chordeleg, and a trek through Cajas National Park. Hotel pickup is included. Lunch is available as an add-on. The guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Gualaceo, Chordeleg and Ingapirca

• Walk at Ingapirca Ruins
• Enjoy gastronomy and crafts in Gualaceo and Chordeleg

Day 2: Cajas National Park visit

• Travel to Cajas National Park
• Walk and enjoy nature at Cajas National Park

The experience

How do you fit Cuenca's best sites into a single trip without renting a car or piecing together separate bookings? This tour builds a two-day loop that moves through three distinct landscapes. Day one takes you to Ingapirca, where a guide leads a two-hour walk through the Inca ruins and explains what you're standing in front of. From there you head to Gualaceo and Chordeleg, two towns known for their food and handmade jewelry and crafts. You have time to eat and shop at your own pace.

Day two shifts to nature. After hotel pickup, you drive to Cajas National Park, a high-altitude reserve with lakes and páramo terrain. Another two-hour guided walk lets you move through the landscape, stop for photos and take in the environment without rushing. The guide points out the geography and wildlife as you go. Both days run at a pace that lets you absorb each place rather than sprint through a checklist.

You can book this tour with or without lunch included. If you skip lunch, you'll eat on your own in Gualaceo or Chordeleg, where the local restaurants are part of the draw. Children from age two are welcome, and the walks are suited to all fitness levels, though the altitude at Cajas (around 3,000 meters) is a factor to consider if you're not acclimated yet.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup on both days.
• a guide for the full two days.
• entry to Ingapirca ruins.
• a two-hour guided walk at the ruins and a two-hour guided walk at Cajas National Park.
• time to explore and shop in Gualaceo and Chordeleg.
• lunch on day one if you choose the lunch option at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two-day Cuenca tour with lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30 and 09:00Pickup is included, lunch too

Two-day Cuenca tour without lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30 and 09:00Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Turibus Cuenca / Cuenca City Tour

Is this one for you?Book the version with lunch if you want meals arranged and don't want to decide where to eat in the craft towns. Skip lunch if you'd rather choose your own restaurant and pace your own meal breaks.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What exactly is Ingapirca and how much time do you spend there?

Ingapirca is an Inca ruin site in the highlands outside Cuenca. You'll spend roughly two hours there with the guide, who walks you through the ruins and explains the history and structures you see.

Can you eat lunch in Gualaceo and Chordeleg, or is it only included if you buy the lunch option?

Gualaceo and Chordeleg are both known for their local cuisine and restaurants. If you book without lunch, you eat and pay separately at a restaurant of your choice in either town. If you add lunch to your booking, it's arranged for you.

How high is Cajas National Park and will the altitude be a problem?

Cajas National Park sits at roughly 3,000 meters elevation. If you're not yet acclimated to Cuenca's altitude (about 2,500 meters), the extra height may cause some fatigue, but the two-hour walk is not strenuous and you set your own pace with the guide.

Does the tour include hotel pickup both days?

Yes, hotel pickup is included on both days. On day one you're collected for the drive to Ingapirca, and on day two you're picked up again for the trip to Cajas National Park.