Abuela's House Quito: Cook & eat with a local family

Cook traditional Ecuadorian food in a family kitchen, then eat what you made

Abuela's House is a cultural activity in Quito where you cook and eat with a local family in their home. You'll prepare corn tortillas on a traditional clay griddle and fresh empanadas alongside Abuela Gladys, hear stories of her 70 years of life, and finish around the family table sharing the meal you've made together. Hotel pickup, a private guide in English or Spanish, local snacks, and coffee or tea are included. The experience runs 3 to 4 hours and suits all fitness levels.

The experience

What separates this from a restaurant or a museum tour is that you're working in someone's actual kitchen, not a demonstration space. Abuela Gladys welcomes you into her home on the outskirts of Quito after a 30-minute drive from your hotel, where your guide shares the everyday realities and traditions that shape the city's communities. The house itself, with its gardens, is where generations of family customs still happen daily, not staged for visitors.

You'll work alongside Abuela to make corn tortillas on a tiesto, the traditional clay griddle local families have used for decades, and shape fresh empanadas by hand. She'll teach you her techniques and the reasoning behind each step. The guide translates and adds context, but the instruction comes from someone who has been cooking this way her whole life. By the time you sit down at the family table, the food in front of you is something you built together.

The meal is the closing act: conversation, laughter, and the warmth that comes from sharing a table with people who invited you into their home. Afterward, you return to Quito with a concrete understanding of how Ecuadorian families actually live, not an abstract idea of culture.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and return transportation.
• private guide in English or Spanish.
• admission to Abuela's home.
• all ingredients and instruction for preparing corn tortillas and empanadas.
• local Ecuadorian snacks.
• coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

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 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel

Is this one for you?Book the morning or afternoon departure based on what fits the rest of your Quito itinerary: both offer the same hands-on cooking and family meal, so the choice is purely about your schedule.

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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 (1 to 11 years).

What do I actually cook during the experience?

You prepare corn tortillas on a traditional clay griddle and fresh Ecuadorian empanadas, guided by Abuela Gladys herself. These are the dishes local families make regularly, and you'll learn the techniques and reasoning behind each step.

How long is the drive from my hotel, and what will I see on the way?

The drive to Abuela's home takes about 30 minutes from central Quito. Your guide uses this time to introduce you to a different side of the city, sharing insights into everyday life, local traditions, and the social realities that have shaped Quito's communities.

Is this experience available in the morning or afternoon?

Abuela's House runs in both morning and afternoon slots, offering the same authentic cultural immersion regardless of which time you choose. Both departures include hotel pickup and the full cooking and meal experience.

What's included in the price?

The experience includes admission to the house, private transportation to and from your hotel, a private guide who speaks English or Spanish, the ingredients and instruction for cooking, local Ecuadorian snacks, and coffee or tea. You'll also eat the dishes you've prepared together.