Artisan villages tour from Cuenca: Guitars, jewelry, textiles

Guitar makers, jewelers and shawl weavers work in the same towns you visit.

A full-day guided tour from Cuenca visits three artisan villages in Azuay province: San Bartolomé (guitars), Chordeleg (filigree jewelry) and Gualaceo (traditional shawls), with hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, lunch and demonstrations of each craft. The tour departs at 8am and includes transport by private vehicle. You can book it as a shared group tour with or without lunch, or as a private tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit artisan villages and local crafts

• Depart Cuenca at 8am
• Travel 45 minutes to San Bartolome
• Visit San Bartolome central park and church
• Explore guitar makers workshop
• Continue to Chordeleg
• Learn filigree jewelry techniques
• Lunch break
• Visit Gualaceo center and colonial houses
• See shawl making demonstration at MAKANAS workshop

The experience

The tour starts at 8am in Cuenca and heads east for 45 minutes to San Bartolomé, a town of old colonial houses where master guitar makers still craft instruments by hand. You'll see the central park and church, then move on to Chordeleg, known across Ecuador for its jewelers. Here the guide explains filigree (the delicate metalwork technique that made Ecuadorian jewelry famous), and you watch artisans at work. After lunch, you visit Gualaceo's colonial center and stop at a workshop where weavers demonstrate how the "makanas" shawls are made, the colorful garments worn by cholas cuencanas at formal events and beauty pageants.

Throughout the day you'll see the Andes landscape and the traditional dress that defines the region: the bright skirts and shawls that are themselves part of what you came to understand. The tour also includes a local market where you can taste regional food. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and a professional guide leads the entire route in either English or Spanish.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cuenca.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• transport by private vehicle.
• lunch at a local restaurant (on the option that includes it).
• demonstrations of guitar-making, filigree jewelry techniques and traditional shawl weaving.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour for a group, lunch not includedGuide in English or Spanish · 08:15An ideal choice for travelers who prefer to bring their own food. Pickup is included

Group tour that includes lunch with localsGuide in English or Spanish · 08:15Group tour: an ideal choice for those who'd like to enjoy a pleasant outing plus a local lunch. Pickup is included

Private tourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:15Private tour: a tour exclusively for you, shaped around your needs, with you deciding the pickup time and other details. Pickup is included

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 dayDeparts at 08:15

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Polylepis Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want to keep costs down. Pick the private tour if you prefer to move at your own pace with just your party. The fixed 8am start and full-day structure work best for travelers who can commit a morning and afternoon to the route without flexibility on timing.

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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 (5 to 14 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I see at each of the three towns?

San Bartolomé is the center of guitar-making in Ecuador, with colonial architecture and a central church; Chordeleg is known for its filigree jewelers and metalwork; Gualaceo has colonial houses and a workshop where you watch weavers make the traditional shawls worn by cholas cuencanas.

How long is the drive from Cuenca to the first stop?

The drive to San Bartolomé takes approximately 45 minutes heading east from Cuenca.

Is lunch included, and what are my options?

You can book the tour with local lunch included or without lunch. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at the time of booking.

Can I book this as a private tour instead of a group tour?

Yes, a private tour option is available at checkout. The group tour runs with other travelers, while the private option is for your party alone.