Cuenca Food Tasting Tour: Hidden Gems Small Group

Taste Encebollado and five other Ecuadorian dishes in three hours at neighborhood spots locals choose

A small-group food tasting tour in Cuenca that moves through five stops sampling authentic Ecuadorian cuisine (from the world-ranked Encebollado seafood soup to Bolon de Verde, Pernil sandwich, Pan de Yuca, and Canelazo) with a live guide in English or Spanish. The tour visits local establishments off the main tourist path and includes juice or water at each stop. Adults only (18+). Three hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ecuadorian culinary tasting tour

• Taste Encebollado seafood soup
• Try Bolon de Verde with coffee
• Enjoy Pernil Sandwich with coconut juice
• Indulge in Pan de Yuca and yogurt
• Experience Canelazo and Ecuadorian chocolate

The experience

You arrive at a meeting point in Cuenca and join a small group to move through the city's neighborhood food spots. The tour is built around five tastings that anchor Ecuadorian cooking: Encebollado, a seafood soup ranked second-best in the world by Taste Atlas, made with fresh fish, onions and yuca; Bolon de Verde, green plantains mixed with cheese and fried until crispy outside and tender within; a Pernil sandwich of slow-cooked pork in fresh bread; Pan de Yuca, a cassava-flour bread that's gluten-free and cheesy; and Canelazo, an Andean drink of aguardiente, cinnamon, naranjilla juice and sugar, paired with typical Ecuadorian chocolate. Each stop includes a juice or water of your choice.

The guide leads the group to spots that aren't the standard tourist destinations: places where locals eat. The three-hour pace means you taste without rushing through a full meal at each location. A live guide in English or Spanish narrates the stops and the regional influences that shape each dish: the coastal, Andean, Amazonian and Galápagos elements that define Ecuadorian food. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and all surfaces and areas are navigable for visitors of varying mobility.

What’s included

• Five food tastings (Encebollado, Bolon de Verde, Pernil sandwich, Pan de Yuca with yogurt, and Canelazo with Ecuadorian chocolate).
• juice or water at each stop.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 12:00 and 17:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 to 85 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Enjoy&Live Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the pace intimate and let you linger at each stop without feeling rushed. The neighborhood locations mean you're eating where locals do, not at places built for tour groups.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Encebollado and why is it on this tour?

Encebollado is a seafood soup made with fresh fish, onions and yuca, and it's ranked the second-best soup in the world by Taste Atlas. It's the opening stop because it represents the coastal influence in Ecuadorian cuisine and is considered a must-try dish.

How many tastings are included in the three hours?

Five tastings: Encebollado, Bolon de Verde, Pernil sandwich, Pan de Yuca with yogurt, and Canelazo with Ecuadorian chocolate. Each stop includes a juice or water of your choice.

Is this tour suitable for someone visiting Cuenca for the first time?

Yes. The guide takes you to neighborhood spots beyond the typical tourist destinations, so you taste authentic local food and learn how coastal, Andean, Amazonian and Galápagos influences shape the dishes. It's designed to show you Ecuadorian cuisine the way locals eat it.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are navigable. Public transportation options are available nearby if needed.

What is Canelazo and why is it considered special?

Canelazo is an Andean beverage made from aguardiente, cinnamon, naranjilla juice and sugar. It's recognized as the eighth most exotic beverage in the world and is celebrated for its warmth and aromatic character, particularly in the highlands.