Quito City Tour & Teleferico Cable Car: Private with Guide

The cable car climbs steeply in minutes to a panoramic deck above the entire city.

A private Quito city tour combines six hours exploring the UNESCO-listed Old Town with a cable car ride up Pichincha volcano to Cruz Loma. You visit the Basilica of the National Vow, Independence Plaza, the Archbishop's Palace, the Church of the Society of Jesus, San Francisco Church, and El Panecillo, learning about colonial architecture and Quito School sculpture. The tour ends at 4,050 meters with a view of the city spread below.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. TelefériQo1h · entry included
2. Basilica of the National Vow20m · entry included
3. Independence Plaza20m
4. Archbishop's Palace10m
5. Church of the Society of Jesus30m · entry included
6. San Francisco Church20m
7. El Panecillo20m

Quito city tour and cable car visit

• Transfer from hotel to Cable Car
• Ascend to Cruz Loma observation deck
• Visit Basilica church
• Explore Independence Plaza
• See Archbishop's Palace
• Visit Church of the Society of Jesus
• Tour San Francisco Church
• View city from El Panecillo

The experience

The tour starts with a transfer to TelefériQo, where the cable car carries you from 2,950 meters to 4,050 meters in 10 minutes. At the top, Cruz Loma opens onto an observation deck with a panoramic view of Quito and the Pichincha volcano. This ascent sets the geography: you see the city whole before exploring it street by street.

The Old Town walking portion takes four hours through colonial Quito. The Basilica of the National Vow shows neo-gothic architecture. Independence Plaza is ringed by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Archbishop's Palace and City Hall. The Church of the Society of Jesus displays intricate carvings across its facade: a Jesuit temple and the city's best sample of colonial art. San Francisco Church, built by the Franciscan Order, houses the order's own painting and sculpture schools. El Panecillo, a hilltop viewpoint, holds the statue of the Winged Virgin Mary, the city's patroness. Throughout, the guide explains the Quito School of sculpture, a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art that survived the 1917 earthquake largely intact.

Quito stands at 9,350 feet on the ruins of an Inca city, founded in the 16th century. The historic center is the best-preserved in Latin America and was the first city named to UNESCO's Cultural Heritage list. An air-conditioned vehicle and a guide fluent in English or Spanish handle logistics. Pickup and drop-off happen at your centrally located hotel.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned private vehicle.
• English or Spanish-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from central Quito locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ecuador Wonders Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you speak English or Spanish comfortably: the guide delivers commentary in one language throughout, so you follow the history and architecture without translation delays. The six-hour pace suits travelers who want depth in the Old Town without rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Basilica of the National Vow?

The Basilica of the National Vow is a neo-gothic church and the first stop on the walking portion of the tour, representing a distinct architectural style within Quito's colonial center.

How high does the cable car go?

The cable car ascends from 2,950 meters above sea level to 4,050 meters at Cruz Loma, a climb of 1,100 meters completed in 10 minutes.

What is the Quito School of sculpture?

The Quito School of sculpture is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art that developed in the city's colonial churches and palaces, examples of which you see throughout the Old Town.

Why was Quito named a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site first?

Quito's historic center is the best-preserved and least altered in Latin America, retaining its colonial architecture and rich interiors despite the 1917 earthquake that damaged much of the city.

Where does the tour pick me up?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from centrally situated hotels in Quito, whether in the historic center or the modern part of the city.