Quito colonial walking tour: Street food & chocolate tasting

The best street food in Quito isn't in restaurants. It's at the stands you'll find with a guide who knows where.

A 3.5-hour walking tour of Quito's colonial district and off-the-beaten-path markets, led in English or Spanish, with stops at four street food vendors, tropical fruit tastings, and a gourmet chocolate experience. You'll pass the Basilica of the National Vow, walk the main squares and parks, and taste the city the way locals do.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quito's historic sites and markets

• View Basilica del Voto Nacional exterior
• Walk through downtown's main park

The experience

You're in Quito for an afternoon and want to see the colonial heart without the tourist crowds. This tour threads through the main squares and parks of the historic district while steering into the markets and side streets where the real food happens. The guide points out street art along the way and keeps the pace steady. You'll cover about 3 kilometers on foot over the full tour, so wear comfortable shoes.

The food is the spine of the day. You'll stop at four different street food stands, each one a working vendor, not a staged demo. Between those are tastings of tropical fruits and fresh juices that you'd struggle to find outside Ecuador. The tour wraps with a gourmet chocolate tasting and your choice of a cocktail or soft drink, which lands as a small ceremony after hours of walking and eating.

The Basilica of the National Vow appears as an exterior view (you'll see it from the street rather than enter), but the colonial architecture surrounds you throughout the walk. A live guide in English or Spanish narrates the stops and the history. If you want transport included, the private options with pickup and drop-off handle that. The standard tour assumes you can reach the meeting point on your own, though public transportation runs nearby.

What’s included

• Four street food stops.
• tropical fruit tasting and two fresh juices.
• gourmet chocolate tasting.
• one cocktail or soft drink of your choice.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Options for this experience

4 options

StandardGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00

Pickup and drop-off are includedGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00Pickup and drop-off are included

PrivateGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00Tour for a private group

Private tour with pickup and drop-offGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00Private tour with pickup and drop-off

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 10:00

Book up to12h before

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Bondabu

Is this one for you?Choose the standard option if you can reach the meeting point on your own and want to move at your own pace through the colonial district. Pick the private option with pickup and drop-off if you'd rather skip the logistics and have a guide meet you at your hotel, especially useful on your first afternoon in the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the Basilica of the National Vow like from outside?

The Basilica of the National Vow is a massive neo-Gothic structure that dominates the skyline of Quito's colonial district. You'll see it from street level during the tour as part of the walk through the main squares, though the tour does not include entry inside.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers about 3 kilometers on foot over 3.5 hours, with stops built in at markets, food vendors and the chocolate tasting. The pace is steady but not rushed, and you'll spend time standing and eating at each stop.

Can I choose what I eat at the street food stops?

The tour includes four food stops at working street vendors where the guide takes you. The specific stands and dishes vary, but the guide knows the spots and can point out what's on offer. Soft drinks are available if you prefer them to the included cocktail at the end.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the meeting point?

The standard tour assumes you reach the meeting point independently. Public transportation options are available nearby. If you'd rather be picked up and dropped off, the private options with pickup and drop-off are available at checkout.

What happens if I'm late to the meeting point?

The maximum waiting time is 15 minutes. If you arrive after that, the tour departs without you and the booking is forfeited, so plan to arrive a few minutes early.