Quito Day Tour: Equator, Old Town & Chocolate Tasting

Stand on the Equator, then taste the world's best chocolate

A full-day tour of Quito that starts at the Intiñan Solar Museum on the Equator line, moves through Old Town's San Francisco plaza and church, climbs Panecillo Hill for views of the city and the Virgin Statue, and ends with a guided chocolate tasting and experience at a local chocolatier. A bilingual guide and hotel pickup are included. Entrance to the Chocolate Experience is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Intiñan Solar Museum1h · entry included
2. El Panecillo45m · entry included

Explore Quito's highlights and culture

• Visit Intiñan Solar Museum Equator line
• Stop for empanadas and drinks
• View Old Town from Panecillo Hill
• Visit San Francisco plaza and church
• Enjoy chocolate tasting experience

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel in urban Quito and takes you first to the Intiñan Solar Museum, where you walk on the real Equator line and try the Equator experiments: a hands-on way to understand how the site works. The museum also has distinct huts showing how people lived in ancient Ecuador, so you get a sense of the region's history before heading back into the city.

On the return to Old Town, you stop at a local empanada spot where you choose your filling (beef, chicken or cheese), and pair it with a soda, coffee or beer. Then the tour climbs Panecillo Hill, where you get a full view of Old Town and Quito spread below you. You can walk up inside the Virgin Statue observation deck for photos from the top. After that, your guide parks the car and you explore San Francisco plaza on foot, visiting the church and monastery at your own pace.

The day ends at Yumbos Chocolate, where a guided presentation walks you through chocolate tasting, and you get a chocolate brownie and hot chocolate to finish. The whole tour runs about six hours, so you're back with time left in your afternoon or evening.

What’s included

• Private transportation.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in urban Quito.
• entrance fee to Intiñan Museum.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 5

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Galapagos Connoisseur

Is this one for you?Six hours is long enough to hit all the major sites (the Equator, Old Town, the hill views and the chocolate maker) without rushing any of them, but short enough to leave your morning or evening free depending on when you start.

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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 (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly happens at the Intiñan Solar Museum on the Equator?

The Intiñan Solar Museum sits on the real Equator line, where you walk across it and try hands-on experiments that show how the Equator affects gravity and water. The museum also has huts recreating daily life in ancient Ecuador, so you learn about the region's culture while you're there.

Can I go inside the Virgin Statue on Panecillo Hill?

Yes. After viewing Old Town from the top of Panecillo Hill, you can make your way up to the observation deck inside the Virgin Statue itself, which gives you the highest vantage point over the city.

Is the chocolate tasting included, or do I pay extra?

The chocolate experience at Yumbos Chocolate is not included in the tour price. You pay a separate entrance fee when you arrive. The tour takes you there and a guide leads the presentation and tasting, but the entry is your own cost.

Do I need to pay for the empanadas and drinks during the tour?

Yes. The empanada stop is part of the route, but you buy your own empanada and drink there. The tour does not cover food or beverages except the chocolate experience at the end.

What's the pickup and drop-off like?

Your guide picks you up from your hotel in urban Quito and brings you back there at the end of the tour. The tour runs about six hours total, so plan for a full morning or afternoon away from your hotel.