Quito gastronomic walking tour: tastings and colonial churches

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Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Five food stops, five centuries of Quito, one afternoon on foot

A gastronomic and cultural walking tour of Quito's historic center with a live guide in English or Spanish, taking in the Basilica of the National Vow, San Francisco Church, Independence Plaza and the Church of the Society of Jesus while tasting local empanadas, chocolate, traditional sweets and canelazo. Children from age 3 are welcome; the route suits all fitness levels.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Quito cultural and gastronomic tour

Visit Basilica of the National Vow
Explore indigenous art gallery
Taste local snacks and dance with masks
Try a special city sandwich
Taste unique sweets like miscellas
Take photos and taste empanadas at Archbishop's Palace
Learn history at Independence Plaza
Walk through historic tourist street
See Church of the Society of Jesus facade
Stop outside Old Central Bank of Ecuador
Taste vegetarian or vegan humitas and quimbolitos
Visit San Francisco Church and learn about it
Enjoy Ecuadorian chocolate tasting
Try the local canelazo drink
Finish tour with view of San Francisco Church and receive souvenir

The Experience

You've got an afternoon free in Quito and want to see the colonial heart without spending it in a museum. This tour threads through the historic center on foot, stopping at five major churches and plazas while a guide explains the architecture, the history and why Quito earned the title of first cultural heritage of humanity. The Basilica of the National Vow opens the walk—a Gothic Revival church with gargoyles and legends the guide will unpack. From there you move through Independence Plaza, where you can see the Government Palace and Cathedral from the square itself, then past the Church of the Society of Jesus, the one locals call the church bathed in gold leaf for its baroque facade.

The food is woven through the stops, not separated into a meal. You'll taste a local sandwich unique to Quito, sample the city's best sweets (including miscellas, which you won't find elsewhere), try empanadas or pristine at the Archbishop's Palace—all options can be vegetarian or vegan—and stop at a craft shop for roasted corn with brown sugar and a shot of national liquor while wearing traditional diablo huma masks. Ecuadorian chocolate made from fine aroma cocoa gets its own tasting with the history of how it shaped the country. The tour ends with canelazo, the local drink that Quiteños say you haven't really visited without trying, served with a view of San Francisco Church and a souvenir from the day.

The walk covers the most photographed streets in the historic center, so you'll have chances to frame the colonial houses and church facades. An art gallery stop (open depending on the day) shows the stories and traditions of Ecuador's indigenous groups. A brief pause at the old Central Bank building explains why Ecuador uses the dollar and what came before. Public transportation is nearby if you need it, and the pace is set for all fitness levels.

What’s included

Empanadas or pristine.
roasted corn with brown sugar.
traditional sweets including miscellas.
Ecuadorian chocolate tasting with the history of cocoa in Ecuador.
canelazo (traditional local drink, with or without alcohol).
live guide in English or Spanish.
souvenir from your experience in Quito.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Fernando Gualoto - TuristiK

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're new to Quito and want to see the colonial center without building the day yourself—the guide connects the churches, the food stops and the history so the afternoon holds together as one story instead of a list of sites.