Quito gastronomic walking tour: Tastings and colonial churches

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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Basilica of the National Vow30m
2. Archbishop's Palace15m
3. Independence Plaza20m
4. Church of the Society of Jesuspassing by

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.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years): free · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic 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.

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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: Youth (6 to 17 years); Infant (3 to 5 years): free. Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I taste on this Quito walking tour?

You'll taste a local sandwich, empanadas or pristine (all vegetarian or vegan options available), roasted corn with brown sugar, traditional sweets including miscellas, Ecuadorian chocolate made from fine aroma cocoa, and canelazo: the traditional local drink served with or without alcohol. The tastings happen at craft shops and food stops scattered through the historic center rather than at one seated meal.

Which churches and plazas will I actually visit on this tour?

The tour takes you to the Basilica of the National Vow (the Gothic Revival church with gargoyles), San Francisco Church (the largest convent in South America), the Church of the Society of Jesus (known for its gold leaf baroque facade), Independence Plaza (where you see the Government Palace and Cathedral), and the Archbishop's Palace. You'll walk past the old Central Bank building and through the main tourist street of the historic center as well.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs for 3.5 hours, moving through the historic center on foot with stops at churches, plazas and food shops along the way.

Will I have time to go inside the churches?

The guide explains the churches from the outside and shares their history, architecture and stories. The tour ends near San Francisco Church, so you can return afterward if you want to visit the interior on your own.