Quito Old Town Walking Tour: Church & Chocolate Tasting
Six colonial churches in one morning, ending with chocolate and street food on La Ronda
A small-group walking tour of Quito's Old Town led by a local guide in English or Spanish, visiting six churches including the ornate Church of the Society of Jesus, plus Independence Plaza and the bohemian La Ronda Street. The tour includes artisan chocolate tasting and takes two to two and a half hours. Groups stay small, and children from age one are welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Quito's colonial quarter
- Visit Basilica of the National Vow
- Tour Independence Plaza
- Pass Church of the Society of Jesus
- Taste artisan chocolate
- Visit San Francisco Church
- Pass Cathedral of Quito
- Explore La Ronda Street
- Basilica of the National Vow 15m
- Independence Plaza 20m
- Church of the Society of Jesus passing by
- San Francisco Church 30m
- Cathedral of Quito 10m
- La Ronda Street 15m
What’s included
- Snacks during the chocolate tasting.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- access to six colonial churches and Independence Plaza and La Ronda Street.
Times
- Every day 09:30 12:00 15:00
Before you book
Operated by Rutas de Ensueño
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
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The experience
The walk starts at the Basilica of the National Vow, where the guide explains its history and location before moving into the heart of the colonial quarter. Independence Plaza comes next: the guide covers the country's founding and independence while pointing out the presidential palace and the religious buildings that frame the square. Then you reach the Church of the Society of Jesus, one of the most decorated churches in the world, its interior covered in gold leaf. The guide walks you through its foundation and past, though entry inside costs extra if you want to see the artwork up close.
The chocolate tasting happens mid-tour. You taste several types of artisan chocolate and learn how it's made and where it comes from: cocoa is native to Ecuador, and the guide explains the process from bean to bar. After that, San Francisco Church is one of the oldest in the colonial quarter and free to enter. The guide shares its founding story and the legends that have shaped how Ecuadorians see it. The Cathedral of Quito, built in the seventeenth century in Baroque style and now the bishop's seat, comes next. The tour ends on La Ronda Street, the bohemian heart of the old city where artists have lived and worked. You'll find traditional food stalls and shops there to explore on your own.
Groups stay under twelve people, so you're not herding through the streets in a crowd. The pace is walking speed through the colonial quarter: moderate fitness helps, and the cobblestone streets and hills mean it's not flat. Children from age one can come, and strollers work on most of the route. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and you choose which when you book.
Is this one for you?Small groups under twelve people mean you move through the colonial quarter without the rush of a larger tour, and the fixed stops let you see the major churches and taste chocolate without arranging transport between them yourself. The two-hour pace suits a morning or early afternoon slot in your Quito itinerary.
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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 (1 to 5 years): free.
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 Church of the Society of Jesus actually like inside?
The Church of the Society of Jesus is decorated almost entirely in gold leaf, making it one of the most ornate churches in the world. The guide explains its history and artistic significance from outside, but entry inside requires an additional fee beyond the tour price.
Do we go inside all the churches on this tour?
San Francisco Church is free to enter and included in the tour. The Basilica of the National Vow and the Church of the Society of Jesus require separate paid entry if you want to go inside. The guide covers their history and details from outside. The Cathedral of Quito is also viewed from outside.
What happens during the chocolate tasting?
You taste several types of artisan chocolate and learn about cocoa cultivation and chocolate-making from bean to finished product. Cocoa is native to Ecuador, and the guide explains the traditional process during this stop mid-tour.
Is La Ronda Street part of the walking tour, or do I explore it on my own?
La Ronda Street is the final stop on the tour. The guide brings the group there, and you can explore the street's shops and traditional food stalls at your own pace after the tour ends.
How much walking is involved, and what are the streets like?
The tour covers two to two and a half hours of walking through Quito's colonial quarter. The streets are cobblestone and hilly, so moderate fitness is helpful. Strollers work on most of the route, and children from age one are welcome.
Quito Old Town Walking Tour: Church & Chocolate Tasting
2h–2h 30m · EN · ES
from US$ 5 per person
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