Quito Old Town Walking Tour: UNESCO Heritage & Local Guide

Climb the Basilica's towers for panoramic views of colonial rooftops and distant volcanoes.

A guided walking tour through Quito's UNESCO-listed historic center led by a bilingual local guide, visiting Plaza Grande, La Compañía de Jesús, and San Francisco Church over three to four hours. You taste traditional canelazo and chocolate at artisan stops, climb the Basilica del Voto Nacional's internal bridges and steep stairs for views across the city, and explore hidden courtyards and colonial architecture on foot.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 70 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Small Group 09:30 and 13:00 Guide in English or Spanish

Private Tour 09:30 and 13:00 Guide in English or Spanish Pickup is included. Private guide with a fully customized itinerary; pickup from your hotel or location.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quito's historic center

• Warm up with canelazo and empanada
• Visit Independence Plaza
• Explore Archbishop's Palace and taste sweets
• Tour Church of the Society of Jesus
• Walk through Plaza de San Francisco
• Visit Yumbos Chocolate shop
• Climb Basilica del Voto Nacional towers

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Basilica of the National Vow 30m
2. Independence Plaza Entry included 30m
3. Archbishop's Palace Entry included 30m
4. Church of the Society of Jesus Entry included 30m
5. San Francisco Church Entry included 30m

What’s included

• A bilingual local guide leads the entire walk.
• traditional canelazo and empanada.
• traditional Quiteño sweets and mistelas at the Archbishop's Palace.
• chocolate tasting at an artisan shop.
• traditional ice cream.

Times

• Every day 09:30 13:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 15

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Ages Adult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

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

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 4 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The tour moves through Quito's old town on foot, starting at the Basilica del Voto Nacional: one of Latin America's largest neo-Gothic churches, modeled on Notre-Dame but decorated with native Ecuadorian animals like iguanas and condors carved into its façade. The main draw here is climbing the basilica's towers via internal bridges and steep stairs to reach panoramic views of colonial rooftops, nearby churches, and the volcanoes Pichincha beyond. It's a physical highlight for anyone comfortable with heights and stairs.

From there the guide leads you through the cobblestone streets to Plaza Grande (Independence Square), the political heart of the city since colonial times, ringed by the Presidential Palace, Cathedral, and Archbishop's Palace. You stop at the Archbishop's Palace to taste traditional Quiteño sweets and mistelas, local liqueurs, while learning about the building's Spanish colonial architecture and courtyards. The walk also takes in La Compañía de Jesús, the ornate Baroque church completed in 1765 and famous for its interior covered in gold leaf and intricate wood carvings, and San Francisco Church, a 16th-century religious complex anchoring one of the oldest plazas in the city.

Tastings are woven through the route: you warm up with canelazo, a spiced Andean drink paired with a fresh empanada, and stop at Yumbos Chocolate, an artisanal shop in the historic center known for fair-trade cocoa and chocolate bars. The pace is relaxed, designed to let you absorb the architecture and street life without rushing. A bilingual guide narrates the history and points out details most visitors miss: hidden courtyards, artisan workshops, and viewpoints that frame the city's character. The tour suits history buffs and photographers. Public transportation is nearby if you need it afterward.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is inside La Compañía de Jesús that makes it worth visiting?

La Compañía de Jesús is famous for its interior covered entirely in gold leaf, intricate wood carvings, and dramatic altarpieces, earning it the nickname "Quito's golden church." The Baroque structure took over 160 years to complete, finished in 1765, and blends European design with indigenous artistry.

Can I climb the Basilica del Voto Nacional, and what will I see from the top?

Yes, you climb the basilica's main towers via internal bridges and steep stairs. From the top you see colonial rooftops, nearby churches, and distant volcanoes like Pichincha, making it one of the best panoramic vantage points over Quito's historic center and surrounding cityscape.

What food and drink tastings are included in the tour?

You taste canelazo, a traditional spiced Andean drink, paired with a freshly made empanada; traditional Quiteño sweets and mistelas (local liqueurs) at the Archbishop's Palace; chocolate at Yumbos Chocolate; and traditional ice cream during the walk.

Is this tour physically demanding, and who should avoid it?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and involves walking on cobblestone streets at a relaxed pace. However, it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries due to the steep stairs and internal bridges in the basilica towers. The minimum age is 12.