Private Quito City Tour: Colonial Center, Cable Car & Equator

Walk Quito's colonial churches and plazas, then ride the cable car above the city and explore the Middle of the World monument

A private guided tour of Quito's historic center, cable car and the Mitad del Mundo monument where the equator crosses Ecuador. The guide speaks English or Spanish, picks you up from your hotel, and the itinerary adjusts to your interests. You see the Cathedral, San Francisco Church, the Company (with its 23-carat gold interior), chocolate tasting in the old town, and traditional Ecuadorian sweets at the Archbishop's Palace before heading to the heights and the equator site. Children from age 3 are welcome. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quito and Half the World

• Visit Basilica of the National Vow
• See Church of the Society of Jesus
• Tour San Francisco Church
• Explore Independence Plaza
• Visit Cathedral of Quito
• Enjoy Ecuadorian chocolate tasting
• Taste traditional sweets at Archbishop's Passage
• Ride the Cable Car for panoramic views
• Visit Middle of the World Monument
• Tour Intiñan Solar Museum

Stops and time spent at each 8 stops

1. Basilica of the National Vow 40m
2. Church of the Society of Jesus 15m
3. San Francisco Church 10m
4. Independence Plaza 30m
5. Cathedral of Quito 10m
6. Archbishop's Palace Entry included 10m
7. Middle of the World Monument 10m
8. Intiñan Solar Museum 1h

What’s included

• Water bottle and accident insurance.
• certified bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup.
• air-conditioned van or SUV.
• visits to the Cathedral, San Francisco Church, the Company (interior with 23-carat gold), and the Basilica of the National Vow in the historic center.
• chocolate tasting on a balcony overlooking the old town.
• traditional Ecuadorian sweet tasting at the Archbishop's Palace.
• cable car ride with panoramic views.
• access to the Mitad del Mundo monument.

Times

• Every day 08:45

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Private 1 group tour ›

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (13 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: 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 Stroller-friendly

Operated by Traveler's Magic

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

You start in the Historic Center, where the guide walks you through the cobblestone streets and colonial plazas that form the heart of Quito. The Cathedral of Quito anchors the Plaza de la Independencia (the square surrounded by the Presidential Palace, Archbishop's Palace and Municipal Palace), and from there you move through the neighborhood on foot, stopping at the San Francisco Church, the largest architectural complex in any historic center across the Americas, and the Basilica of the National Vow, a neo-Gothic structure that rises above the city. The Company (Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús) is the standout: its interior is covered in thin sheets of 23-carat gold applied by artisans of the Quiteño School over more than a century.

Between the churches, you taste Ecuadorian chocolate on a balcony overlooking the old town, then stop at the Archbishop's Palace for a tasting of traditional sweets: mistles in small samples, ranging from intense whiskey notes to softer chocolate varieties. The guide carries water and the vehicle is air-conditioned. The pace is yours to set. If a site doesn't interest you or you want to linger somewhere longer, you can swap it out: the tour flexes to what you actually want to see.

In the afternoon, you ride the cable car up the mountainside for panoramic views of the city and the Andes, then head to the Mitad del Mundo monument where you stand with one foot in each hemisphere. The Intiñan Solar Museum is also on the route if you want it: an interactive space where you walk through hundred-year-old huts, learn about ancestral peoples and watch demonstrations of how the sun's path works at the equator. The guide is certified and bilingual. Accident insurance is included.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What's inside the Church of the Company that makes it worth the stop?

The Church of the Society of Jesus is covered in thin sheets of 23-carat gold applied by Quiteño School artisans over more than 150 years of construction. The interior is the standout of the historic center.

Can I skip a site if I'd rather spend more time somewhere else?

Yes. The tour is private and customizable, so you can swap out stops or change the route to match what interests you most.

Is the cable car ride included in the tour price?

The cable car experience is part of the itinerary, though the entrance fee for the Church of the Company (around $6 per person) is separate if you choose to enter it.

How much walking is involved in the historic center?

You walk through the cobblestone streets and plazas of the old town on foot, moving between churches and squares at a pace you set with the guide.

What's the Mitad del Mundo and what do you actually do there?

The Mitad del Mundo is the monument marking where the equator crosses Ecuador. You stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern, and it's a popular spot for photos.