Full-Day Private Tour: Local Food, Culture, and Art Immersion in Quito
5.0
3 Ratings
Quito

Immerse yourself in the local food, culture, and art scene of Quito on this full-day private tour. Visit the market, cook Ecuadorian food, explore the Guayasamin Museum, shop at the Artisanal Market, and enjoy a delicious dinner with stunning views of the city.

Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Mercado Central - The journey begins at Mercado Central, or Central Market, one of Quito’s oldest and most cherished markets. Here, participants will explore the vibrant market, enjoy a refreshing local fruit juice, discover the vast array of fruits and vegetables, interact with friendly market vendors, and savor the traditional snack “mote con…
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What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Entrance to Guayasamin Museum
  • Lunch
  • Cooking Class in Old Town Quito
  • Dinner reservations at Pim’s Restaurant Panecillo
What's Not Included
  • Dinner
  • Additional Food and Drinks
  • Tips for the guide and driver
  • Pick-up at or close to the airport incurs a $35 USD surcharge for roundtrip.
Additional Information

This tour offers an authentic local experience. Participants will explore the market, prepare Ecuadorian cuisine, tour the Guayasamin Museum, enjoy extensive shopping at the Artisanal Market, visit the Panecillo Virgen Statue, and savor a delightful dinner at Pims restaurant, which boasts the best views of Quito. The tour is led by Andres, the company…

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Location
Mercado Central
Av. Pichincha
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
D4225otmaryf
May 28, 2025
Quito from top to bottom. - Andres is a fantastic guide, especially for Americans since his English is impeccable. He took us to all the important places to see around Quito and we spent time in the old town and he explained the history of Quito and Ecuador to us. He’s a great driver and we did a lot of driving. I would definitely give him a call and use him as a tour guide if I go back to Quito, Ecuador.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J6744ixdavidh
Dec 21, 2023
Delicious day in Quito - On our way to the Galapagos, as recommended, my wife and I arrived a day early in Quito and decided to spend the day with Galapagos Connoisseur cooking and walking through the historic area. Our experience was exceptional. The morning began with Andres picking us up at our hotel a driving to the central market. We spent time walking through the market learning about and tasting the many fruits and vegetables which we don’t see in our typical American markets. We then drove a short distance to the cooking school where Magdalena and Sylvia spent the next few hours teaching us how to prepare several Ecuadorian dishes including Potato Soup, Shrimp Ceviche, Fried Plantain, a delicious Ecuadorian cocktail and juice. This was a very hands-on, participatory experience and we learned ways that we could recreate these dishes at home. Throughout the morning, we were able to converse about Ecuadorean family life and culture easily, as Magdalena and Sylvia speak excellent English. We also booked the afternoon experience, so we did not return to our hotel and rather just continued to talk and relax. Overall, we had a delicious meal and learned much about Ecuadorean cuisine. Our afternoon experience began by first walking through the historic district, where the local residents were celebrating the Fiestas de Quito so the squares and streets were quite full. On our own, particularly after the cautions from our State Department, we might have felt uncomfortable. However, with Magdalena and Sylvia, it became a relaxing and exciting experience. We stopped to sample some fresh Ecuadorean ice cream and eventually visited the Minka Chocolate Experience where we sampled over a dozen different chocolate bars after a brief lecture on the production of chocolate from seed to table. Then we walked back to the cooking school where we prepared Empanadas, Quimbolitas, and coffee. Magdalena and Sylvia taught us the traditional Ecuadorean way to cook these and we look forward to trying them in the USA. Spending a whole day with Andres, Magdalena and Sylvia was an extraordinary and delightful way to experience Quito and we recommend it without any reservation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Check Availability
From $105
From $105
up to 15 guests
2 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).
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