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Quito Legends Tour: Explore Historic Old Town
4.7
83 Ratings
Quito
Immerse yourself in the legends, culture, and customs of Old Town Quito on this small group walking tour. Discover the birthplace of the Spanish city, explore historic sites, and indulge in a unique ice cream-making experience.
Immerse yourself in the legends, culture, and customs of Old Town Quito on this small group walking tour. Discover the birthplace of the Spanish city, explore historic sites, and indulge in a unique ice cream-making experience.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania - Explore Quito’s Old Town on foot and immerse yourself in the local flavors and culture. Stroll along cobblestone streets with your guide, visit the lively central market, and discover Ecuadorian traditions through roses, exotic fruits, and more.
- Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco - Enter the Monastery of…
- Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania - Explore Quito’s Old Town on foot and immerse yourself in the local flavors and culture. Stroll along cobblestone streets with your guide, visit the lively central market, and discover Ecuadorian traditions through roses, exotic fruits, and more.
- Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco - Enter the Monastery of San Francisco, a grand landmark covering two city blocks. Explore its chapel and convent as your guide shares intriguing stories and legends from the past.
- Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande) - Join your guide at Independence Plaza, the heart of Old Town. Walk past the Independence Monument, Archbishop’s Palace, and Government Palace, while uncovering the tales behind these iconic landmarks.
- Quito Old Town - Begin your day in Quito’s Old Town, meandering through cobblestone streets with your guide. Dive into the vibrant central market, filled with roses, exotic fruits, and fresh local produce—ideal for experiencing everyday Ecuadorian life.
- Catedral Metropolitana de Quito - Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Government Palace and learn about the significant roles they’ve played in Ecuador’s rich history.
- Palacio Municipal - Accompany your guide to Independence Plaza, the bustling heart of Old Town. Observe the Independence Monument, Archbishop’s Palace, and Government Palace while discovering the stories behind these historic sites.
What's Included
- Explore Quito’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and colonial landmarks
- Admire La Compañía de Jesús church and its gold-covered interior
- Make Ecuadorian ice cream with native ingredients
- Visit Quito’s Central Market and learn about local traditions
- Join a small-group walking tour (max 12 guests) led by a local Quito guide
- End at La Ronda, Quito’s iconic cultural street
- Explore Quito’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and colonial landmarks
- Admire La Compañía de Jesús church and its gold-covered interior
- Make Ecuadorian ice cream with native ingredients
- Visit Quito’s Central Market and learn about local traditions
- Join a small-group walking tour (max 12 guests) led by a local Quito guide
- End at La Ronda, Quito’s iconic cultural street
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Learn the legends of Quito on this tour through the city’s historic centre. Visit the market where every kiosk tells a story, and uncover local culture and customs as you explore the heart of Old Town. See where the Spanish city was born and revolutions sparked. Take a break with a hands-on sweet treat
making your own ice cream using ingredients you’ll…
Learn the legends of Quito on this tour through the city’s historic centre. Visit the market where every kiosk tells a story, and uncover local culture and customs as you explore the heart of Old Town. See where the Spanish city was born and revolutions sparked. Take a break with a hands-on sweet treat
making your own ice cream using ingredients you’ll only find in South America.
- Can kids join the tour? Yep! Kids aged 6 and up are welcome, as long as they’re with an adult.
- What should I wear for the tour? We recommend comfy clothes, walking shoes, a sweater or light jacket, sunglasses, and a hat—Quito’s weather can change quickly!
Location
Teatro Sucre
Calle Guayaquil
Entrance of the Teatro Sucre (Plaza del Teatro), Old Town Quito.
View on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/zNjR21pBqSaEj24g8
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(83 Ratings)
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Gilliansq3094sg
Sep 2, 2025
Fantastic Quito Old Town Walking Tour - I did the Intrepid Old Town Quito tour with Marcelo. The tour was so informative. Marcelo is very knowledgeable and his English is great. Most of the tour was outside but he did take me to see the museum at the famous San Francisco Basilica at San Francisco Plaza in Quito's Old Town. He also took me to the Mercado Central (central market) and explained the traditional foods, including exotic fruits. I learned about a lot of traditional foods and how they are prepared. I believe most tours don't include this. Marcelo was very knowledgeable about Ecuadoran history and the history of the buildings we were seeing. As I have a particular interest in modern art, he recommended a couple of museums for me to visit. When the tour ended, he explained to me how I could get back to my hotel in central Quito using the fabulous new Quito Metro. The Metro is safe and modern--much nicer than any I've seen in the US. He also recommended a vegetarian restaurant in my neighborhood and told me a safe place to buy some traditional foods (specifically the Ecuadoran corn snacks). I highly recommend Marcelo and this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hugh_h
Jul 12, 2025
Dancing Brooms, Tasty Tamales, and a Tour to Remember - Marcello treated us to a fantastic and private tour through the local markets, blending history, culture, and flavor into a truly memorable experience. We sampled fruits native to Ecuador, got a crash course in traditional medicinal herbs, and soaked up stories of the area's rich past—all while comfortably stopping along the way to sit and chat in historic spots.
One of the highlights? Ice cream and tamales at San Augustin—unique, delicious, and served with a side of spontaneous street sweeper dance magic that stole the show.
We absolutely loved this tour and highly recommend it to anyone visiting. One small note for the tour operator: We noticed that booking at the last minute would have given us a significantly lower price—just something to keep in mind for future travelers.
Review provided by Viator
Excursion108041
Jul 8, 2025
Great walking tour in Quito. - Luis was my guide and he was amazing! He shared the food, culture, and the history of Ecuador and Quito with me on this walking tour. I appreciated his desire to show off the city he was born in. I was the only one on this tour on a Wednesday morning. I don't speak Spanish, so it was great to speak to someone who spoke English fluently and could translate for me at the same time. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Neilallan87
Jul 4, 2025
Incredible tour with Marcelo! - This is one of the best walking tours I've been on. Marcelo is so passionate and enthusiastic about the city of Quito. He has a wealth of knowledge sharing really interesting stories about the history and culture, topped off with a delicious ice-cream and chocolate tasting at the end! Thanks for a really memorable trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tony_h
Jun 16, 2025
Great tour - Very good guide who gave an informative tour. Gave us a good insight into the history and culture of Quito
Review provided by Viator
Anonymous
Mar 23, 2025
I was the only... - I was the only participant but they didn’t cancel. The guide was very knowledgeable. It was a long tour,
Review provided by Viator
Toni_w
Jan 23, 2025
Great tour of Quito historical centre! - Really loved this tour, very informative and a great intro to this beautiful city. We covered a lot of historical events giving meaning to the history behind many of the old buildings, and even had ice cream and chocolate tastings. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Pag1124
Jan 4, 2025
Intrepid 3 hr Walking Tour of Quito, Ecuador - We enjoyed the tour & had an excellent guide-. He was extremely knowledgeable, engaging & made Quito’s history come alive! Would absolutely recommend this tour & guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_s
Dec 30, 2024
Marcello was n... - Marcello was an exceptional tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about Quito history, architecture, religion, the Andean culture, plants and flowers and politics in Ecuador. He was never in a hurry, welcomed our questions and we learned so much about Quito- past and present.
Review provided by Viator
David
Jan 9, 2025
Tasty treats, churches, and organ meats - The tour starts with the central market looking at small shops that sell meat/organs, herbal remedies, fruit, flowers, and prepared dishes. The fruit tasting was interesting, as you get a chance to taste fruits not available in the US. The old town is basically a few large churches, the president’s house, and other Catholic Church related buildings. The chocolate tasting was excellent in the variety and quality of chocolate. Overall, the guide was knowledgeable about an area that is somewhat interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
