Full Day Artisan Villages Tour: Explore Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolomé from Cuenca

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and craftsmanship of Ecuador’s artisan villages on this full-day tour. Explore Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolomé, where you’ll discover the art of guitar-making, jewelry crafting, and textile weaving. Marvel at the stunning Andean landscapes and the colorful attire of the local women. Indulge in the flavors of the region at a local market. Book now!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Azuay Province - The journey begins around 8am in Cuenca. Traveling east for approximately 45 minutes, the tour arrives at San Bartolome, a charming location known for its historic houses and renowned guitar craftsmen. Visitors can explore the central park and its church.
  • Chordeleg - The next stop is Chordeleg, a place celebrated nationwide…
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Lunch (less in the option without lunch)
  • Transport by private vehicle
What's Not Included
  • Drinks
  • Tips
Additional Information

During the tour of the artisan villages, participants will explore three significant towns in the province of Azuay: Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolome. In each town, there will be opportunities to learn about the creation of various crafts, including guitars, jewelry, and textiles.
Additionally, throughout the day, visitors can admire the stunning…

Location
Azuay Province
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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Jincognito
Jun 2, 2026
Great way to spend a day - Diego was a great guide. Although we booked a group tour, as there were only two of us, it became a private one. We were picked up on time, and driven to several towns to see the town squares etc. with stops at 4 artisans. Each of them gave us a demonstration and the opportunity to buy - we did at two places. There was no pressure to buy but it was expected to leave a small tip $1-2 if you didn't. Diego speaks excellent English and is very knowledgeable about all aspects of Ecuador, so altogether it was a great day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go27489311645
May 30, 2026
Fantastic Tour and Guide. - Our tour guide Diego Parra was Phenomenal he picked us up at our AirBnB promptly he gave us a quick brief on what we would be experiencing during the tour and we began. The vehicle in which he picked us up was new and very spacious. He took us to 3 beutiful villages not very far from cuenca. Diego spoke excellent English and he was extremely informative he literally made frequent stops to point out landmarks or points of interest and he explained things to us in detail which we thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. His courteous and professional attention to detail was very impressive, we felt very safe with him the entire tour. We plan using this tour service again during our stay in wonderful Cuenca and we will definitely ask for Diego in any future tours. We highly recommend his tour service we give them and Diego Parra . Stars 🌟.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X3494krdont
Jan 13, 2026
We highly recommend the tour and are grateful to Eddy our guide for his kindness and shared knowledge. - We had a great experience with Eddy on the full day tour to Bartolommeo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolommeo. Eddy was very kind and informed. He taught us tons about the areas we visited and the areas we passed through. We also enjoyed a great lunch at an award winning restaurant. We would highly recommend the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stevenla6043lg
Dec 2, 2025
Very informative for the lifestyle of Cuenca and the surrounding areas. - My guide Edy was super friendly and very knowledgeable in all the cultural and social activities of the area. Highly recommend this day tour to see what the life in Ecuador is.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail652659
Oct 28, 2025
All day artisan/mountain tour. - The tour today was so great. We appreciated and enjoyed every place we visited and also the information provided by our tour guide. We visited Artisans making guitars, miniature ceramics, silver filigree, and weaving . We were served a great Ecuadorian style lunch and a tour of hundreds of beautiful orchids. We saw 16th and 17th century architecture, and a Spanish aqueduct nestled amongst tremendous mountain landscapes. Gracias por brindarnos un maravilloso recorrido durante todo el día. Not to be missed!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
322roya
Jul 24, 2025
Great tour - The artisan workshops were incredible to visit. Diego was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun to tour with. Xxxxxxx
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emiel-st
Jun 20, 2025
Great way to get to know the regional artisans - An excellent trip! Edison was so knowledgeable about anything and everything to do with Cuenca and Azuay. We saw all the big sights and had a lot of flexibility in the itinerary since it was just us. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clinton_h
Feb 27, 2025
Unforgettable Experience: A Must-Do from Cuenca! - If you’re in Cuenca, do yourself a favor and take this tour with Eddie—it was hands-down the highlight of my trip. Seeing the jewelry-making in Chordeleg and the weaving in Gualaceo was incredible, and getting to watch true masters at work was something I’ll never forget. Eddie made the whole experience even better with his knowledge and passion for the culture. There’s plenty to do in Cuenca, but getting out to the smaller towns gives you a whole new appreciation for Ecuador. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Monicmont
Feb 17, 2025
Visiting artisans - a highlight of trip! - We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Diego - he is very knowledgeable of Ecuador's natural history and passionate about sharing that knowledge! He was also very kind and respectful to the places and people we visited, which assured us that we chose the right tour group to travel with. As non-Spanish speakers, we enjoyed the opportunity to meet the people who live in these communities, learning about their crafts and appreciating their artistry - from resourcefully handmade guitars to clay handicrafts derived from local rock minerals, beautifully designed textiles from native plants, and meticulously crafted filigree jewelry. Having done the tour towards the end of our time in Ecuador, we acknowledge how much richer our experience was with this guided tour. We learned so much and appreciated the opportunity to connect with the artisans, ask questions, and purchase products directly from them. Thank you for making our tour of Gualaceo, Chordeleg and San Bartolome a highlight of our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tamiam88
Feb 3, 2025
Excellent tour! - This was an excellent tour. Our guide was top notch. He shared all sorts of interesting information and took excellent care of everyone in the group. Communication was great, they brought water and healthy snacks. I highly recommend Polyepsis for your sightseeing experiences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $55
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).