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Quito Legends Tour: Explore Historic Old Town
4.7
94 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
- Mercado Central - Join a welcoming guide and explore Quito’s Central Market, a beloved spot among locals. Each vendor has a unique story, offering everything from medicinal herbs to exotic fruits, and even love potions!
- Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande) - Visit Independence Plaza, the birthplace of the Spanish city of Quito in the 16th…
- Mercado Central - Join a welcoming guide and explore Quito’s Central Market, a beloved spot among locals. Each vendor has a unique story, offering everything from medicinal herbs to exotic fruits, and even love potions!
- Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande) - Visit Independence Plaza, the birthplace of the Spanish city of Quito in the 16th century and the starting point of numerous Ecuadorian revolutions.
- Catedral Metropolitana de Quito - Discover the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Government Palace, and delve into their significant roles in Ecuador’s vibrant history.
- Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania - Then, admire the Jesuit church of La Compañía de Jesús, a true gem of South America.
- San Francisco Catholic Church - Opt to ascend the towers of San Francisco Church, one of the city’s oldest, to enjoy a breathtaking view that makes the climb worthwhile.
- La Ronda - Conclude your tour at the charming La Ronda, a street that has become a favorite destination for tourists in the city.
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
(94 Ratings)
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Flora_p
Mar 1, 2026
Walk around Quito Old Town - Marcelo was my guide and he was very knowledgable and great company. Showed me the Market, took me to the Basilica, pointed out important details. Explained the history of Quito Old Town- it was a fascinating walk.
Review provided by Viator
Wander829531
Jan 27, 2026
Great tour - Marcelo was an excellent and knowledgeable guide. The small group size (5) definitely helped. I can highly recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gam0rri
Jan 20, 2026
Excellent Tour of Old Quito City - We are a 60+couple and signed up for this 3-hour tour. Our guide, Marcello, was well educated on the city and culture. We started at Teatro Sucre and walked to a local market to get the idea of the people and culture. We enjoyed the stories and explanations of the medicinal herbs and plants. The market also provided a great view of - new to us - variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits. We walked to several churches and modern historic buildings / cultural / military.
Our stop to try local candy and the ice cream was great - love the Rum Raisin flavor! We ended at the Franciscan Square and the beautiful church. Great morning even for the walking challenged.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shekosusan_k
Nov 29, 2025
Good Intro to Old Town - I did this tour on my first day in Quito. Its a good introduction to the old town and the fruit, chocolate and ice cream tasting are fun. We learned a lot about the city and saw some important sites.
Review provided by Viator
Ver0nicatd
Nov 25, 2025
An education on the Quito Old Town - I had an excellent walking tour of the Quito Old Town with Urban Adventures guide, Marcelo. We met at Teatro Sucre and walked to the nearby Mercado Central Market. Besides seeing local fresh produce for sale, Marcelo introduced me to the sharmans and it was interesting to hear about the medicinal plants they were selling. We explored the food stalls selling distinctive Ecuadorian dishes like cows head soup and other animal parts we might not eat back home! On the way to Plaza de la Independencia, we visited some of the churches and Marcelo explained the influence of the Spanish & the Jesuit Order on church architecture. We climbed the San Francisco bell tower for a view across the city. Marcelo also took me to try some local foods such as the tamal in a lovely traditional shop in San Augustin. We also had sorbet made the old fashioned way (stirred over ice & salt) from a stall in the courtyard of Palacio Arzobispal. It was a really interesting few hours walking around the Old Town and I learned a lot about the history of Quito.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joylovestravelling
Nov 24, 2025
Excellent intro to Quito’s culture - I had a wonderful tour of the Old Town with Ana. It was the perfect introduction to Quito and its culture. We visited a market, tasted wonderful food and visited the main sites of the Old Town. Ana as a guide was very knowledgeable, a real pleasure and went above and beyond. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_k
Nov 16, 2025
Morcelo gave us an... - Morcelo gave us an excellent introduction to the beautiful city of Quito. We covered everything from local food at the market, history, everyday life and of course Ice Cream.
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_l
Nov 4, 2025
Great Highlights of Quito - Take this fun tour and get informed on historic Quito. Our guide Marcello was excellent and the Gelato is so good!
Review provided by Viator
Einmal_um_die_welt80
Oct 12, 2025
Excellent! - Highly recommended. Food tour with market visit, chocolate tasting and lots of information about the country, people and the city. I was lucky enough to travel alone with the guide. He spoke fluent English, was super-friendly and likeable. There was also the right amount of culture with church attendance and excellent explanations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Antonio_r
Mar 3, 2026
Better Luck Next Time - Guide was a no show after confirming the day before. Fortunately they are giving me a refund. Better luck next time.
Review provided by Viator
