Taste of Cuenca

Upon arrival, meet your local driver/guide for a private transfer to your selected hotel for check-in. (D)

Today you will meet your guide for a private city highlights walking tour of Cuenca, Ecuador’s thrid largest city yet surprisingly pleasant and provincial. You will discover the beauty and charm for which Cuenca is known, recognizing it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll through the colonial downtown area where you will have the opportunity to enjoyt he warmth and hospitality of its people, the colorful parks and plazas, religious monuments and handicraft shops, all while learning the history of Cuenca from yoru guide. In the afternoon, visit a workshop where Panama straw hats of the best quality are made, then drive up to the hill of Turi for spectacular views of the city. Return to your hotel for dinner. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, depart for the city of Gualaceo by private transfer. Located in the beautiful and fruitful valley, Gualaceo boasts a subtropical climate, rich folklore and attractive handicrafts. The most important goods are Ikat woven articles and shawls embroidered by hand. In the main square, one can observe traditional cholas cuencanas embroiling hats with straw wraps. Continue to the town of Chordeleg where artisans of the region offer products such as Ikat goods, textiles, embroidered hats and jewelry. (B,L,D)

Discover the ruins of Ingapirca and learn about the daily life of pre-Columbian native cultures and the Inca conquest. These ruins are the most important architectural legacy of the Incas in Ecuador, dating back to the 15th century making the ruins a significant part of Ecuador’s pre-hispanic history. Take a guided tour of the ruins and the fortress, a vast archaeological complex of courtyards, terraces, temples and a castle which was possibly the Temple of the Sun. Return to Cuenca to continue on to your next destination. (B,L)