Our tour begins in San Sebastian neighborhood, here we find the Modern Art Museum where the famous Bienal International de Cuenca takes a place, it belongs to a select group of macro art events established in Latin America and the Caribbean. We will be able to explore not only the exhibits but also the historical house with its typical architecture. Afterwards we will visit the "10 de Agosto market", this is the perfect spot to learn about the local products and culture. We will also visit the San Francisco market, the flower market, Abdon Calderon Park, the cathedral “El Sagrario”, known as the “Old Cathedral”, and lastly, we will tour the “New Cathedral” which is considered one of the biggest churches in Latin America. The famous gold leaf altar is found here.
Then we will visit the Panama hat factory-musuem. Here observe the fabrication of the very famous Panama Hats from a fiber called “paja toquilla”. These hats range from simple inexpensive ones to colorful, elegantly designed and costly ones. Afterwards, we will drive through the “Barranco” which is an area of terraced houses located next to the Tomebamba River. Finally, we will go to “Mirador de Turi” (scenic viewpoint) to enjoy the beautiful vista of the Cuenca landscape.
Eddy was very knowledgeable and his English was easy to understand. We enjoyed learning about the history of Cuenca and the tour of the hat factory. We loved that he picked us up at the private house we were staying in.
Thank you Christian for great time and easy history lesson of Cuenca history !! Private tour, very personal experience. Absolutely happy! We highly recommend !
Eddy is amazing! His English is flawless, his knowledge of Cuenca’s/Ecuador’s history and culture is bottomless, and his care of and attention to us tourists is exemplary. I saw and learned so much in just a few hours. Highly recommend this tour with Eddy!
A nice way to get to know Cuenca Ecuador.
Private tour guide Eddy was great. Slowed down, adapted, and was funny! He helped me get a sense of Cuenca, suggested possible lunch spots and was a pleasure to walk around with!
The half day tour is a great introduction to Cuenca. We loved learning about the history of the city
I had a wonderful tour with Eddy! He was incredibly knowledgeable and had wonderful recommendations!
Adrian was an exceptional private tour guide. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and shared so much about Cuenca's history, culture, and hidden gems. He made the tour engaging and tailored it to our interests. We learned a lot and had a fantastic time. I highly recommend Adrian to anyone visiting Cuenca.
Diego was our guide for the day and took us on an amazing walking tour of the old town. We started from our hotel and visited several houses and churches. His knowledge of the city and architecture was as clear as his love for Cuenca. We explored some courtyards we never would have found, took in the smells of the flower market, and enjoyed the sights and smells in the central market. Also got to learn the history of the Panama hats and how they are made. The highlight was the view of Cuenca from way up on Turi which we reached by car. Back at our hotel about four hours after we started. Wonderful day with Diego!
Our guide (Eddy) was very knowledgeable and a native of Cuenca. He did an excellent job informing us of the history, architecture, and restaurants. He showed us the area from an elevated point and from down in the flat basin of the city.
We enjoyed seeing the old town of Cuenca, and the guide provided us with background on the founding of the city, the people who live and work there, and places to shop, eat and relax. The guide was quite knowledgeable. We enjoyed exploring Cuenca!
This was the worst city tour we ever had. The guide is just a lazy guy who tries to spend the booked time with lowest effort for him. About 1;5 hours where spend to drive to a viewing point which is not worth visiting and back. The Panama hat factory was so late in the program that nearly all workers had left already. So we saw empty machines instead of the process of hat making. The walk in the city was very short and only about 150 meters around the cathedral. We missed the experience of colonial Cuenca. A waste of time and money!
We had a wonderful time with Wilson. He was very knowledgeable and kind, and he was always open to answering our questions. This was a wonderful way to see the city!
This tour covers the basics of Cuenca. We visited a Panama hat factory and museum which was very interesting, plus a photo op vista above the city. Then we walked around in the historic district and learned about the principal churches and important buildings. Genero, the guide, was very informative and accommodating.
We had a wonderful experience with our guide, Eddy, on the half-day city tour of Cuenca, including a visit to the Panama hat factory. From the moment he picked us up—right on time—we knew we were in good hands. Eddy was incredibly accommodating and flexible, making adjustments to the itinerary as we requested without hesitation. His knowledge of Cuenca’s rich history, architecture, and culture truly enhanced our appreciation of this beautiful city. He shared interesting facts and stories at every stop, which brought each location to life. We especially enjoyed learning about the iconic Panama hat and witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand. Eddy’s English was impressive, especially considering he has never lived in an English-speaking country. We had no trouble communicating and always felt understood. Throughout the tour, we felt completely safe, comfortable, and well cared for. His professionalism, patience, and warm demeanor made this tour feel more like an outing with a friend than a formal excursion. We highly recommend Eddy to anyone visiting Cuenca. His passion for his city is evident, and he goes above and beyond to ensure his guests have a meaningful and memorable experience.
This was an absolute GEM! I had Eddy... we went up to a viewpoint and saw the city, then walked around the city for the rest of the time. Eddy's knowledge of the city was absolutely incredible!! I was in Cuenca 14 years ago for 2 months and learned more about the city in 4 hours with Eddy. Would definitely recommend!
Eddy was a great guide and extremely knowledgeable about Cuenca. We got to see the view from the top of the city and we explored the streets, museums, churches, and the cathedral. All worth it
It was our first day in Cuenca & this tour was a great introduction! Eddy, our tour guide was very knowledgeable & had so much information to share about his beautiful city. We loved it!
One of the best city tours I have done. Luis knows his city and his English is excellent. I thought I wouldn't be interested in the hat factory, but it turned out to be a treat. The historic district is fascinating with French, German, Moorish, and, of course, Spanish architectural cues. Fascinating city and an excellent tour guide. Highly recommended.
Eddie was so passionate and knowledgeable about Cuenca. He taught us a lot about architecture of the city and we loved the hat tour. It was very cool to see behind the scenes of the factory.
Great relaxed half day tour with our lovely guide, Wilson. He flexed the itinerary based on our interests and gave us a fascinating insight into the history of Cuenca . We loved the Panama hat factory where they serve great coffee overlooking the City. A must do is the working gallery of the ceramicist Eduardo Vega …. Its location also gives a lovely Vista to the old City.
We were late. The company and our driver, Luis, were beyond patient. The tour was interesting, fun, and at our pace. Luis was charming, well informed, and very pleasant to play with! Thank you!
As a seasoned traveler, I look for a personal experience of a destination and an overview of what’s special about a place. My afternoon with Wilson was perfect for my needs, to get to know a local who loves his city and knows it well. I was lucky to have a private tour with excellent service, good communication and flexibility. Honestly I don’t care about seeing every church, but I do appreciate getting details about why this one is special. Beautiful architecture in Cuenca. The Panama Hat factory was a highlight! Such a special place to see exquisite crafts being respected and kept alive. Hard to resist buying one of these treasures. I highly recommend this tour!
Enrique was an amazing guide! He was very knowledgeable and helpful. We had a wonderful time exploring Cuenca and learning all about the history. It was a great mix of walking and a car ride to a beautiful view of the city. So glad we took this tour! Thank you Enrique!
We have lived in Cuenca for many years, but had family visiting for the first time and thought it would be fun to take a tour. We learned so many new things about Cuenca! The view from Turi was amazing, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Panama hat factory. We also enjoyed walking around El Centro with Eddy, our excellent guide, who was very knowledgeable about the history of Cuenca. I would highly recommend this tour!
We enjoyed our historic tour of old Cuenca Panama hat factory with Wilson as our guide who was very knowledgeable and helpful. The highlight of my trip was watching a demonstration of the Panama hat making process and appreciating the Romanesque , Gothic and Renaissance styles with three domes protruding from the roof of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
The history, the architecture, the knowledge of a local Cuencano. I loved the mix of driving and walking. Cristian was an amazing guide!
Wilson is a very knowledgeable tour guide and he gave us an especially good explanation of the architecture of the city. We thought the Panama hat museum was really, really well done, and Wilson’s explanations there were very interesting. We highly recommend him.
Excellent tour of Cuenca. I thoroughly enjoyed the cathedral and climbing up to the top. I was not expecting this but the climb was worth it. The view from Turi did not disappoint.
Private tour was great. Enrique was a great guide and the sites we went to were wonderful.Ortegas hat factory and museum was very good and purchased a couple of great panama(really Equadorian) hats. The squares and interaction with the locals was great also. Went to Turi for great photos of the city. WONDERFUL!!
Starting on time to the Tori lookup point You will get a broad view of Cuenca. You will do short visits to a museum or two and you'll walk the historic center and markets. it's an amazing tour rich in history. Ask for Cristian and be captivated with all his exciting knowledge.
Winston’s love and enthusiasm for all things Cuenca are now ours too. We were introduced to amazing corners of the city that we would never find on our own and will now visit again.
Carlos was a great guide - we really enjoyed ourselves. Great taste of Cuenca. Half day is the right timeline.
So much history. Eddy was our tour guide and was knowledgeable and patient. We learned a lot about our past and ancestors.
This half day tour with Enrique was the best part about our trip to Cuenca. We learned so much about the city center and Panama Hat factory. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for more information on the history and details of the best parts of Cuenca's city center!
Wilson was our guide and he was extraordinary. Speaks good English and VERY knowledgeable and he was fun. We enjoyed our half day trip with him so much that we booked a full day trip with him two days later. One of the things he took us to was a Panama hat manufacturer (which he informed us that they are Ecuador hats but named Panama because they were originally made for workers working on the Panama Canal. ) Anyway, if your looking for a half day trip that’s informative and fun and you need an English speaking guide, Wilson is your man!
Luis was extremely knowledgeable, personable and pleasant. This was my third trip to Cuenca, but he expounded on amazing things I had not seen or heard on previous trips to Cuenca.
Our tour guide, Wilson, spoke excellent English, had in depth knowledge of the history and cultures of Cuenca and Ecuador. It was an outstanding walking tour along with transportation to the “balcony” overlooking the city. Wilson accommodated any request or need from our group of six ranging in age from teenager to senior citizen. We could not have been happier with his service and would recommend to anyone seeking a quick and comprehensive overview and personalized experience of Cuenca.
Tour guide Cristian was fantastic. Very nice. Very cool. Easy to get along with. He switched back and forth between Spanish and English, no problem.
This is a good solid tour. Adrian spoke fluent English and we touched on the top sights including view from Turi, Panama hat factory, market and various plazas. Lots of local/historical anecdotes as we went. Great quick introduction to beautiful Cuenca that sets you up for further exploration on your own if you want.
Sebastian is an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and adaptable to your interests, highly recommend this tour to get a complete overview of Cuenca city, history and fun details.
Eddie, our guide, was very sweet and nice. He had incredible knowledge of the city of Cuenca, the history, architecture, etc. We had a very nice tour, it was very special! We appreciate everything that he did! He even carried my purchases!
Javier provided my wife and I a great overview of Cuenca. We experienced the heart and soul of the city and I would have to say the best part of the tour was the history he provided us.
The hat factory tour was well organized and fun. The guide explained things quite well and the personnel at the factory were fun.
The best part was the market! Javier, our guide, was full of historical knowledge and practical advice.
Our tour and guide was great. It was well planned. Our guide was very knowledgeable and efficient. We learned so much about this beautiful city in a short time.
Wilson picked us up at the airport - he was waiting with a sign with our name on it. We drove to the Panama Hat Factory, where he explained the hat making process. Then drove around town a bit, and up the hill to the Turi overlook - great city views, and we visited a ceramic artist's gallery. Then we drove around town a bit more. Finally, we drove to the old town, where we had a walking tour that included the market, cathedral, central square, and more. After the tour, we paid a little extra to be dropped off at the Amaru Zoo (also recommended, but it's quite a hike, not a typical zoo).
Genero was our guide and he was great. Very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Cuenca. We learned so much and had fun as well! Would definitely recommend this tour and Genero as a guide.
Our guide was excellent and gave us a very thorough tour of the city. He was informative and also answered all of our questions.
Super happy with the hotel. The location, easy access to the center, restaurants and stores. Has all the necessary amenities. Very happy. Room and bathroom very clean. Beds are comfortable and the elevator gave it a nice touch. Breakfast was nice too. Healthy and simple. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable and the hotel and area was safe. I will definitely will stay again in the future.
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