Quito Cultural Heritage, full day with lunch, private, except Monday & Sunday

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Price from:
199.00 US$
per person

Enjoy scenic, Colonial and artistic Quito. Visit museums, monasteries and the golden altars of its many churches. Then, stand with a foot on each hemisphere on the Middle of the World. The capital of Ecuador has a setting that few cities can match.  During the 13th century it was the prosperous center of the Kingdom of Quitus.  It later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire.  In the 16th and 17th centuries, Colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.  Quito's artistic creativity awaits the visitor in cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.

Tour Details

A full day experience with a chronologic narrative along the history of the city: its ancient pre-Columbian origins, its foundation, the Colonial and Republican periods.

An immersion into the spirit of the city, its architecture, art , cuisine, religiousness and its cultural heritage.

The capital of Ecuador, is the first city declared a cultural world heritage by UNESCO in 1978; Quito’s cultural heritage is a blend of Amerindian ancestry and Spanish influence.  This walking tour is a chronologic narrative of the history of Quito, since its very beginnings --with the first Pre-Columbian inhabitants-- civilizations which formed the ethnic cultural background of Ecuador centuries before the Inca Empire, like the Quitus in present-day Quito, who developed their own distinctive architecture, pottery, and religious beliefs.  Drive up to an observation point for a bird’s-eye view of the city’s layout;  and then stroll along downtown Quito, founded by the Spanish on the ruins of an Inca settlement, the best preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America. A unique opportunity to see art gems and the brilliantly restored Barroque Jesuit church.  Immerse yourself in the city’s vibe, mingling with the locals in its many plazas and enjoying a taste of  Ecuadorian delicacies for lunch.  Be part of the first struggles for Independence in South America in the early 1800’s and catch a glimpse of the romantic La Ronda cobblestoned street with flowery balconies, where echoes of timeless songs of love can still be heard.

Travel Facts

• Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat)
• Take rain protection
• This tour includes walking at altitudes averaging 1450 meters above sea level
• Sun protection (SPF 40)
• Hat or cap
• Good walking shoes
• Temperature:  Day, average  15° to 28° C / 59° to 82° F.

Our recommendations for the best possible experience

• This is a walking tour at an altitude of 2800 meters (9200 feet) and involves climbing stairs.
• Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat).  
• Women should not wear shorts nor miniskirts as visits to churches are included.
• Take a sweater even if the day is warm and sunny.  
• Rain protection advised between January and April. 
• Sun protection (SPF 40).
• Hat or cap  
• Good walking shoes. 

Information Rates per Person (US$) 2 persons 199.00

2013

PRICES PER PERSON 2013
1	2	3	4 - 5	6 - 9	10 - 15	16 - 20	21 +
305,00	199,00	163,00	145,00	135,00	116,00	106,00	103,00

Quito Cultural Tours

Quito, ethereal city of translucent vitality

The capital of Ecuador has a setting that few cities can match.  During the 13th century it was the prosperous center of the Kingdom of the Quitus.  It later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire.  In the 16th and 17th centuries, Colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.  Quito's artistic creativity awaits the visitor in cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts. 

The stay in Quito must include a visit to the Colonial sector, the old and charming city with  400 years of Spanish heritage.  Also, visit the Middle of the World, the very center of the earth, at latitude 0°, and enjoy a performance of the JACCHIGUA Folklore Ballet featuring a troupe of brilliantly costumed dancers reenacting traditional rituals and celebrations.