QUITO ELITE EXPERIENCE DAY TOUR | FROM $178

ITINERARY

Our tour will begin at 8:00 AM at the designated meeting point. First, we will visit the Basilica of the National Vow, a neo-Gothic religious building located in the historic center of Quito. Considered the largest neo-Gothic temple in the Americas and the tallest religious building in Spanish America until 2017, the Basilica is located in the Santa Prisca sector, next to the Oblate Fathers’ convent. You can climb the towers and enjoy a privileged view of Quito’s historic center.

Next, we will head to the Historic Center to visit Plaza Grande, the main square of the capital, the political and historical center of Ecuador, and the symbolic seat of the president of Ecuador. The square, situated at 2.818 m.a.s.l. (9.245 Ft.), features the Monument to Independence, dedicated to the heroes of the independence movement of August 10th 1809, a date remembered as the First Cry of Independence in Spanish America, which stands in the center.

Afterwards, we will visit the Compania de Jesus Church, one of the major tourist attractions of the city and an invaluable heritage both artistically and economically for the country. You can enter the church and admire its rich architecture and internal decoration, completely covered with gold leaf.

Next, we will go to Plaza de San Francisco, the largest square in Quito’s historic center, dominated by the imposing facade of the Church and Convent of San Francisco. This square has been one of the city’s most representative urban settings since colonial times, with its central fountain supplying water to residents for centuries.

We will then visit Yumbos, where you can learn about the history of cocoa worldwide, the varieties of cocoa, the importance of this fruit in Ecuador, and how Yumbos transforms the world’s best cocoa into chocolate. You can taste 10 to 12 premium chocolates made with high-quality organic ingredients, accompanied by a cup of hot chocolate and a portion of brownie made with 100% fine aroma cocoa.

To conclude our tour in the Historic Center, we will visit El Panecillo, a natural elevation of 3000 m.a.s.l. (9.842 Ft.) Due to its location, it has become the most important natural viewpoint of the city, offering a view of Quito’s urban layout from the historic center to the northern and southern ends. El Panecillo is crowned by a giant aluminum sculpture of the “Virgin of Quito,” created by the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras, based on a work by Bernardo de Legarda, one of the most important representatives of the Quito School.

At approximately 12:30, we will head to a typical restaurant in the Historic Center to enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterwards, we will move to the San Francisco Metro Station (Subway) to enjoy a smooth, fast, and friendly ride on modern, state-of-the-art trains designed for your comfort and safety. Enjoy the metro as we travel to the Iñaquito Station, where our private transport will be waiting for us.

Around 14:30, we will arrive at Mitad del Mundo, an iconic site of Ecuador named after the Equatorial Line, an imaginary line that divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres. Here, you can visit the Intiñan Museum, which offers an interactive tour where you can learn about the history of our ancestral peoples and the magnificent effects produced by the sun in our solar cylinder. Travel back in time through the centenary huts, understand the physical phenomena of the earth with our didactic examples, observe the path of the sun (Intiñan) in the Acoratene, and enjoy a privileged natural environment.

Around 17:00, we will return to the hotel.

Approximate duration: 9 to 10 hours.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Reservations are subject to availability and may change without prior notice UNTIL YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED
• To make a reservation, 50% of the fare per passenger must be paid, NON-REFUNDABLE
• Rate applies with a minimum of 2 passengers
• Please inquire about rates for groups
• Itinerary subject to changes due to: weather problems, operational inconveniences, or situations that may endanger the passenger
• The operator is obliged to change to a hotel of the same category assigned to the client in case of emergencies.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• The quotation is valid for 24 hours after the date of submission
• The price may vary after this date if there is no prior confirmation
• The total amount must be paid in full 30 days before the reservation entry date.