Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory
Description
Head through Cuenca historic district with a local expert that will show you the highlights including churches, beautiful historical buildings with wrought-iron balconies, and carved wooden doors, amidst a flower market, art galleries, etc.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up is included in centrally located hotels or Airbnb. If your location is in the outskirts, please contact us for further details.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please contact us to info@cuencabestours.com within 2 days notice to reconfirm the tour.
- For 1 to 5 passengers, a bilingual guide will also be the driver. For more than 5 passengers, a driver and a bilingual guide will be provided.
- Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Reviews(88)
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.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that your time with Eddy was so enriching. As a native of Cuenca, his deep knowledge of the city’s history, architecture, and culinary scene truly adds a special touch to every tour. We’re glad you enjoyed seeing the city from both the elevated viewpoints and the heart of the basin—it’s a beautiful contrast. 🌄✨ Team Cuenca Bestours
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!
We’re so glad you enjoyed discovering the historic center of Cuenca and learning about its history, culture, and local life. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide’s knowledge helped enrich your experience and gave you a deeper connection to the city. Exploring Cuenca’s charming streets, along with its great spots to shop, eat, and relax, is always a highlight, and we’re happy you made the most of it. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again for another memorable visit! Team Cuenca Bestours
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!
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time with Wilson. His kindness, extensive knowledge, and willingness to answer every question truly make exploring the city a special experience. We’re so glad this tour offered you a great way to discover Cuenca. 🌟 Team Cuenca Bestours
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.
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad you enjoyed exploring the highlights of Cuenca, from the fascinating Panama hat factory to the scenic viewpoints and historic district. We're especially pleased to hear that Genero’s knowledge and accommodating nature made your experience even more enjoyable. Cuenca Bestours Team
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.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your half-day city tour of Cuenca with Eddy was such a memorable experience. Eddy takes great pride in sharing his love for Cuenca, and it’s heartwarming to know his flexibility, knowledge, and warm personality made you feel so well cared for. We truly appreciate your kind recommendation! Cuenca Bestours Team
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!
Thank you so much for this glowing review! We're thrilled to hear your experience with Eddy was such a highlight—he truly has a gift for bringing Cuenca’s history and charm to life. It’s amazing that in just a few hours, he helped you discover even more than during your previous stay! We’d love to welcome you back anytime. 😊 Cuenca Bestours Team
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
Thank you for your wonderful review! 😊 We're so glad you enjoyed exploring Cuenca with Eddy and taking in the amazing views, history, and culture. 🏛️⛪✨ Your kind words mean a lot, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. Hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!" 🌎🚶♂️ Team Cuenca Bestours
