Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit
Description
Enjoy our one-way flexible, convenient and private tour departing from Guayaquil to Cuenca including a visit to a cacao farm and a optional hike in Cajas National Park. Allowed 2 suitcases p.p
Tour Options
Itinerary
Ever tasted the pulp of fresh cacao beans? We will visit a local family farm, the main product growing here is cacao (base to make chocolate), however, they have many other products such as breadfruit, coffee, passionfruit, pineapple, among many others. You will be able to experience the process of craft chocolate making and try it if you like to while our tour guide explains the history of cacao and the local customs as well.
Taste the natural sweetness that is part of the cuisine and daily life of Ecuadorians. This local market booming with colors and fruits is one of the most interesting experiences in this area, with our experienced tour guide will learn and sample (If you like to) some of the local sweet and exotic fruits grown here. If you think you know the taste of bananas, mandarines, coconut, dragon fruit, passionfruit to name a few, get ready for the real flavor of these delicious fruits!
On the way, we will stop for lunch at this very local restaurant where the specialty is trout, however, there are several options including vegetarian and vegan. Our tour guide will advise you. You will also have the chance to enjoy the mysterious Andes mountains views from this point.
We will drive upwards to the highlands through the southern Andes. Here we will visit the Cajas National Park, considered to be one of the most scenic and important protected areas in Ecuador. It's a lake system that constitutes the main source of water for Cuenca. We will take a hike (based on your fitness) to explore the moorlands ecosystem, native Polylepis forest and unique vegetation found here. After a full-day trip, we will drop you in Cuenca at your hotel or the location of your choice.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up at any hotel or Airbnb in Guayaquil
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Passport name, number and nationality is required at time of booking for all participants
- A minimum of 2 people is required to operate shared tours.
- Please notice: this is one-way trip Guayaquil to Cuenca or viceversa 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
Reviews(49)
My guide Wilson. Excellent. But what he offered me and expected from the tour. Very pleasant. I knew what I wanted to know and very good service
¡Muchas gracias por su comentario! Nos alegra muchísimo saber que Wilson superó sus expectativas y que disfrutó de una experiencia tan amena y bien atendida. Es un gusto saber que pudo conocer exactamente lo que deseaba y que el tour le ofreció aún más de lo esperado. ¡Gracias por elegirnos! 🌟🇪🇨 Team Cuenca Bestours
Had a fantastic experience with this tour. Flavio was punctual, contacted us early to brief us on the plan, coordinated well and gave a good description of the many interesting sights along the trip. Only thing I would change is to leave a bit earlier than the 1030am that I chose to have a better hike around Cajas National Park. Everything else was well executed
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you had a fantastic tour with Flavio. His punctuality, clear communication, and detailed explanations are exactly what we strive to offer, and we’re glad they helped make your trip enjoyable. Your note about starting earlier for a longer hike in Cajas is very helpful—we truly appreciate the feedback. 🌄✨ Team Cuenca Bestours
We had a very safe and enjoyable drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca yesterday with Adrian, our driver. While a short stop at a roadside Mango stand to pick up some delicious fresh Mangos was fun, the stop at the small, off the beaten path Chocolate farm was the high point. After a nice arepa and fresh juice lunch with the owner, we proceeded to learn how to make fresh chocolate from Cacao fruit picked from his trees. And the fresh hot chocolate made from the chocolate we made was also delicious. A later stop to the Cajas Park was also interesting - just bring a jacket as it was very cool in the mountain. All in all, this trip was a great value and I highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 🍫✨ We’re delighted to hear that your journey from Guayaquil to Cuenca with Adrian was both safe and enjoyable. The chocolate farm visit and fresh mango stop sound like wonderful highlights! We’re glad you appreciated the blend of nature, culture, and flavor along the way. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Adrian — he’ll be thrilled. Thank you for recommending us! 🌿🚗 Team Cuenca Bestours
I had booked this tour for a family vacation and we encountered a family emergency a few hours before. Unfortunately we were not able to attend, but the process of contacting and canceling with TripAdvisor was beyond my expectations. Not only did they facilitate the process but we felt taken care of and I will definitely be using them for the future and will refer them to friends and family.
Thank you for your thoughtful words. We completely understand that unexpected situations can arise, and we’re glad the process felt smooth and supportive during a difficult moment. Your kind intention to return and recommend us truly means a lot. Cuenca Bestours Team
Wonderful service, highly reliable, and punctual. Everything that we needed. Used them twice so far and will absolutely use them again. Couldn’t recommend them enough.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that our service has been reliable, punctual, and met all your needs. It’s wonderful to know you’ve chosen us more than once, and we look forward to serving you again on your future trips. We truly appreciate your recommendation! Team Cuenca Bestours
CuencaBesTours and our driver Luis were amazing. The organization and prompt responses from CuencaBesTours were excellent. Luis was our guide, and spoke perfect English. He and our driver took us from our hotel in Guayaquil to our hotel in Cuenca, with stops along the way at a cacao farm, a fruit stand, a lunch restaurant, and El Cajas National Park. They also happily added stops for water and a nice viewpoint when we asked. Luis was incredibly knowledgeable about everything we passed along the way, answering all of our questions and offering great anecdotes and facts to help us learn all about Ecuador. He was also so patient with us at El Cajas, when we hiked around Lake Toreadora and our kids had to take several breaks due to altitude. Highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! We're delighted to hear that your experience with Cuenca Bestours and Luis was so memorable. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the journey from Guayaquil to Cuenca with all the personalized stops and insightful commentary along the way. Luis is truly passionate about sharing Ecuador’s beauty and culture, and we're so glad he made your trip both comfortable and enriching. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon! Cuenca Bestours Team
It was easier and more enjoyable than flying to drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca and enjoy stops at cocoa small farm, Cajas National Park (at both Tres Cruces view point and La Toreadora for opportunity of a hike) and lunch at Estancia San Juan.
We’re so glad to hear that the drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca was a more enjoyable and memorable option. The stops at the cocoa farm, Cajas National Park, and Estancia San Juan truly highlight the beauty and culture of the region. We're thrilled you had a great time! Team Cuenca Bestours
Excellent tour. Our guide Wilson was amazing, extremely friendly and professional The ride was comfortable, on time pick up and fun. The stop at the cacao farm was so very authentic . We met the family and explained us how to grow cacao tree and the process to make chocolate. That was so much fun.. then we stopped to a fruits and veggies market. Wow. The best fruits ever! El cajas is absolutely beautiful. We did the whole day hike the next day, it was amazing! Totally recommend that tour. Ask for Wilson!
Dear Nathalie, We at Cuenca Bestours are delighted to hear that you've returned from your day trip with such a happy memory. We're glad that you enjoyed the fruit market, the cacao farm and Cajas. It was a pleasure to Wilson and us to have you on a trip and we hope top see you again. Team Cuenca Bestours
Luis was an amazing guide. He is very knowledgeable guy and we loves all the information he provided along the trip. He is very generous very accommodating. We definitely will recommend to friends and family. Definitely will look for him for future tours.
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Luis. His knowledge and generosity truly make a day trip from Guayaquil, Ecuador memorable. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones on future tours. Safe travels! Cuenca Bestours Team.
The breathtaking nature on the way to a historical city, resilient Ecuadoreans during this difficult time are all very impressed. Our tour guide Louis Gonzales was very knowledgeable and patient, thank you for the rich experience.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Cuenca Bestours. We are thrilled to hear that you found the breathtaking nature on the way to the historical city impressive and that the resilience of the Ecuadoreans left a lasting impact on you during these challenging times. We're especially grateful for your kind words about our tour guide, Louis Gonzales. It's fantastic to know that his knowledge and patience enhanced your experience, providing you with a rich and memorable journey. Cuenca Bestours Team
