Private Tour

Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

4 hours

Mobile ticket

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.

Additional Info

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 [email protected] 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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Transportation

Professional tour guide

Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Food and drinks

Gratuities

What To Expect

Cuenca

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.

2 hours•Admission Not Applicable

Homero Ortega

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.

1 hour•Admission Not Applicable

Options

Private Half Day Tour

Duration: 4 hours
Private Tour: This option allows you to customize the tour and its only for you and your party
Pickup included

Shared Half Day Tour

Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included

Reviews

4.94

82 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

This tour covers the...
Kristine K,
Jun 16, 2025
- Viator
4.00
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.
Visiting Cuenca.
Christine V,
Sep 23, 2024
- Viator
5.00
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.
Wonderful introduction to Cuenca
Kira L,
Jul 11, 2024
- Viator
5.00
The history, the architecture, the knowledge of a local Cuencano. I loved the mix of driving and walking. Cristian was an amazing guide!
Knowledgeable and enthusiastic
Vanessa S,
May 21, 2024
- Viator
5.00
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.
Cathedral terrace views.
fionac559,
Apr 11, 2024
- Viator
5.00
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.