Full Day Tour Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolomé from Cuenca
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
In the tour of the artisan villages, you will visit 3 important towns of the province of Azuay such as:Gualaceo, Chordeleg, San Bartolome and in each one you will have the opportunity to know about the elaboration of some crafts such as guitars, jewelery and textiles.
Also during this day you can admire the beautiful landscape of the Andes mixed with the color of the traditional "cholas cuencanas" that always wear their colorful skirts and shawls, and you will enjoy the old colonial style houses.
And for lovers of local food this tour will take you to a local market to enjoy culinary delights.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 1 paying adult
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Infant meals not included
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
A minimum of 1 person per booking is required
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Azuay Province
Starting at 8am approx. In the city of Cuenca, we will head east for 45min. get to San Bartolome, magical place with very old houses and cradle of the best guitar makers in the country. Here you can also visit the central park and its church.
Chordeleg
After this you will continue to Chordeleg place recognized throughout the country for the talent of its jewelers, here you will learn about the technique of the filigree that has given so much fame to Ecuadorian jewelry.
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
All Fees and Taxes
Lunch ( less in the option without lunch)
Transport by private vehicle
Drinks
Tips
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private tour
Private Tour: Tour only for you, designed according to your requirements, you will decide the pick up time and other details.
Pickup included
Group tour with local lunch
Group tour: Perfect option for people who want to enjoy a nice tour plus local lunch.
Pickup included
Group tour without lunch
Perfect option for people who prefer to bring their own food
Pickup included
Reviews
54 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very informative for the lifestyle of Cuenca and the surrounding areas.
stevenlA6043LG,,Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My guide Edy was super friendly and very knowledgeable in all the cultural and social activities of the area. Highly recommend this day tour to see what the life in Ecuador is.
All day artisan/mountain tour.
Trail652659,,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour today was so great. We appreciated and enjoyed every place we visited and also the information provided by our tour guide. We visited Artisans making guitars, miniature ceramics, silver filigree, and weaving . We were served a great Ecuadorian style lunch and a tour of hundreds of beautiful orchids. We saw 16th and 17th century architecture, and a Spanish aqueduct nestled amongst tremendous mountain landscapes. Gracias por brindarnos un maravilloso recorrido durante todo el día. Not to be missed!
Great tour
322roya,,Jul 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The artisan workshops were incredible to visit. Diego was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun to tour with. Xxxxxxx
Great way to get to know the regional artisans
Emiel-st,,Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An excellent trip! Edison was so knowledgeable about anything and everything to do with Cuenca and Azuay. We saw all the big sights and had a lot of flexibility in the itinerary since it was just us. Highly recommend!
Unforgettable Experience: A Must-Do from Cuenca!
Clinton H,,Feb 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00If you’re in Cuenca, do yourself a favor and take this tour with Eddie—it was hands-down the highlight of my trip. Seeing the jewelry-making in Chordeleg and the weaving in Gualaceo was incredible, and getting to watch true masters at work was something I’ll never forget. Eddie made the whole experience even better with his knowledge and passion for the culture. There’s plenty to do in Cuenca, but getting out to the smaller towns gives you a whole new appreciation for Ecuador. Highly recommend this tour!
Visiting artisans - a highlight of trip!
monicmont,,Feb 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Diego - he is very knowledgeable of Ecuador's natural history and passionate about sharing that knowledge! He was also very kind and respectful to the places and people we visited, which assured us that we chose the right tour group to travel with. As non-Spanish speakers, we enjoyed the opportunity to meet the people who live in these communities, learning about their crafts and appreciating their artistry - from resourcefully handmade guitars to clay handicrafts derived from local rock minerals, beautifully designed textiles from native plants, and meticulously crafted filigree jewelry. Having done the tour towards the end of our time in Ecuador, we acknowledge how much richer our experience was with this guided tour. We learned so much and appreciated the opportunity to connect with the artisans, ask questions, and purchase products directly from them. Thank you for making our tour of Gualaceo, Chordeleg and San Bartolome a highlight of our trip!
Excellent tour!
Tamiam88,,Feb 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent tour. Our guide was top notch. He shared all sorts of interesting information and took excellent care of everyone in the group. Communication was great, they brought water and healthy snacks. I highly recommend Polyepsis for your sightseeing experiences.
Awesome
alchiez,,Jan 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Edison our tour guide is awesome! I would recommend him. It’s so nice to know about Ecuadorian culture, crafts and arts.
A great day trip
joelw843,,Jan 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Diego was a great guide. He explained things well, answered our questions all while being a safe driver. We enjoyed the a stops and lunch.
Edison our tour guide was...
Tina S,,Jan 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Edison our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about our tour. St Bartolome was nice and the guitar factory was so interesting. The jewelry was beautifully crafted as well as the ceramics. The textiles were fantastic. We recommend bringing cash to buy a little bit of everything! 10/10 experience.
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Operated by Polylepis Tours