Cuenca: Half-Day City Tour including Panama Hat Factory｜Ecuador

Head through Cuenca's 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.

Begin in the San Sebastian neighborhood, a traditional neighborhood of Cuenca that constitutes the city's western colonial border. It houses the Modern Art Museum where the famous Bienal International of Cuenca takes place. This event belongs to a select group of macro art events established in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Explore not only the exhibits but also the historical house with its traditional architecture. Visit the San Francisco market, the flower market, Abdon Calderon Park, the cathedral “El Sagrario”, known as the “Old Cathedral”, and lastly, tour the “New Cathedral” which is considered one of the biggest churches in Latin America.

See the famous gold leaf altar in the New Cathedral. Continue to a Panama hat factory. Observe and learn about the fabrication of a fiber called “Paja toquilla.” Your guide will tell you not only about the process of making these hats but also the story of why they are called "Panama Hats" and the importance of this product in the local economy.

See hats ranging from classic simple ones to colorful, elegantly designed and costly ones. Drive through the “Barranco” which is an area of terraced houses located next to the Tomebamba River. Finally, go to “Mirador de Turi” (scenic viewpoint) to enjoy the beautiful vista of the Cuenca landscape.