This is a chance to see some of the smaller villages around Cuenca and appreciate (and purchase!) some of the fine products that are for sale at great prices.

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"If you like hand-produced items then this is definitely a great day out! "

Cuenca is surrounded by several little villages, which are famous for their production of handcrafted goods. These include not only traditional Cholo textiles like colorful ponchos and hats for men and woman but also hand made guitars, wood carvers, and baskets.
The numerous artisans are very welcoming and love to present their arts to visitors. It is a great opportunity to get inspired and to enjoy the more quiet and slower life of rural Ecuador.

We’ll leave the city of Cuenca and go in the northeast direction, where we will start our tour with a visit to San Bartolomé, a village in the Andes, with a spectacular view over the valley of the Santa Barbara river, famous for its handicraft and the manufacture of guitars. We will visit a traditional workshop to observe the process of the making of this incredible instrument.
Then we’ll continue our trip to Chordeleg, known in the whole country for its ceramics and its golden and silvered jewels. Moreover we will visit a workshop where jewels are handmade, where we will watch the process of the fine artwork.
Afterwards we’ll go to the central plaza, where we will see countless artisanal shops.
Then we’ll continue our trip to Gualaceo, where we will visit 2 different, colourful markets, with a great variety of colourful, handmade products.
Last, but not least, we will visit a textile workshop, where we will observe the process of how scarfs and other textiles are made with different looms. Furthermore we’ll learn about the prehispanic Ikat designs of scarfs and ponchos and the technique they used. Then we’ll end our trip and return back to Cuenca (with a lot of handmade souvenirs?).

What to Bring: Comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, camera.

Price: $25.  PLEASE SIGN UP BEFORE 4:00 PM THURSDAY. WE MUST CONFIRM THIS TRIP WITH THE OPERATING AGENCY BY THURSDAY EVENING! 

What’s included: Private transportation all day, a professional bilingual guide and lunch.

Price excludes: Snacks and personal spending