Home > Cuenca > Day Trip to Gualaceo and Chordeleg from Cuenca
USD $43.00
Day Trip to Gualaceo and Chordeleg from Cuenca
Cuenca, Ecuador
Visit the charming handicraft towns of Gualaceo and Chordeleg on this full-day excursion with a local guide. Traveling a short distance from Cuenca, you’ll understand the allure of these quaint Ecuadorian villages – a haven for textiles such as woven shawls, straw hats and beautiful, hand-embroidered clothing. Stroll past jewelry shops in Chordeleg’s central plaza, visit the traditional weavers of nearby Bulcay, and check out the CIDAP museum to learn more about this authentic side of Ecuador.
Departing from Cuenca with your friendly guide, relax on the scenic drive to the two small villages of Gualaceo and Chordeleg. These bucolic towns are well known for their traditionally made handicrafts, such as the macanas (shawls) that women have woven from alpaca wool for centuries. First stop of the day is a quick visit to San Bartolome, a small town located next to the Andes Mountain Range. Famous for its crafty, handmade guitars, you'll visit a local shop to observe the process of making this instrument. Then, head to nearby Chordeleg, famous for the jewelry shops that line the streets and large plaza. Walk through the clean, tranquil town with your guide and admire the intricate silver and gold filigree sold at great prices. You'll have time to shop around and check out the local jewelry and other crafts made by locals in the towns central plaza.
Next, head to Gualaceo, situated along the banks of the Santa Barbara River. In the quiet central square that includes a main church, admire the vivid, bright colors of the clothing worn by the local women. Stroll down the streets or visit the market, where the locals sell folkloric handicrafts and textiles, such as the characteristic white straw hats, as well as blouses, skirts and linens hand-embroidered with magenta, orange and yellow thread. Learn from your guide about the significance of the pre-Columbian patterns and designs such as birds and flowers.You'll have time to eat lunch before heading to a local textile whop, where you'll see the process of weaving. After a full day outside of Cuenca, you'll be dropped-off at your hotel.
I enjoyed the tour. Lots of jewelry shopping at Chordeleg. Loved seeing the guitar makers at St. Bartolomé and the ikat weavers on the way back. We stopped at the beautiful orchid farm, well worth your time. Did not spend enough time in Gualaceo, only went to the market. Our tour seemed like it was about 3/4 of a day, not a full day tour.
Review by: Lorri G, January 2017
Marilin was a gem of a guide! We had a terrific time tooling around Chordeleg and Gualaceo! We especially loved going along with her to her favorite restaurant, Fritados de Certainteed, where we enjoyed traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. Thanks Marilin!
Review by: L K D, August 2016
The guide was terrific and very knowledgable. As the only non Spanish speaking person he was very good at making sure he translated every detail. A good way to see a couple of small towns outside of Cuenca
Review by: Joyce C, May 2016
Everything about this tour was fantastic.Sebastian was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and also provided a lot of information about Ecuador and Cuenca. His English was near perfect. We made a slight modification to the itinerary to satisfy my request it turned out to be a private tour. The lunch was excellent. I had plenty of time to shop around on my own. Never felt rushed. What a wonderful way to spend the day.
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