Uku Pacha Tour of Quito

On this tour of Quito we'll relive ancient ancestral customs linked to the Uku Pacha, the underworld of the dead in Inca mythology.

Uku Pacha Tour of Quito

At 9 am we'll meet at the Arco de la Reina, where this tour of Quito will begin.

We'll head first to the San Diego cemetery, where notable figures of Ecuador's history are interred. We'll learn about their lives and explore the cemetery galleries to view some of their mausoleums, which are regarded as works of art.

During our visit, we'll also delve into Inca mythology, focusing on Uku Pacha, the Underworld or world of the dead, ruled by Supay, the Inca god of death.

Next, we'll see the exterior of the Hospicio San Lázaro and walk to the Museo de la Ciudad, a cultural institution in Quito located in the former hospital of San Juan de Dios, a World Heritage Site. Here we'll uncover the history of one of the oldest hospices in South America.

After lunch at the San Ignacio restaurant, featuring a typical dish, we'll visit the Alberto Mena y Caamaño Museum to learn about the massacre following the First Cry of Independence. The tour will continue to the San Francisco convent, one of the largest Franciscan architectural complexes in the Americas, known as the Escorial of the New World.

Following our exploration of the convent, we'll visit the church of the Society of Jesus and conclude at the Yumbos artisan chocolate shop, where we'll taste some of Ecuador's finest chocolate. We'll say goodbye around 12 pm.