Azuay · Ecuador

Cuenca

The colonial city in southern Ecuador, a UNESCO World Heritage site: the blue domes of the Catedral, the Río Tomebamba, the toquilla straw hat, the lagoons of Cajas and the Ingapirca ruins.

Serra (Andes)

In the photo: Río Tomebamba

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Cuenca sits in a valley of the southern Andes of Ecuador, at about 2,550 meters, cut by four rivers, the main one being the Tomebamba. It was founded by the Spanish in 1557, near the ruins of Tomebamba, an important Inca city that in turn occupied a Cañari center. The full name, Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca, recalls the rivers. The historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

The center has straight streets of colonial and republican houses with iron and wooden balconies, inner courtyards and churches. In the middle is Parque Calderón, between the Catedral Velha and the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, with domes covered in blue and white tiles. Next to it, the flower market colors the Plaza del Carmen. On the bank of the Tomebamba, the Barranco groups houses hanging over the river, with a riverside promenade.

Cuenca is the city of toquilla straw hats, the Panama hat, whose weaving is Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO; workshops and museums show the process. The Museo Pumapungo preserves the ruins of the Inca city and collections about the peoples of Ecuador. About 30 km away, Parque Nacional Cajas is a páramo of hundreds of lagoons, and about 70 km away are the ruins of Ingapirca, the country's main Inca site.

The climate is mild, with sun and rain often on the same day and cold nights. Many travelers feel the altitude in the first days: take it easy.

This destination brings together 1 city: Cuenca.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Cuenca is

Outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Cuenca

✈ Aeropuerto Mariscal Lamar (CUE) · 2 km to Cuenca

Confirm before buying. Cuenca's airport, Mariscal Lamar, is close to the center and receives flights from Quito and Guayaquil. By road, Guayaquil is about 190 km away, passing through Cajas, and Quito about 450 km. The Terminal Terrestre is next to the airport.

Azuay · Cuenca Capital

Cuenca

Cuenca is the capital of Azuay, in the southern Ecuadorian Andes, at about 2,550 meters, cut by four rivers. The historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has colonial and republican mansions, the Catedral with blue domes, the flower market and the Barranco overlooking the Río Tomebamba. It is the city of toquilla straw hats and the base for Parque Nacional Cajas and Ingapirca.

The local experience

Things to do in Cuenca

Cuenca · Azuay · Neighborhood

Centro histórico de Cuenca

The colonial and republican center of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with straight streets, mansions with balconies, Parque Calderón, the flower market, and churches on every block.

Cuenca · Azuay · Church

Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción

Cuenca's new cathedral, built of brick and marble, with three domes covered in blue and white tiles that are the city's symbol. From the terrace you can see the entire center.

Cuenca · Azuay · Viewpoint

Río Tomebamba e El Barranco

The river that cuts through Cuenca and the Barranco cliff, with houses hanging over the bank, Calle Larga up above, the promenade at the water's edge and the Puente Roto.

Cuenca · Azuay · Museum

Museo Pumapungo

National museum on the banks of the Tomebamba, with the ruins of the Inca city of Tomebamba, a garden of Andean plants, birds and rooms of ethnography about the peoples of Ecuador.

See 2 more places in Cuenca

Cuenca · Azuay · Park

Parque Nacional Cajas

Páramo about 30 km from Cuenca, between 3,100 and 4,450 meters, with hundreds of glacial lakes, paper-tree forests and trails starting from Laguna Toreadora.

Cuenca · Azuay · Archaeological site

Complejo Arqueológico de Ingapirca

The main Inca site in Ecuador, about 70 km from Cuenca, featuring the elliptical Temple of the Sun built of fitted stones atop a center of the Cañari people.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Temperatures change little: mild days around 18 °C and cold nights. From June to September it usually rains less, but it is windier in Cajas; from October to May rains are more frequent, generally in the afternoon. In November the city celebrates Cuenca's independence, and at Christmas there is the Pase del Niño Viajero parade.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days are enough for the historic center, the cathedrals, the Tomebamba, the Museo Pumapungo and the hat workshops. With three or four days you can include Parque Nacional Cajas and Ingapirca on separate day trips.

Which city to stay in

The historic center has hotels in colonial mansions, within walking distance of the cathedrals and the river. Calle Larga and the Barranco, above the Tomebamba, concentrate bars, restaurants and guesthouses. On the other side of the river, neighborhoods like El Ejido have more modern hotels, a few minutes by taxi.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Cuenca

How many days to stay in Cuenca?

Two days for the city; three or four including Parque Nacional Cajas and Ingapirca.

How to get from Guayaquil to Cuenca?

By bus or car, about four hours on the road that crosses Parque Nacional Cajas, or by plane on a short flight.

Do you need a car in Cuenca?

No. The center can be explored on foot, and the tranvía and taxis cover the city. For Cajas and Ingapirca, take a bus, an excursion or hire a driver.

Is the Panama hat from Cuenca?

The toquilla straw hat is woven in Ecuador, especially in Cuenca and on the coast. The name "Panama" comes from the time when it was exported via Panama.

What is the altitude of Cuenca?

About 2,550 meters; Cajas exceeds 4,000. It's common to feel the altitude in the first days: ascend slowly.

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Cuenca

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.