'''Cuenca''' is the third largest city in Ecuador and the capital of Azuay Province.

Understand

  • Population - about 400,000
  • Currency - Ecuadorian currency is the US dollar
  • Elevation - 2,400 meters (7,800 feet)
  • Climate - mild year round
  • Rainy season - afternoon showers - October - December, March - May
  • Dry season - June - September
  • Get in

  • '''By plane''': There are daily local flights from and to Quito, Guayaquil and neighbouring countries as well. Currently TAME (http://www.tame.com.ec/tame/english/home/default.asp) and Aero Gal both offer daily service to Cuenca.
  • '''By bus/car''': Cuenca lies on the Panamerican highway. Buses offer connections to many cities in Ecuador. Loja for connections to Vilcabamba (4.5 h, $7.5). Regional buses leave from the bus terminal. There is a $0.10 departure fee for leaving from the bus terminal.
  • Get around

    Cuenca's city center is a good place to stroll. Cabs are readily available and charge $1-$2 ($1 more at night) per trip (as of 2006). The fee should be negotiated before entering the car. City buses are also fairly easy to figure out, particularly if you are going to major destinations such as Banos, the bus terminal or downtown. Most bus stops are marked, but often you can flag the bus down on a corner as well. City buses cost $0.25 (as of Apr 2009) per ride ('''exact''' change is required as you put coins into a machine, there is no fare collector on the bus).

    See

  • '''Banos''' - A beautiful spot just outside of Cuenca with large lakes for fishing. This is not to be confused with the Banos further north which is the entrance to the Rainforest. There are thermal baths ($5.50) available at a hotel complex which includes a few hot pool at 36C and turkish baths.
  • There are must see 2 cathedrals in the old-town section: The '''New Cathedral''' (c 1885) and the old cathedral known as '''El Sagrario''' (construction began in 1557). The New Cathedral can be seen for free and El Sagrario the can be seen for 2$. A restoration project has been completed for El Sagrario recently and the original paint and old murals can now be seen in certain sections.
  • Do

    There are many Spanish language schools for foreign visitors in Cuenca.

    Buy

    Buy some flowers at the market at the rear of the old church. Continue on about a block from there to get to the clothing and artesan market where one can also find knit crafts from Otavalo. Lovely handmade ruanas, sweaters, hats, mittens, and finger puppets are also available here. Inside the yellow building across from the police station at the market other artesians have booths with beautiful embroidery, metal, wood and leather work, Panama hats, musical instruments, knit goods, jewelry and other handicrafts.
  • '''ABC Libreria''', at Padre Aguirre 8-11 y Sucre, Phone: 593-7 2845 749. diagonal to the flower market has a large selection of English books.
  • Rafael Paredes & Hijos. 31-569. To buy from their fine range of Panama hats. You get a short tour round, an explanation of how they are made and a chance to see your hat go from a simple woven straw cone to a finished wearable hat. Various styles, mens and womens and sizes.

    Eat

    La Fornace is the best pizza place in Cuenca and has three or four branches there. The fruit pizza is excellent and quite inexpensive. The ice cream there is also delicious and costs about 70__ for the first scoop. Some of the "hole in the wall" diners and eateries can surprise you, though, so don't discount them. There's a small restaurant located between two shops on the main plaza, where they serve wonderful chicken with vegetables.

    Drink

  • '''La Mesa''' is a great salsateque on wednesday nights. Full of locals and extended stay travelers. Extremely fun.
  • '''El Cafecito''' hostel-bar-restaurant. Appears very noisy and uncomfortable as a hotel, but it is a good place to eat lasagna or sandwiches although more expensive than most places. El Cafecito is the perfect place to start your night with a few drinks and to then proceed elsewhere.
  • Sleep

  • '''Casa Sol''', Estevez de Toral 10-33 and Gran Colombia, tel: 07-2822507, Nice family run hostel near center. Price: 6 USD (September 2008) including breakfast Bed quality varies, atmosphere is great and the owners (Luis and Maria-elena) are very helpful. You can use their kitchen and laundry facility is available. To get there, take bus 28 from the bus terminal (25 dollarcent) and get off at Estevez de Toral. The hostel doesn't have a sign, so look for the number.
  • '''Hotel Inca Real''': Charming heritage site at General Torres 8-40 between Sucre and Bolivar, behind the new cathedral. Most rooms are large, and all are quiet. All room windows open onto interior courtyards. Three colonial houses joined into one charming hotel. There are three interior courtyards. The first is the hotel lobby and breakfast room, the second has a lovely fountain, and the third is a quiet hideaway. Phone: 07-2823-636. $US 45.14 for two people, including tax and breakfast.
  • '''La Cofrada del Monje''', Phone: 2831251. Great location on Plaza San Francisco at Presidente Cordova 10-33 y Padre Aguirre. The rooms may be a bit noisy with the windows open, but the street noise will die down after dark when the buses quit running. If you're concerned about noise, the quietest rooms are on the sides: 1, 2, 6, 7. The hot water available. US$ 32.00 for two people, tax and breakfast included.
  • '''Casa Naranja''' at Mariscal Lamar 10 38 & Padre Aguirre has nice rooms at less than $US 20.
  • '''Hostal Macondo''' at Calle Tarqui 11 64 & Mariscal Lamar, [http://www.hostalmacondo.com] is situated in an old colonial building with a pretty courtyard. The price includes breakfast. Very pretty but simple rooms, quiet, with a self-serve kitchen, free wireless, book exchange, and large DVD library. Very nice hot showers with good pressure. A private room with a private bathroom is $28 USD (Sept 07).
  • Tourist of the World Hostal. alle Larga 5-79. speranzab65@gmail.com. 829125. rom $7. Hostel with nice views on the river.

    Get out

    '''Cajas National Park''' 1 hour drive to a beautiful national park with beautiful lagoons. Go with a guide or ask for a guide at the park entrance. It is very easy to get lost here as maps are not always accurate.

    '''Sig Sig and Chordeleg''' Lovely towns about an hour outside of Cuenca. The landscape during the bus ride is quite scenic. Chordeleg is known for its silver and gold and is a pleasant town to walk around in. Sig Sig is known for a co-op of women who weave 'sombrero de paja toquilla' aka 'Panama Hats' or 'Montecristi'. There is a beautiful river to sit by and a market to visit.