Best Things to Do in Cuenca, Ecuador
Are you looking for the best things to do in Cuenca, Ecuador?
Cuenca was my next stop in Ecuador after a crazy and adventurous time in Baños, and I immediately liked the relaxed yet cosmopolitan vibe of this city. Cuenca is known for its cultural and historical importance, and the city is filled with museums, art galleries, colonial architecture, and Incan ruins.
Although it’s the third-largest city in Ecuador after Quito and Guayaquil, it didn’t feel like a big, sprawling city to me. I found it to be very walkable, with most tourist attractions located in the center.
Interestingly, Cuenca is also a pretty popular destination for retirees from North America. So there are a number of restaurants, shops, and other services that cater to the expats who live here.
I liked Cuenca so much that even though I got the worst 48 hours of food poisoning I’ve ever had in my life from a dodgy dish at the local market, I still left with a favorable impression of the city. (And don’t worry, I’ll talk about how to avoid a similar fate further down in this guide of things to do in Cuenca!)
How do you get to Cuenca?
There are no international flights to Cuenca, but you can take a short domestic flight from either Quito or Guayaquil. If you’re coming from Baños like I was, you can also take a LONG but scenic and pretty comfortable bus ride. I used the Amazonas bus company, and it took about 7.5 hours.
How many days do you need for Cuenca?
I recommend spending at least two full days in the city of Cuenca to experience everything, and then one or two additional days for day trips from Cuenca (which I’ll discuss more below.)
Where should you stay in Cuenca?
I’ve written a whole guide about where to stay in Cuenca that covers the best hotels and hostels for every budget. I highly recommend choosing something central in the historic heart of Cuenca!
Now let’s get into the best things to do in Cuenca, Ecuador:
1. Visit the New Cathedral of Cuenca
One of your first stops in the city should be the New Cathedral of Cuenca. Also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, this blue-domed church is a striking icon of the city.
It replaced the colonial-era Old Cathedral of Cuenca (which is located on the opposite side of the square outside the New Cathedral) in the late 19th century. Construction on the cathedral began in 1885 and it was not officially completed until 1975. It was worth the wait, because it’s a beautiful cathedral.
The interior is worth a visit, but you should also make sure to climb to the top for a great view over the city (it costs just $1.) Behind the cathedral, there’s a lovely courtyard with shops and cafes.
2. Explore the area around the cathedral
There are several other great spots to check out right around the New Cathedral of Cuenca.
Right outside the cathedral across the street, you’ll find a small square called the Plaza de las Flores, which is filled with flower vendors. This is also where you can get some agua de pitimas, a popular herbal drink that is said to have medicinal properties. Some nuns sell the drink from a little stall here.
Across from the front entrance of the cathedral, you’ll find Parque Calderón. This central park filled with benches and leafy green trees is a great place to rest for a while and do some people-watching.
On the opposite side of Parque Calderón from the New Cathedral, you’ll find the Old Cathedral of Cuenca. This is the original church dating back to the 16th century, and it’s now a religious art museum.
One block from the cathedral is Plaza de San Francisco, where you’ll find large letters spelling out “Cuenca.” This is a good spot to take some photos with the letters and the cathedral in the background.
3. Take a free walking tour
Another one of my top recommendations for Cuenca is a free walking tour. I like to do these every time I arrive in a new city, because it’s a great way to get an overview of a destination and find cool spots to check out. Keep in mind that these tours are not actually free, because the guides work on tips.
These sorts of walking tours can be hit or miss, but the one I did in Cuenca was excellent. This is the walking tour that I did. Tours happen twice a day every day except Sunday, and last two hours.
4. Go to the Pumapungo Museum
If you only visit one museum in Cuenca, make it the Pumapungo Museum. This is an amazing, large museum that is focused on the history, ethnography, and archaeology of indigenous groups in Ecuador.
Although many people only think of neighboring Peru when they think of the Incans, Ecuador was also part of the Incan Empire. Today, Ecuador has over a dozen indigenous groups living in the highlands and the Amazon. The largest group is the Quechua, which is also found in Peru and other countries.
I found the exhibits inside the museum to be super interesting and informative, but outside the museum, there’s even more to explore. Right here in the middle of the city are Incan ruins, which are now part of the museum grounds. You can easily spend several hours indoors and outdoors at this museum.
The museum is open every day except Monday, and admission is free!
5. Visit the Mercado 10 de Agosto
The Mercado 10 de Agosto is a cool place to check out in Cuenca. This large indoor market is filled with many vendors. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience here because the lunch I ordered at one of the food stalls made me sick and gave me the worst case of food poisoning I’ve had while traveling!
However, I think this is because I unknowingly ordered a dish with meat in it (I’m a long-time vegetarian and despite speaking Spanish and attempting to confirm that the food I was ordering was vegetarian, something got lost in translation.) I had several bites before realizing that I was eating meat.
Also, I had a fruit smoothie with my meal. I don’t know how the fruit was handled or if it was washed in tap water, but this is something you should typically avoid in developing countries. So between the food I consumed or the smoothie, something made me extremely ill for the following 48 hours!
I don’t want to put you off the market, though. However, instead of getting lunch there, you can try something a little different: a limpia. Numerous vendors inside the market offer this service, typically on Tuesdays and Fridays. It’s a very unique ritual that is designed to improve your health and cleanse you.
6. Go to the Mirador de Turi
If you’re looking for a scenic view of Cuenca, head to the Mirador de Turi. This viewpoint offers sweeping views of the city from above, and is a great place to go to snap some pictures of the scenery.
It’s a bit of a long walk from the historic center (about 50 minutes) or a 15-minute drive. Taxis in Cuenca are really cheap, so that’s your best bet for getting up there. You might want to ask your driver to wait a bit and take you back down, though, since taxis can be hard to come by once you’re up at the viewpoint.
Side note: The Mall del Rio, a big, modern shopping center is right below the viewpoint.
7. Shop at the Mercado de Artesanías
Cuenca is a city that’s known for its textiles and artisan craftmanship. (Fun fact: Cuenca is also where the famous Panama hat originates — yes, it’s Ecuadorian, and not actually Panamanian!) If you’re looking to shop for unique, handmade souvenirs in Cuenca, the best place to go is the Mercado de Artesanías.
This market is located about a 15-minute walk from center of Cuenca where the cathedral is. It features many stalls selling beautiful, artisan goods from local vendors, including many indigenous vendors.
8. Check out the Municipal Museum of Modern Art
Another museum in Cuenca that’s worth a visit is the Municipal Museum of Modern Art. Since I ended up getting sick, I unfortunately did not end up having time to make it here myself.
But I definitely wish I could have gone! Housed in a colonial-era building near the Rio Tomebamba, this museum features a collection of modern art from primarily local Ecuadorian artists. Admission is free.
9. Explore Cajas National Park
While you’re in Cuenca, I highly recommend taking a day trip to Cajas National Park. The diverse scenery of Ecuador constantly blew me away during the weeks I spent there, and this national park was no exception. Interestingly, the scenery here actually reminded me a lot of the Scottish Highlands!
Cajas National Park is easily accessible from Cuenca, just a 40-minute drive away. You can get there by bus ($1.50 each way) or opt for a guided tour, which is what I did. I still wasn’t feeling 100% after my bout of food poisoning, so I decided to pay more and go for an easier option so I could just relax.
This is the exact tour that I did, and it included plenty of time in the national park, some easy walks accompanied by the local guide, and an included meal at a restaurant before heading back to Cuenca.
10. See the Ingapirca ruins
Finally, one more great day trip you can do from Cuenca is the Ingapirca ruins. Sadly, I had to cancel my day trip here because of my food poisoning ordeal. But I really wish that I could have gone!
Although they aren’t the most impressive Incan ruins in South America (head to Machu Picchu in Peru for that), the Ingapirca ruins are worth seeing on a day trip from Cuenca. Located about 1.5 hours from the city by car, these ruins are the largest and most significant of Ecuador’s archaeological sites.
The best way to visit the Ingapirca ruins is on a tour. This guided tour includes a full-day visit to the archaeological site accompanied by a local guide, along with a restaurant meal before heading back to Cuenca.
What to Do in Cuenca, Ecuador
This guide showed you the best things to do in Cuenca, Ecuador.
I really loved this city, and I would definitely return one day in the future. I highly recommend setting aside at least two full days for Cuenca, and one or two days for day trips outside the city. If you only have time for one day trip, Cajas National Park is really easy to get to and has some truly stunning scenery.
Have a great trip to Cuenca!
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