Top places to visit in Cuenca

• Mercado 10 de Agosto

  food_market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A lively multi-storey local market for produce, juices, hornado and the famous limpia (energy cleansing) by traditional healers upstairs.

• Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (New Cathedral)

  church · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Cuenca's emblem — a vast cathedral with three blue-and-white tiled domes and a marble interior, facing Parque Calderón. Rooftop visits give Old Town views.

• Mirador de Turi

  hill · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A hilltop church and lookout south of the city giving the classic panoramic view over Cuenca's red-tiled roofs and domes, best at dusk.

• Museo del Sombrero / Homero Ortega

  craft · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A working Panama-hat (paja toquilla) factory and museum where you can watch master weavers and buy authentic toquilla-straw hats — a UNESCO intangible heritage craft.

• Catedral Vieja (El Sagrario)

  heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The 16th-century Old Cathedral on Parque Calderón, now a religious-art museum, where a point of the 18th-century French Geodesic Mission was measured.

• El Barranco & Río Tomebamba

  riverside · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The scenic riverbank where colonial houses (Casas Colgadas) hang over the Tomebamba; a leafy walk linking the Old Town to the museums.

• Parque Calderón

  plaza · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Cuenca's central plaza shaded by towering araucaria trees, ringed by the two cathedrals and colonial buildings — the social heart of the city.

• Museo Pumapungo

  archaeology · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Cuenca's major museum combining ethnographic galleries (including shrunken heads/tsantsas), an art collection and the Inca/Cañari ruins of Pumapungo with a bird park.

• Parque Nacional Cajas

  national_park · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A high páramo national park ~30 km west of Cuenca with hundreds of glacial lakes, polylepis forest and excellent day hikes between 3,100–4,400 m.

Things to do

• Cuenca Historic City Tour City Tour · 3 h · from USD 28 per person
• Panama Hat Workshop Visit Workshop · 1.5 h · from USD 20 per person
• Gualaceo & Chordeleg Craft Villages Tour Day Tour · 5 h · from USD 45 per person

Day trips and tours

• Cuenca City & Cajas National Park Combo 9 h · from USD 90

Where to stay in Cuenca

• Centro Histórico about USD 85 per night

  The walkable colonial heart around Parque Calderón, close to cathedrals, museums and the Barranco.

Hotels

• Mansión Alcázar 5-star · USD 160 to USD 300 per night
• Hotel Victoria 4-star · USD 90 to USD 160 per night
• Hotel Santa Lucía 4-star · USD 75 to USD 130 per night
• Selina Cuenca 3-star · USD 13 to USD 60 per night

Where to eat

• Tiestos Ecuadorian, Fusion · about USD 25 per person
• Raymipampa Ecuadorian, Cafe · about USD 10 per person
• El Mercado Ecuadorian, Contemporary · about USD 22 per person
• Moliendo Café Colombian, Cafe · about USD 8 per person
• Tutto Matto Italian, Pizza · about USD 15 per person
• Hornado del Mercado 10 de Agosto Ecuadorian, Street Food · about USD 5 per person

Getting to Cuenca

Airport: Cuenca (CUE)

How visitors arrive in Cuenca

• Flight from Quito or Guayaquil By air from Quito · common

  Cuenca's airport is served by domestic flights from Quito and Guayaquil; most other trips need a connection. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus along the Pan-American Highway By road from Ecuadorian cities · common

  A well-developed national bus network links Cuenca with many Ecuadorian cities and with northern Peru. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport taxi

  A taxi takes you from Mariscal Lamar airport to the city centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Tranvia tram unconfirmed

  The Tranvia tram is mentioned as a way to reach the centre from the airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Most international arrivals connect through Quito or Guayaquil, and you may clear security again. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  City buses run across Cuenca, and fares can be paid with a prepaid SIT card as well as coins.

• Ride Hail
• Taxi

  Taxis are readily available in Cuenca, and while some use meters, fares are often agreed before getting in.

• Tram

  The Tranvía is a light-rail line running north to south through Cuenca, passing through the historic centre.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Bus terminal pickpockets

  Terminal Terrestre, markets

  Crowding and bag-slashing while you board or browse.

  How to avoid it: Wear bags in front, keep zips secured and don't put valuables in outer pockets.

Best time to visit Cuenca

• Jan 22°C
• Feb 21°C
• Mar 21°C
• Apr 21°C
• May 21°C
• Jun 20°C
• Jul 19°C
• Aug 20°C
• Sep 20°C
• Oct 22°C
• Nov 22°C
• Dec 22°C

More in Ecuador

• Puerto Ayora
• Quito
• Baños de Agua Santa
• Otavalo
• Guayaquil
• Mindo

Frequently asked questions about Cuenca

What are the top-rated places to visit in Cuenca?

The highest-rated places in our Cuenca guide are Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (New Cathedral), Mirador de Turi, Parque Nacional Cajas, Museo del Sombrero / Homero Ortega, Catedral Vieja (El Sagrario).

Where should I stay in Cuenca?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Cuenca: Centro Histórico.

How do I get around Cuenca?

Ways to get around Cuenca covered in our guide: City bus, Ride-hailing app, Taxi, Tram.

What scams should I watch out for in Cuenca?

Scams reported to us for Cuenca include Bus terminal pickpockets. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Cuenca?

Average daytime highs in Cuenca run from 19°C in Jul to 22°C in Nov.

Which airport is nearest to Cuenca?

The nearest airport to Cuenca has the code CUE.