Get to know Cuenca / Conoce Cuenca
Cuenca /The Historic Center (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• **New Cathedral (Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción): You can't miss the famous blue domes. For about $2, you can climb the spiral stairs to the terrace for the best panoramic view of the city’s red-tiled rooftops. • Plaza de las Flores: Right next to the cathedral, this was voted by National Geographic as one of the best outdoor flower markets in the world. It’s small but incredibly vibrant and a great spot for photos. • Panama Hat Museums: Despite the name, these hats actually originated in Ecuador! Visit the Homero Ortega factory or the Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla to see how they are woven by hand.
Plaza de las Flores
Right next to the cathedral, this was voted by National Geographic as one of the best outdoor flower markets in the world. It’s small but incredibly vibrant and a great spot for photos.
La tradicional agua de pitimas
Agua de Pítimas: While at the flower market, look for the famous herbal water—it’s a local tradition said to have "healing" properties for the nerves.
Pumapungo Museum
This is a "three-in-one" stop. It’s a world-class ethnographic museum (featuring shrunken heads from the Amazon), an archaeological site with Incan ruins, and a botanical garden with a bird rescue center
Visitas Ruinas De Ingapirca
If you have a full day, these are the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. They are about 2 hours from Cuenca and feature a unique Sun Temple.
Mirador Turi
Take a quick 10-minute taxi to this lookout point for a sweeping view of the entire city. It’s especially beautiful at sunset. There’s also a famous "swing at the end of the world" nearby for the adventurous
Parque Nacional Cajas
About 45 minutes outside the city, this park looks like the Scottish Highlands. It has over 200 glacial lakes and unique "paper tree" forests. It’s high altitude, so it’s a great place for a light hike and fresh mountain air.
Dos Chorreras Restaurant
Located just outside the city in the Cajas National Park area, this restaurant is famous for its trout and offers a beautiful mountain lodge atmosphere.
Piedra de Agua, Fuente Termal & Spa
Just 15 minutes from downtown is a small town called Baños (not the big adventure town, but a local suburb). It’s famous for thermal hot springs and underground spas carved into volcanic rock.
Tiesto's Cafe Restaurant
Arguably the most famous restaurant in Cuenca, known for its creative presentation of local meats and seafood served in traditional clay pots.
El Mercado
Located in a historic building overlooking the Tomebamba River, it offers a sophisticated menu focusing on fresh, local ingredients and artisanal products.