Cuenca, (full name Santa Ana de Los Cuatro Rios de Cuenca), is the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca, which literally means "basin", is a vibrant, colonial city in southern Ecuador and the third-largest in the country with a population of approximately 620,000. The dominant features of the city's geography are also the source of its name in Spanish: the four rivers of Cuenca (meaning a basin made by a confluence of rivers). These rivers are the Tomebamba (named after the Cañari culture), the Yanuncay, the Tarqui , and the Machangara, in order of importance. All four rivers are part of the Amazon river watershed.
Cuenca is located in the highlands (Andes) of Ecuador about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level. Its climate is very temperate with an average high of 75 degrees F (18C) and an average low of 50 degrees F (10C), making it enjoyable year-round.
Cuenca's El Centro is listed as a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE TRUST site because of its many historical buildings constructed of marble, granite or adobe. Cuenca is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with passes leading to all other parts of the country. Everywhere you look in Cuenca, there are flowers, blooming trees, grass and the rushing waters of the rivers.
Cuenca recently hired an urban planning company to design 80 km of bicycle trails that will be constructed throughout the city in addition to the existing trails running along the rivers. And a Tranvía rapid transit system and will become fully operational in early 2018.
Cuenca is a city whose culture encompasses several hundred years at the same time. While walking in Cuenca, you will see modern buildings while also seeing natives washing their clothes in the river while talking on cell phones. You will see many modern vehicles as well as people moving their cows and horses to graze along the rivers and in parks. You will see people milking their goats at the mercados, trucks delivering fresh milk to residences or you can go shopping in the modern grocery stores with shelves full of merchandise, both local and imported. This is the charm of Cuenca, a culture that progresses with ease yet respectfully holds the traditions and practices of old.
Cuenca has numerous parks (parques) both large and small for the enjoyment and recreation of everyone. The parks are places for sports, relaxation and concerts, all free. One never knows what nice surprise, including fireworks, is going to happen in which park!
Cuenca is busy with festivals and concerts, both indoor and out. There is never a month in the year which doesn't have some celebration to attend and most everything is free of charge.
As you can see, Cuenca has it all and one need never be bored. Instead, you might have trouble deciding what to do when different entertainment falls on the same day -- or, with Cuenca's technological infrastructure, you might decide to stay in, cozy up by the fireplace and watch a movie via satellite TV. Pass the popcorn!
Cuenca is located in the highlands (Andes) of Ecuador about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level. Its climate is very temperate with an average high of 75 degrees F (18C) and an average low of 50 degrees F (10C), making it enjoyable year-round.
Cuenca's El Centro is listed as a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE TRUST site because of its many historical buildings constructed of marble, granite or adobe. Cuenca is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with passes leading to all other parts of the country. Everywhere you look in Cuenca, there are flowers, blooming trees, grass and the rushing waters of the rivers.
Cuenca recently hired an urban planning company to design 80 km of bicycle trails that will be constructed throughout the city in addition to the existing trails running along the rivers. And a Tranvía rapid transit system and will become fully operational in early 2018.
Cuenca is a city whose culture encompasses several hundred years at the same time. While walking in Cuenca, you will see modern buildings while also seeing natives washing their clothes in the river while talking on cell phones. You will see many modern vehicles as well as people moving their cows and horses to graze along the rivers and in parks. You will see people milking their goats at the mercados, trucks delivering fresh milk to residences or you can go shopping in the modern grocery stores with shelves full of merchandise, both local and imported. This is the charm of Cuenca, a culture that progresses with ease yet respectfully holds the traditions and practices of old.
Cuenca has numerous parks (parques) both large and small for the enjoyment and recreation of everyone. The parks are places for sports, relaxation and concerts, all free. One never knows what nice surprise, including fireworks, is going to happen in which park!
Cuenca is busy with festivals and concerts, both indoor and out. There is never a month in the year which doesn't have some celebration to attend and most everything is free of charge.
- Christmas Parade (Pase del Niño Viajero) On 24 December, Cuenca offers a magnificent parade, considered to be the largest and best Christmas celebration in Ecuador and even South America. The procession begins at 10:00 at Iglesia San Sebastian, goes along Calle Simón Bolivar to Parque Calderón and ends up at Parque San Blas. Thousands of musicians accompany the procession and every neighborhood decorates trucks, horses and whatever they can find with plenty of religious symbols, flowers and colorful icons. Children dress up in vivid costumes or as biblical figures. The parade lasts for at least 7 hours and is truly a sight to see.
- The New Cathedral (c 1885) The blue domes of this cathedral, the city's main church, loom majestically over the main plaza in El Centro, Parque Calderon. The park is meticulously cared for with plenty of benches to take in the day and the sights.
- El Sagrario (the "old cathedral" - c 1557) This centuries-old cathedral is a church and a museum whose original paint and murals can be seen in certain sections. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Cuenca.
- Festival de Independencia The Independence of Cuenca is celebrated with a huge festival which begins the first few days of November and lasts for four days. There are hundreds of art displays, craft booths, roving entertainment, street food, and general festivities. Artisans from all over Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Bolivia display and sell their hand-crafted works. During this time there are also many stages with bands and performances.
- Sightseeing Buses A two-hour tour of Cuenca if offered with seating inside or on top of the bus in the open air. This includes a visit to the Mirador de Turi (Turi viewpoint) where one can see the entire basin holding the city of Cuenca.
- Cuenca River Walks These are great places to stroll, relax and enjoy the rushing waters of the rivers. There are even exercise stations along the way and always a tienda nearby if one gets thirsty.
- Pumapungo Museum Also known as the Central Bank Museum, this covers four floors and has expansive grounds with well-preserved Incan ruins. The museum has excellent exhibits for those interested in the complete history of the region and city, including one of real shrunken heads from a tribe in the Amazon.
- Ingapirca Approximately one hour north by automobile are the excavated ruins of Ingapirca (Kichwa: Inkapirka, meaning “Inca wall”). The ruins are located just outside of the small town of El Tambo in Cañar Province. The town was named after the Inca palace and temple site and are the largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador. The ruins have excavated temples of both the Inca and Cañar peoples.
- Hot Springs and Spas in Cuenca On the outskirts of Cuenca, 30 minutes from El Centro, is a quaint little town called Baños which is situated right below a mountain where warm mineral water flows into the valley. The people of this quiet little town took advantage of this natural resource and created numerous mineral spring parks where one can go and swim in the mineral pools, receive a massage, recline in the mud baths or just lay in the sun by the swimming pool.
- Shopping Cuenca has numerous small stores in every neighborhood as well as three malls with retail shops, grocery stores, cinemas and food courts.
As you can see, Cuenca has it all and one need never be bored. Instead, you might have trouble deciding what to do when different entertainment falls on the same day -- or, with Cuenca's technological infrastructure, you might decide to stay in, cozy up by the fireplace and watch a movie via satellite TV. Pass the popcorn!