Things to Do in Cuenca

By Christopher Minster

Cuenca is one of Ecuador’s most elegant and beautiful cities. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural site, a fact of which the locals are immeasurably proud. The easiest and most obvious thing to do in Cuenca is to simply stroll around the historic downtown, marveling at the architecture in and around the well-kept central park.

You can not walk far with running into a colonial church; Cuenca supposedly has 52, one for every Sunday of the year. The number of churches you visit will depend on your level of interest, but the La Inmaculada (the new cathedral) and El Sagrario (the old cathedral), both on the central park, should not be missed. There are also several museums of note, including the Pumapungo museum complex (also known as the Central Bank Museum) which has very good exhibits for those interested in the complete history of the region and city.

No trip to Cuenca is complete without a trip to the Mirador Turi (Turi Overlook) where you can get an overview of the city. The lookout point is on a modest hill to the south of the city and on a clear day, the view is spectacular. There is a small church there and some coin-operated binoculars.

All Activities in Cuenca

Great V!VA Travel Guides Books about Cuenca

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