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Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador and the capital of Azuay Province.

[edit] Understand

• Population - about 400,000
• Currency - Ecuadorian currency is the US dollar
• Elevation - 2,400 meters (7,800 feet)
• Climate - mild year round
• Rainy season - afternoon showers - October - December, March - May
• Dry season - June - September
• Complete Guide and Map of Cuenca

[edit] Get in

• By plane: There are daily local flights from and to Quito, Guayaquil and neighboring countries as well. Currently TAME[1] and Aero Gal both offer daily service to Cuenca.
• By bus/car: Cuenca lies on the Pan-American highway. Buses offer connections to many cities in Ecuador. Loja for connections to Vilcabamba (4.5 h, $7.5). Regional buses leave from the bus terminal. There is a $0.10 departure fee for leaving from the bus terminal.

[edit] Get around

Cuenca's city center is a good place to stroll. Cabs are readily available and charge $1-$2 ($1 more at night) per trip (as of 2006). The fee should be negotiated before entering the car. City buses are also fairly easy to figure out, particularly if you are going to major destinations such as Baños, the bus terminal or downtown. Most bus stops are marked, but often you can flag the bus down on a corner as well. City buses cost $0.25 (as of Apr 2009) per ride (exact change is required as you put coins into a machine, there is no fare collector on the bus).

[edit][add listing] See

• Baños - A beautiful spot just outside of Cuenca with large lakes for fishing. This is not to be confused with the Baños further north which is the entrance to the Rainforest. There are thermal baths ($5.50) available at a hotel complex which includes a few hot pool at 36C and turkish baths.

• There are must see 2 cathedrals in the old-town section: The New Cathedral (c 1885) and the old cathedral known as El Sagrario (construction began in 1557). The New Cathedral can be seen for free and El Sagrario the can be seen for 2$. A restoration project has been completed for El Sagrario recently and the original paint and old murals can now be seen in certain sections.

[edit][add listing] Do

There are many Spanish language schools for foreign visitors in Cuenca.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Buy some flowers at the market at the rear of the old church. Continue on about a block from there to get to the clothing and artesan market where one can also find knit crafts from Otavalo. Lovely handmade ruanas, sweaters, hats, mittens, and finger puppets are also available here. Inside the yellow building across from the police station at the market other artesians have booths with beautiful embroidery, metal, wood and leather work, Panama hats, musical instruments, knit goods, jewelry and other handicrafts.

• ABC Libreria, at Padre Aguirre 8-11 y Sucre, Phone: 593-7 2845 749. diagonal to the flower market has a tiny selection of English books.
• Rafael Paredes & Hijos, ☎ 831-569. To buy from their fine range of Panama hats. You get a short tour round, an explanation of how they are made and a chance to see your hat go from a simple woven straw cone to a finished wearable hat. Various styles, mens and womens and sizes.  edit
• Used Books, Hermano Miguel (near Calle Larga). There are two wonderful used english bookstores --although a bit pricy ($5-20)  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

La Fornace is the best pizza place in Cuenca and has three or four branches there. The fruit pizza is excellent and quite inexpensive. The ice cream there is also delicious and costs about 70¢ for the first scoop. Some of the "hole in the wall" diners and eateries can surprise you, though, so don't discount them. There's a small restaurant located between two shops on the main plaza, where they serve wonderful chicken with vegetables.

• Café Austria, Benigno Malo y Juan Jaramillo, ☎ (593 7) 2840 899. A wonderful café/restaurant. Breakfasts all day. English-language newspapers. Excellent coffee. Lunches and dinners, too. Tranquil, nice ambiance.  edit
• Women's Coop, on General Torres --near Mariscal Sucre ((next to the artisanry market)). closes around 2. Cheap, nutricious, and local lunch with a soup and a drink. Made by indigenous women in a sweet courtyard. Vegetarian and meat option. $1-1.50.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• La Mesa is a great salsateque on wednesday nights. Full of locals and extended stay travelers. Extremely fun.

• El Cafecito hostel-bar-restaurant. Appears very noisy and uncomfortable as a hotel, but it is a good place to eat lasagna or sandwiches although more expensive than most places. El Cafecito is the perfect place to start your night with a few drinks and to then proceed elsewhere.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Posada del Rio Lodging http://www.cuencahostels.com +59372823111 Wonderful, unique cozy hostel in the center of the city with a full kitchen, hot showers 24/7, security, and the friendliest service in town. Warm, homey, and very centrally located.

• Tourist of the World Hostal, Calle Larga 5-79 (esperanzab65@gmail.com), ☎ 2829125. Hostel with nice views on the river, a kitchen, and lots of random DVDs. Also, extremely friendly owners. Just ring the door bell across the street. from $6.  edit

• Casa Sol, Estévez de Toral 10-33 and Gran Colombia, tel: 07-2822507, Nice family run hostel near center. Price: 6 USD (September 2008) including breakfast Bed quality varies, atmosphere is great and the owners (Luis and Maria-elena) are very helpful. You can use their kitchen and laundry facility is available. To get there, take bus 28 from the bus terminal (25 dollarcent) and get off at Estévez de Toral. The hostel doesn't have a sign, so look for the number.

[edit] Middle Range

• Hotel Inca Real: Charming heritage site at General Torres 8-40 between Sucre and Bolivar, behind the new cathedral. Most rooms are large, and all are quiet. All room windows open onto interior courtyards. Three colonial houses joined into one charming hotel. There are three interior courtyards. The first is the hotel lobby and breakfast room, the second has a lovely fountain, and the third is a quiet hideaway. Phone: 07-2823-636. $US 45.14 for two people, including tax and breakfast.

• La Cofrada del Monje, Phone: 2831251. Great location on Plaza San Francisco at Presidente Cordova 10-33 y Padre Aguirre. The rooms may be a bit noisy with the windows open, but the street noise will die down after dark when the buses quit running. If you're concerned about noise, the quietest rooms are on the sides: 1, 2, 6, 7. The hot water available. US$ 32.00 for two people, tax and breakfast included.

• Casa Naranja at Mariscal Lamar 10 38 & Padre Aguirre has nice rooms at less than $US 20.

• Hostal Macondo at Calle Tarqui 11 64 & Mariscal Lamar, [2] is situated in an old colonial building with a pretty courtyard. The price includes breakfast. Very pretty but simple rooms, quiet, with a self-serve kitchen, free wireless, book exchange, and large DVD library. Very nice hot showers with good pressure. A private room with a private bathroom is $28 USD (Sept 07).

• Hotel Milan, Presidente Cordova 8-89 (corner of Padre Aguirre), ☎ 2831104, [3]. The most affordable nice hotel in town. Located in the center, across from the church and square of San Francisco. Most rooms have a balcony. All have cable TV and hot water. Price includes breakfast on the roof. Friendly staff, excellent value. $17 for one person, $25 for double.  edit

[edit] Get out

Cajas National Park 1 hour drive to a beautiful national park with beautiful lagoons. Go with a guide or ask for a guide at the park entrance. It is very easy to get lost here as maps are not always accurate.

Sig Sig and Chordeleg Lovely towns about an hour outside of Cuenca. The landscape during the bus ride is quite scenic. Chordeleg is known for its silver and gold and is a pleasant town to walk around in. Sig Sig is known for a co-op of women who weave 'sombrero de paja toquilla' aka 'Panama Hats' or 'Montecristi'. There is a beautiful river to sit by and a market to visit.