2026 Cuenca Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in March)

Real traveler experiences and travel guides for Cuenca in March, 2026

In the past 7 days, 1 travel guides for Cuenca have been added, helping 35 travelers with their trips

In the past 30 days, 3 travel guides for Cuenca have been added, helping 51 travelers with their trips

Returned to Plaza Mayor for lunch from Manganata. Passed by the Seminario Conciliar de San Julián, built in the 18th century as a Catholic seminary to train clergy. It is now part of the University of Castilla-La Mancha. A Spanish bank. Chosen a local restaurant in Plaza Mayor. The interior was charmingly decorated. The signature venison meatballs (right) were about the size of a lion's head, filled with Manchego cheese and wrapped in mashed potatoes. The garlic-braised cod (top left) consisted of mashed pickled cod, potatoes, and garlic, served with a poached egg and bread. We also ordered a salad (bottom left). For dessert, we had Torrijas, a Spanish-style French toast found in many parts of Spain. In Cuenca, the bread is soaked in a large amount of syrup and is typically eaten during Holy Week, before Easter; it's incredibly sweet. After lunch, we took a taxi back to Cuenca train station and boarded the train back to Madrid.

This pristine natural setting, where you can feel like a tiny speck in a world of mountains and lakes, is located just outside of Cuenca. You can get to the park by bus for $3, which departs from the bus station every half hour. I love places like this, and even though this park wasn't exactly my favorite, and even from the photos it was clear that all the landscapes there were pretty similar, I still decided to go! And near Cuenca, it's practically the only attraction that's easy and quick to get to. We were, of course, unlucky with the weather. Almost everything was foggy, making the landscape truly seem very dull and unappealing (I know, many of you love foggy photos, enjoy 😄). At one point, we even had to put on raincoats because a harsh Ecuadorian downpour caught us somewhere in the middle of the trail, and there was absolutely nowhere to hide. There are several routes through the park, but we chose a short, circular one that didn't take long. We were most impressed by the "fairytale" forest among the bright green mosses, very reminiscent of the dancing forest in the Kaliningrad region (anyone who's been to the Curonian Spit will understand). Even in the rain, the colors seemed vibrant and saturated, so beautiful was nature's creation! But we actually added some color to the park ourselves 😄 It's cold in Cajas Park. As usual, I was freezing! I was hoping for good weather, so I didn't even bring a windbreaker; I was wearing a fleece, which wasn't enough for the weather. The park itself is located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level, and the sun didn't grace us with its presence that day. Life teaches me nothing 😄 It turns out this is typical weather for Cuenca, mostly cloudy and foggy, so if you go, pack warm clothes. #Ecuador #Cuenca #Cajas #ElCajas #Nature #Mountains

Cuenca... A city from which I had way too many expectations 🇪🇨 I'd heard a lot about Cuenca: that it's an incredibly beautiful city, even the most beautiful in Ecuador, that many Europeans live there because it's a city for freelancers, very convenient for relocation. Also, my colleague lived there for quite a while during the pandemic and also praised Cuenca highly. I don't like having high expectations from a city (or anything, for that matter), because it usually leads to disappointment. My expectations, if they exist, are usually sky-high 😄 So, I was a bit disappointed with Cuenca – it's just a city. Yes, it has a cute and cozy historic center, colonial architecture, but nothing so special that I'd fall madly in love with it. There are many similar cities, well, at least for me. I certainly wouldn't call Cuenca the most beautiful city in Ecuador—for me, Quito is unrivaled; I can't even seriously compare them. Well, now to the point. The city center is beautiful and fairly well-maintained, with historic architecture, cobbled streets, monuments, and cathedrals—there's plenty of everything to stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere. They also have a really cool idea of ​​painting metal boxes on the streets (most likely hidden wires); it's a whole new genre of street art. And high up on the hill, there's a nice viewpoint called Turi with a view of the entire city. We had a great time taking photos there during a terrible downpour—it's still rainy season, so we mostly just ran from rooftop to rooftop. If you're in Ecuador, don't forget to stop by Cuenca ☺️ #Cities #Ecuador #Cuenca

Cuenca is a great city to spend some time in or even to live in. The center of Cuenca has a clean old town, and the streets are full of beautiful views. From Cuenca, you can visit the Inca excavations at Ingapirca, take several hikes in the national park, or simply go fishing. and don't forget to go horseback riding at “centro ecuestre bellavista”. The air in Cuenca is relatively dry, and the humidity in your apartment or house is close to the ideal 50%. The city is cool at night and warm during the day.

#holidayitinerary El Cajas National Park in Azuay Ecuador is a breathtaking natural wonder that offers dramatic landscapes and pure tranquility. Located just outside the city of Cuenca, the park is known for its high altitude lakes, rolling hills, and rugged mountains. Hiking here is an unforgettable experience, with trails that lead through misty valleys, crystal clear lagoons, and patches of native forest. The unique páramo ecosystem is home to diverse wildlife, including llamas, deer, and a variety of bird species, making it a paradise for nature lovers. The views are often dramatic, with shifting clouds creating an almost mystical atmosphere. Visitors should be prepared for cool weather, but the beauty of the park makes it worthwhile. El Cajas is a place where you can disconnect from the noise of the city and reconnect with nature’s serenity.

#holidayitinerary Cuenca in Azuay Ecuador is a city that charms visitors with its colonial elegance, cultural richness, and laid back lifestyle. Known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is filled with cobblestone streets, beautiful plazas, and historic churches such as the stunning New Cathedral with its iconic blue domes. The Tomebamba River flows through the city, offering peaceful walking paths lined with flowers and greenery. Cuenca is also famous for its artisan markets where you can find Panama hats, handcrafted jewelry, and traditional textiles. The city’s museums showcase its fascinating history, from pre Columbian cultures to Spanish influence. With a lively cafe scene and delicious local food, it is a great place to relax and enjoy the rhythm of daily life. Cuenca blends history, art, and nature, making it one of the most captivating cities in Ecuador.

Beautiful safe city in the rolling mountains of Cuenca about 3 hours from Guayaquil. International food, art scene is divine, hotels are lovely and modern but historic, churches are on every corner, center is so accessible. Try any type of home grown coffee chocolate and ice cream!#travel

lovely city in August with lots of shopping - and safe UNESCO world heritage sites. Great food and cultural events. Go to Banos for the hit springs and mud baths!

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip Cuenca is a city at an altitude of 2,560m. Even though it is on the equator, it is a relatively comfortable place to live in Ecuador. The cityscape built during the Spanish colonial period is registered as a World Heritage Site as the "Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Rios Cuenca."

📍 Itinerary Overview 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions 🚇 Transportation 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine 🏠 Accommodation 💡 Tips

We entered Ecuador, the 40th country in our round-the-world trip. As soon as we arrived at the first stop, Cuenca, we loved it very much! Ecuador means the country of the equator in Spanish, but Cuenca belongs to the Andes Mountains, with an altitude of 2,500 meters. It is spring-like all year round and is cool and pleasant. It has the same name as the Spanish city of Cuenca. It is an ancient Inca city rebuilt by Spanish colonists in 1557. It is also listed as a cultural heritage city by UNESCO. Cuenca is called the second Cusco by many people. After we came here, we felt that Cuenca was cleaner, more comfortable and livable than Cusco, and a little more beautiful. The most attractive thing among tourists in Cuenca’s old town is the New Church. The church combines Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque architectural features, and its blue and white dome is particularly eye-catching. November 3rd is Cuenca’s Independence Day. It is a more important festival than the Day of the Dead. There are many parades, street performances, food streets, art exhibitions, etc. every day. Although I have not been to the Day of the Dead in Mexico, I still enjoy it in Cuenca. After an Independence Day, it was quite unique. I always feel that what makes us fall in love with a city is not only the scenery, but also the people here. Whether it is the crowds of people celebrating carnivally during festivals, the shy children performing on the street, or our sofa hosts, Brother Jia’s family from Henan, it is their enthusiasm that shortens the distance between people and makes a city more beautiful. Lively and lovely.