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Cuenca

Travel Guide > South America > Ecuador > Cuenca

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Introduction

Cuenca is a cit in the southern central part of Ecuador and is the country's third largest city with well over half a million people, more so in the total metropolitan area. The city is located at an elevation of more than 2,500 metres above sea level which gives the city quite a cool climate compared to what you expect elsewhere on the equator.
The citycentre of Cuenca is one beautifully preserved colonial area which is therefore placed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

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Neighbourhoods

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Sights and Activities

The centre is on the Unesco World Heritage List and contains beautiful buildings like:

  • Old Cathedral (Iglesia de El Sagrario)
  • Monastery of El Carmen de Asuncion
  • Park Abdon Calderon
  • Monastery and Museum of La Concepcion
  • House of the Ecuadorian Culture
  • Municipal Museum Remigio Crespo Toral
  • Museum of the Central Bank
  • Museum of the Aboriginal Cultures
  • Church of Santo Domingo
  • San Blas
  • Ruinas de todos los santos

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Events and Festivals

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Weather

Cuenca enjoys generally relatively warm/mild days but rather chilly nights when jackets are definately a good idea. Average daytime temperatures don't vary too much througout the year with around 22 to 24 degrees Celsius and nights are between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius in most months as well. June to December is the dry time of year though with regular overcast. January to May (especially from March onwards) is the wet season, thought it is generally quite sunny, warm and dry for most of the day with some (heavy) downpoors later during the afternoon.

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Getting There

By Plane

Aeropuerto Mariscal Lamar serves Cuenca. Flights exist to and from Quito and Guayaquil with Aerogal, Icaro, LAN Ecuador and TAME.

By Train

By Car

Localiza offers rental cars to explore the region.

By Bus

There are daily buses to regional destinations like Ingapirca, Jima, and Gualaceo, Chordeleg and Sigsig.
Buses leave hourly for Machala (4 hours) and Guayaquil (3,5 to 5,5 hours, depending on the route taken). Buses to Quito take 10-12 hours, while buses for Riobamba and Ambato take 6 or 7 hours respectively. Buses also go to Loja (hourly, 5 hours trip) and to Macas via Guarumales or via Limon.

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Budget

PropertyAddressTypePopularity
A Casa NaranjaMariscal Lamar 10 38 & Padre AguirreHostel58
Casa del BarrancoCalle Larga 841 y Luis CorderoGuesthouse80
Casa OrdoñezMariscal Lamar 859Hotel-
Hostal MacondoTarqui 11-64 y Mariscal Lamar PO Box 597Hostel87
Hotel La CasonaMiguel Cordero 2124Hotel84
Hotel TomebambaBolívar 11-19 General TorresHotel27
Posada del AngelBolivar 14-11 y Estevez de Toral Cuenca-EcuadorHostel87
Posada del RioHermano Miguel 4-18Guesthouse80

Mid-Range

Upscale

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Work

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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This is version 4. Last edited at 18:46 on Aug 17, 09 by Utrecht (+48). 2 articles link to this page.

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