Overview
Cuenca, set in the southern sierras at 2,550m, is a quintessential Spanish colonial city. It has the cobbled streets, leafy plazas, baroque churches and whitewashed façades with heavy wooden doors that you’d expect, but the pale-stoned centre is particularly beautiful.
This university town is also a centre for artisan work, notably the panama hat, which originated here, but also ceramics, basket ware, jewellery and ponchos. A quiet, somewhat conservative place, it is the tranquil base for a number of language schools; foreign students can be spied indulging in the many cake shops and cafés. Outside town in the lake-dotted moorlands of the southern sierras is the lovely Cajas National Park.
Holidays Cuenca
Browse our range of holidays to Ecuador including the colonial city of Cuenca. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Group - Classic
Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands
Albatross: Ecuador’s highlands and Galapagos
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Ecuador & Galapagos Islands
Self-drive Ecuador: The Avenue of the Volcanoes
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands
Signature Ecuador and Galapagos: Volcanoes to the ocean
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Ecuador & Galapagos Islands
Signature Ecuador: Volcanoes to the ocean
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Things to do
Explore a range of activities in the colonial city of Cuenca, Ecuador, including a visit to Inca ruins. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Accommodation
Browse our range of hotels in Ecuador's colonial city of Cuenca. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Where to go when - our guide to Cuenca
The weather in Cuenca is wide and varied
The culturally rich colonial city of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits at an altitude of 2550m at the southern end of the famed Avenue of Volcanoes. Ecuador’s prettiest city enjoys year round spring-like temperature of around 20°C, although nights are considerably cooler due to the altitude and there are of course some hotter days. The driest months, when there is only ever occasional light afternoon rain, are June-August. The long sunny blue sky days of these months are perfect for exploring the city’s flowery plazas, beautiful churches and narrow cobbled streets. Mid Feb to Apr is the wettest time, but during the rest of the wet season mornings can still be sunny, although gathering cloud and rain in the afternoon should be expected.
View our Cuenca weather guidePapagaio
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