Cuenca city map

In and around Cuenca - The four river city

Ecuadorians consider it the most beautiful city, a most peaceful and relaxing setting. One of the first things you notice when entering the city is the magnificent skyline marked by shining church domes. Cuenca’s cobblestone streets, winding rivers, graceful ironwork balconies, and beautiful gardens are part of the pleasant atmosphere of this historical city. The UNESCO declared Cuenca a World Cultural Heritage Site on December 1999.Cuenca (map>) is tucked away in the southern valley of the site of the once important settlement Tomebamba. It is also located along the Inca highway that joined Cusco with Quito (map>) during the pre-Colombian Empire. It stands 2535 meters above sea level. The capital of the Azuay province, Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador.The colonial past from the days of the Spanish Empire are ever present in the artistry of the churches, convents and religious treasures. Many of the beautiful houses are found perched along the banks of the four different rivers that run through and around the city (Tarqui, Yanucay, Tomabamba and Machángara).One of the highlights are the beautiful handicrafts that can be found throughout the city, including embroidered blouses, wool sweaters, gold and silver filigree jewelry and weaving with tie-dyed patterns called ikat. Cuenca also has a tradition in ceramics. Crafts and fresh products can be found on sale at the weekly Thursday fair, or the smaller Saturday market, located at the squares titled 9 de Octubre and 10 de Agosto.
A leading industry in Cuenca and the surrounding areas is straw hats. A misconception among many people is the Panama Hat. Originally made in Montecristi, Ecuador, the hats were sent north to the workers of Panama Canal and hence the name Panama Hat.


Churches of Special Interest
The Sagrario Church (Old Cathedral).-
Located at the corner of Mariscal Sucre and Luis Cordero Ave. It is one of the oldest churches in Latin America (1557). Inca blocks from the Pomango Palace were used in the construction. It has marble floors and a gold-leaf altar in its interior. The Geodesic Mission used this place as a reference point to calculate the Earth’s circumference.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (New Cathedral).-
Located on the corner of Mariscal Sucre and Benigno Malo. This Cathedral’s construction began in 1880, and is one of the largest of America. The Cathedral is made of alabaster and marble. Its floor is made of pink marble imported from Carrara, Italy. Both Romance and Baroque are prominent in this architecture.

Church and Monastery of “El Carmen de Asunción”.-
They are located near the main square and to the right of the daily flower market. Both have been preserved in the original condition since the XVII century. A remarkable treasury of religious art pieces can be found here.


Todos Los Santos Church.-
It is located where the streets Calle Larga and Bajada de Todos Los Santos meet. This is one of the oldest churches in Cuenca. It is also where the first Catholic mass was celebrated after the Spaniards arrived. The statue of Santa Ana, patron saint of the city, is found here. During the end of the XIX century the church that is currently found there replaced it.

Church and Monastery of The Conceptas.-
They are located on the corner of Presidente Cordova and Presidente Borrero Streets. The entrance of the church contains 17th century tombstones. The monastery was constructed in the 16th century and later became a museum of religious art.

Other Churches:
Santo Domingo Church.- Located on the corner of Padre Aguirre and Gran Colombia.
San Alfonso Church.- Located on Simon Bolivar and Presidente Borrero.
San Francisco Church.- Located on Coronel Talbot and Simon Bolivar Avenues.
San Blas Church.- Located on Manuel Vega Ave.
Maria Auxiliadora Church.- Located on Simon Bolivar and Tarqui Ave.

Museums
Central Bank Museum.- Located on Huayna Capac Ave. across from Calle Larga. Visiting hours Mondays to Fridays 9h00 -18h00. Saturdays 9h00 -13h00. Archeological objects, colonial and republic art collections, paintings and old photographs of the city can be seen here. There is a strong emphasis on objects from the pre-Incan periods of Cuenca’s region.

Remigio Crespo Toral Museum.- 707 Calle Larga and Borrero St. Visiting hours: Mondays to Fridays 8h30 - 13h00 and 15h00-18h30. Saturdays: 10h00 - 13h00.
The museum is named after the famous poet Remigio Crespo Toral. It has an interesting collection of gold objects from the Cañari and Chordeleg cultures. There are also pre-Hispanic ceramics, colonial paintings and religious art.
The museum is divided into four departments: Archeology, Cuenca’s Foundation, the City’s Independence and historical documents.

CIDAP (Centro Interamericano de Artes Populares) Museum.- Calle Larga and Hermano Miguel streets. Visiting hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00- 13:00 and 14:30 - 18:00. Saturday 10:00-12:00.
This museum is devoted to the handicrafts of South America. It contains art, crafts and beautiful folklore pieces on temporary exhibitions.

Las Conceptas Museum.- 633 Hermano Miguel St. Visiting hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 -17:30 Saturday 10:00-13:00. Entrance fee: US$ 2.
Here you will find a great collection of religious art. It exhibits 64 paintings, more than 200 sculptures, toys, furniture and craftsmanship.

Modern Art Museum.- It is located on 1527 Calle Sucre and Coronel Talbot. Visiting hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8h00- 13h00 and 15h00 – 18h30. Saturdays and Sundays, 9h00 – 13h00.
In this museum there is a permanent collection of contemporary art. There are many artistic activities available for children and the Biannual International Painting Competition is held here.

Esqueletología Museum.- Bolívar 6-57 and Borrero streets. Visiting hours: Mondays - Fridays: 10h00 - 13h00 / 16h00 - 19h00. Saturdays 10h00 - 14h30

Native Cultures Museum.- Calle Larga #524 entre Hermano Miguel y Mariano Cueva
Phone: 839181/ 841540
This museum was built as homage to the Ecuadorian indigenous cultures and their 15,000 years of existence. The museum holds archeological pieces from the first indigenous civilizations in Ecuador, to those that lived in the XVI century, in more than 5,000 impressive pieces!

Eduardo Vega’s Workshop and Gallery. - On the hill of Turi, over viewing the city, 10 minutes by car from downtown Cuenca, we find a beautiful place where the re-known Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Vega has his house, his workshop and gallery. His specialties are artistic ceramics. The visitor can admire his latest creations ranging from mugs, plaques, jewelry, and plates up to wonderful murals that show the lushness of Ecuadorian landscape, costumes, flora and fauna. You can also find good books, and complimentary coffee and biscuits. Visiting hours: Mondays - Fridays 9h00-18h00, Saturdays 10h00 - 13h30.



Other Interesting Places
The Ruins of Todos Los Santos.- Follow the Todos Los Santos Street down the hill. This site has ruins of Cañari, Incas and colonial Spanish constructions. Here you will find the four Incas stonework niches.

Gualaceo.-This is a subtropical valley close to Cuenca. The way by car is through the Pan-American Highway in direction to the Azogues town. At “El Descanso” pick your right to reach Gualaceo.This town is specially known for its handicrafts, folklore and a beautiful river where you can go for a swim. At the Sunday market, piles of fine hand-woven shawls called macanas, colorful belts, shoe manufacturing, leader goods and many other items can be found.

Chordeleg.- Located 10 minutes from Gualaceo, it is a pre-Incan town where important archeological objects can be found. This brilliant culture inhabited the area between the years 500 and 1500 BC. The artisans offer Ikat ponchos, pottery straw hats and jewelry. This is the place to buy the finest gold and silver filigree at a very reasonable price. There is also an excellent ethnographic museum on the square in an old courtyard house, where you can see weavers at work and find good shawls, scarves, belts and embroidery to buy.

Baños.- Only 8km from Cuenca, you can find soothing hot spring waters. These thermal waters of volcanic origin reach the surface with a temperature of 70oC and cool down to 35-40o C. Hotels and different tourist services are offered.

The Recreational Area of Cajas.- Cajas is located 33 km (19 miles) northwest of Cuenca, at an altitude of 9,000 to 13,000 feet above the sea level. This is a place for those who love the great out-doors. Some of the many things to do and see are camping, fishing or hiking miles of trails to choose from through a scenic preserve, and more than 230 lagoons of glacial origin. A guided tour of the area allows one to admire a breathtaking landscape and unique fauna and flora. Warm clothing is recommended due to the low temperatures that fluctuate between the 0 and 8 degrees centigrade. Buses to Cajas depart from the San Sebastian Park, which is in the corner of Simon Bolivar and Talbot. Buses leave from 6h00 to 7h00 and return in the afternoon.
* A permit is needed in order to visit the park. This can be obtained through the Ministry of Agriculture in Cuenca at 326 Sotano Ave. Spaces at the refuge must be booked through the same office, where maps and information about the Cajas are also available. Entrance fee US$ 10.

Ingapirca.- It is located in the province of Cañar, about an hour and 45 minutes from Cuenca. The entrance fee is 5 dollars. Ingapirca means “Incas stone wall”. It is a full and fascinating day’s trip from Cuenca to the massive fortifications of Ingapirca rising dramatically above beautiful valleys. On the way to Ingapirca are the towns of Azogues, with its lovely church and Saturday straw market; and Biblian, crowned with an astonishing cathedral cut into the rock.
It is believed today that Ingapirca was both a religious and administrative center, as well as a fortress. The Incas built the complex on top of an old Cañari settlement.
The vast archeological complex of the ruins includes a roofless fortification, courtyards, terraces, temples, houses and a “castle”, possibly the “Temple of the Sun”.

A museum is now open at the site, which contains both archeological and ethnographic displays as well as a scale model of the ruins. Additionally, there are exhibits of ceramics and jewelry of earlier cultures, and scraps of textiles found in a burial ground believed to have been from the Cañari period (500 years before the Incas). Entrance fee is US$6.



Back