Cuenca and southern Ecuador

Day by day

The plan

Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.

1. Day 1

   Cuenca’s historic center

   1. 09:00

      Parque Calderón and the New Cathedral

      Activity

      The main square, faced by the huge brick cathedral with its blue domes. Climb to the terrace for the view.

   2. 10:30

      Flower market at Plaza del Carmen

      Activity

      Stalls of fresh flowers beside a small colonial church.

   3. 12:30

      Lunch: hornado at Mercado 10 de Agosto

      Food & drink

      Roast pork with mote and llapingachos, served upstairs in the city market.

   4. 14:30

      Pumapungo Museum and Inca ruins

      Activity

      Ethnographic halls, then the terraces of the Inca city of Tomebamba behind the museum.

   5. 17:00

      Walk along the Tomebamba River

      Activity

      Paths below El Barranco, where old houses hang over the riverbank.

2. Day 2

   Cajas National Park

   1. 07:30

      Drive west to Cajas

      Getting around

      Under an hour on the road toward the coast, climbing to about 4,000 m.

   2. 08:30

      Laguna Toreadora loop

      Activity

      A loop around a high lake through páramo grass and twisted polylepis forest. Register at the ranger station first.

   3. 12:30

      Lunch: trout on the way back

      Food & drink

      Trout farms along the road serve it fried or grilled.

   4. 15:30

      Rest in Cuenca

      Other

      A day at that altitude is tiring; take the afternoon slowly.

   5. 18:00

      Mirador de Turi

      Activity

      A hilltop church with the whole city below as the lights come on.

3. Day 3

   Ingapirca

   1. 08:00

      Drive or bus north to Ingapirca

      Getting around

      About two hours through farmland in the province of Cañar.

   2. 10:00

      Ingapirca ruins

      Activity

      Cañari and Inca remains, with the oval Temple of the Sun built from fitted Inca stone.

   3. 12:00

      Inca Face rock

      Activity

      A short trail from the site to a cliff that looks like a carved face.

   4. 13:30

      Lunch: Andean soup near the ruins

      Food & drink

      Simple local kitchens in the village serve soups and grilled meats.

   5. 16:30

      Return to Cuenca

      Getting around

      Back in time for an evening walk on Calle Larga.

4. Day 4

   Crafts in Gualaceo and Chordeleg

   1. 09:00

      Panama hat workshop

      Activity

      See how the toquilla straw hats are finished and blocked; Cuenca is a center of the trade.

   2. 10:30

      Drive east to Gualaceo

      Getting around

      Under an hour along a river valley of orchards.

   3. 11:30

      Gualaceo market

      Activity

      Fruit, flowers and handwoven ikat shawls known as paños.

   4. 13:00

      Lunch in Gualaceo

      Food & drink

      The town is known for its roast pork and fresh tamales.

   5. 14:30

      Chordeleg silver filigree

      Activity

      A small town around a plaza lined with jewelers working fine silver wire.