South America doesn’t seem to get the coverage other continents do. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons we decided to move here. Anyway, after a lot of prayer and thought, we finally decided that our next home would be Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ecuador. (There’s another Cuenca in Spain, and it is a UNESCO site as well. Go figure.)
Sitting high in a valley in the Andes, Cuenca is Ecuador’s third-largest city … and some would say its prettiest. It also enjoys beautiful spring-like weather year-round, and is super affordable, all of which are reasons why the town a popular retirement destination for North Americans.
But that’s not what drew the Spanish Conquistadors in the mid-1500s. They were interested in the gold and trade they could get from the Incas living in the area. Cuenca grew up near the Incan town of Pumapungo,and even better, the second-largest city in the Incan Empire was not far away.
You can still visit Ingapirca on a day trip from Cuenca, by the way.
Why Cuenca is a World Heritage Site
UNESCO’s website listed a lot of reasons for designating El Centro as a World Heritage site. Long story short, Cuenca is a planned Spanish colonial city that began in 1557, right in the midst of the Renaissance era. So imagine Renaissance urban planning in the Americas.
The colonial center of Cuenca has been inhabited since it began, but what makes it unique is that it still retains the original formal town plan.
Cuenca’s El Centro is laid out on a strict grid of perpendicular streets that stretch out from Parque Calderón. This park is the main square, where the seat of the Town Council, the Office of the Governor, two cathedrals, and the Law Courts are located.
With all of the detailed woodwork on their façades, windows and doors, Cuenca’s buildings are charming. No matter where you walk you’ll find graceful ironwork balconies overhead.
El Centro is small enough to explore on foot and still has the cobbled streets from its colonial days. Sunlight manages to reach street level because of the low buildings and wide streets …
… but El Centro is just as pretty when its cobblestones are wet from rain.
Unlike some Spanish Colonial towns (like Cartagena), El Centro is not a touristy museum; it shows all the lived-in wear and tear that any place would have after all that time. And that gives it much of its character.
The various populations and cultures in the city have intermingled, so there are no specifically Spanish or indigenous areas. Cuenca is a blend of architecture from all the different societies and cultures that live here.
Everywhere you look, you’ll see fine town houses and quaint market squares. UNESCO called Cuenca “noteworthy for the presence of parks, squares, church cloisters and other public areas.”
Plan your trip to Cuenca
- Cuenca’s tourist website can be found here.
- Lodging: Check hotel prices at Hotels Combined or Booking.com.
- Transportation: This website shows how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry and car.
- Guided tours: Find a list of Cuenca day trips and tours here.
- For more sightseeing, see our Ecuador photo galleries here.
- See Cuenca from the air on Google Maps here. Zoom, scroll around and explore!
Related guidebooks on Amazon:
- Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands
- DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide
I really loved Cuenca, not just for the beautiful architecture and abundant green spaces, but also for the laid-back vibes I got. I heard that traffic is getting increasingly worse (those roads just aren’t built for that many vehicles), which is a real pity. Hopefully Cuenca can keep up with the times without losing its unique character!
We heard that Cuenca is installing a tram. If they do, that will make a nice addition to the bus. Not sure if it will be as much of a bargain as the 25-cent bus, though.
Netx time you both make it to Spain, we’ll go to its namesake city in the arid La Mancha region. I’ve worked in the region, but never once been to its capital, which is said to be lovely.
Absolutely! We haven’t made it south of Madrid yet, and that would be a ton of fun! Have you been to Cuenca yet?