Arriving by plane at night from Quito was very easy– the flight was not very long at all, and the Cuenca airport is quite small. I decided to stay downtown in Cuenca since I knew I would be walking most places, and catching a taxi into town from the airport was also very easy. Tip: Make sure you ask the driver how much it will cost to take you to your hotel. If it is more than a few dollars, find a different taxi. It cost me $2 and I stayed a few blocks from the main square, Parque Calderón.  

The next morning, I woke up fairly early as we always do, and I found Cuenca to have a very sleepy feel first thing in the morning. A great first stop is walking over to Calderón Park to get some photos of the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) with its iconic blue domes. This church is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The interior of the church is also magnificent, and you can easily spend a good amount of time walking around inside looking at the stained glass windows and admiring the intricate altar.  

Once done marveling at this beautiful church, you can meander around the historic center, taking in all of the colonial architecture.  Similar to Quito’s historic center, Cuenca’s city center, called Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old buildings are so beautiful and well kept, and the area serves as an excellent example of the “planned inland Spanish town” (or entroterra), or Spanish-style Renaissance urban planning in the Americas.

Note that Cuenca is divided roughly in the middle by the Río Tomebamba, with the northern part being the historic area and the south the more modern city.  Most likely you will stay in the northern part and not have a strong reason to go past the river.  

After walking for a few hours, you’ll likely be getting fairly hungry and wanting to stop for some lunch. Like other places in Latin America, restaurants here offer lunch specials for very low prices. One recommendation for lunch is Moliendo Café– you can order a huge plate of fish, rice and vegetables for USD$2.50. You can find lots of restaurants that serve delicious lunch (or almuerzo in Spanish!) all over the city.  

In the afternoon, check out the Museo Pumapungo for a look at the region’s history and culture. The museum has multiple floors and a lot of exhibits, so prepare to spend around 2 hours there. Your time here may vary depending on if you want to read everything, of course. I would especially recommend that you check out the portions of the museum that talk about the native history of the region. There is also a small outside section of the museum that has ruins. The entrance is free, so you really can’t go wrong by spending some time here.  

A great way to end your first day in Cuenca is a sunset stroll along the river, admiring the houses built on the ridge overlooking the river. Stop in for some ice cream at Bogati Helados Cuenca if you’re in the mood for dessert!