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Hotel Class: 
3 Stars - 31 Opinions
Miguel Davila Cord 2124, Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
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of people enjoy staying here
31 Opinions
Montecristi Hats
Indoor Sunday Market Gualaceo
Ingapirca Ruins
open market
As with most towns, natural water is always a big attraction. Cuenca doesn’t have a big lake nor is it a seaside resort but it does have a swiftly running river that is a great respite from the city center though it’s only a few steps away. Literally, you have to go down some steps to get to it but its well worth the effort. It feels like you’re not even in the city anymore and is a great place to relax. It’s what the locals do, you should try it too.
Even in Ecuador, man does not live by meat alone. Fruits are plentiful and one bonus of that are fruit salads and shakes that abound. Still, there are some places that seem to have the whole thing down pat and this little place was always packed when we visited it. With such great value and healthy choices it’s understandable why it’s so popular. It is a small and simple place with the fruits on display and they blend up the juices, shakes and toss the salads as you wait. It’s a relatively clean place too considering how many people they are serving. They also have an extensive vegetarian menu that we unfortunately did not have time to sample. Fruit salads were ample size and for one dollar more than enough for two as a snack or could serve as a meal especially for breakfast. The fruit shakes are made with condensed milk and are very thick and tasty. I had papaya. Their fresh squeezed orange juice should not be missed either.
Opposite the ‘New Cathedral’ in Parque Calderon, stands the less imposing ‘Old Cathedral’ or Catedral Del Sangrario. Built in 1557, the church was restored and redesigned in both the 19th and 20th centuries but even with these renovations the Cathedral was no longer able to accommodate the growing congregation of Cuenca and so it was decided to build a new Cathedral to meet the needs of the parishioners. Far smaller than the New Cathedral but in my opinion far more interesting from an aesthetic point of view (blue domes aside), the Old Cathedral has more of a Latin American colonial style and with its white washed walls, distinctly colonial bell tower, red roof tiles, and light blue touches, it is more in keeping with the overall style of Cuenca than the hulking red bricked Cathedral opposite.
Incidentally the Old Cathedral is no longer used for religious services and was closed during our visit. Apparently the building is being converted to be used as a museum of religious art.
Cuenca is a wonderful destination for market addicts. There is a large market within walking distance of the center, with some covered areas, and some al fresco vendors as well.
The market is well patrolled by police, and I did not feel unsafe (maybe naïvely so). The crowd is extremely dense, and you'll have to "steal" your photos.
This is a comprehensive museum, organized on a manageable scale, and which covers all the local civilizations up to the Incas. Unless you are interested in archeology, it might appear a bit dry, but it will help you understand that the Incas didn't just appear out of the blue - only to be defeated by the conquistadores in less than 100 years. Many civilizations preceded the Incas, and combined or fragmented to form or oppose the Inca empire.
The staff will lend you a booklet of explanations in your language.
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Q: Visiting Cuenca Mid-November to Mid-December 2011 "I am go to be visiting in Cuenca during the period from Mid-November to Mid-December 2011. I would appreciate hearing from..."
A: "well not from Cuenca ,not too many are here or none ::) however, the city center is very nice,but not been in it in a while. The best is to look at destination above..."
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Address: Miguel Davila Cord 2124, Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
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