Why go
- City in Azuay, Ecuador.
- Served by Méndez Airport (MZD).
History
Cuenca, officially Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, is an Ecuadorian city, head of the canton of the same name and capital of the province of Azuay, as well as its largest and most populated city. It is crossed by the Tomebamba, Tarqui, Yanuncay and Machángara rivers, in the south-central inter-Andean region of Ecuador, in the Paute river basin, at an altitude of 2,538 meters above sea level and with a temperate Andean climate averaging 16.3 °C.
Where to stay
C. Luis Cordero y C. Gran Colombia, 10-13 y, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador · parcroyale.ec
Juan Montalvo 8-33, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador · casamontalvo.com
C. Gran Colombia y C. Luis Cordero 7-87 y, Cuenca, Ecuador · eldoradohotel.com.ec
Antonio Vega Muñoz 7-45, 010104 Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelelmorlaco.com
Gran Colombia 9-52 entre Padre Aguirre y Benigno Malo, C. Gran Colombia, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador
Simón Bolívar 12-55 Y, Cuenca, Ecuador · boutiquehotelmansionalcazar.com
Av Mirador de Turi, 010169 Cuenca, Ecuador · naturhotel.world
Av Ordóñez Lasso S/N, 10215 Cuenca, Ecuador · oroverdecuenca.com
Presidente Borrero y y, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador · hotellosbalconescuenca.com
Simón Bolívar 14-11, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador · posadadelangelcuenca.com
La Condamine, Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelcruzdelvado.com
Av. de las Américas y C. Luis Cordero 10-93 y, 010106 Cuenca, Ecuador · kunahotel.com
y, Calle Larga y Presidente Borrero &, Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelvictoriaecuador.com
Simón Bolívar 11-28, Cuenca, Ecuador · sanjuanhotel.ec
Av. del Estadio Esq, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador · wyndhamhotels.com
Simón Bolívar 5-05, Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelcasasanrafael.com
Calle:Presidente Borrero Exterior: 8-44, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador · santaluciahotel.com
C. Mariscal Lamar 4-19, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelmariscalinn.com
4X76+426, Av. Ordoñez Lasso E Higuerillas, Av Ordóñez Lasso, 010215 Cuenca, Ecuador · nasshotels.com
Av. Fray Vicente Solano y Florencia Astudillo 4-31, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelvalgus.com
Simón Bolívar 8-56 y, 010111 Cuenca, Ecuador · casafirenza.com
Benigno Malo 9-21 y, 010104 Cuenca, Ecuador · delparquehotelysuites.com
Hermano Miguel 9 - 58 and Gran Colombia front of Pasaje, 010154 Cuenca, Ecuador · hotelquijote.com
Junto Al, Mall del Rio, Ave. CircunvalacióN Sur, Y y Av. Felipe II, 010169 Cuenca, Ecuador · marriott.com
Mariano Cueva 7-45 y, Cuenca, Ecuador · alejandrinahotel.com
Sector Todo Santos, Pa. 3 de Noviembre, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador
Presidente Borrero 10-91, Cuenca, Ecuador
Calle, General Torres 8-40, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador
C. Gran Colombia 10-65 y, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador
C. Gran Colombia, 010101 Cuenca, Ecuador
Av. de las Américas, 010107 Cuenca, Ecuador
General Torres 8-82, Cuenca, Ecuador
Presidente Córdova, y y General Torres, 010111 Cuenca, Ecuador
Restaurants & places to go
Donut, Coffee Shop, Fast Food · Cafetería artesanal Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:30; Sa 16:00-20:30 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 8-74 Luis Cordero,…
Italian, Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza Piadina & authentic ITALIAN street food Outside seating and takeout Street Parking Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00…
International, Fast Food · Cocina Venezolana Features: takeaway, delivery · Tomás Ordoñez, Cuenca · facebook.com
Pizza, Fast Food · pizzería y comida rápida · Juan íñiguez · m.facebook.com
Restaurant · Comida peruana Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:00-22:00 · instagram.com
Cafe · café de especialidad Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-12:30, 15:00-19:00 · Los Nogales · instagram.com
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:30-21:30 Features: takeaway · 301 Avenida Remigio Crespo Toral · subwaycuenca.com
Bubble Tea, Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr 16:00-00:00; Sa-Su 10:00-13:00, 16:00-23:00 · Remigio Tamariz Crespo, 010202 · dadoclubcafe.com
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Opening hours: 08:30-22:30 · Simón Bolívar, Cuenca, 010101 · facebook.com
Chicken, Grill, Regional, Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:30 · 23-228 Chanduy · facebook.com
American, Deli, Crepe, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-20:00 · 5-54 Hermano Miguel · cafenucallacta.com
Seafood, Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 · 6.76 Tomás Ordoñez · capitanrestaurant.com
Coffee Shop, Steak House, Local, Breakfast, Tea, Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-17:00 · 2 -127 Avenida Remigio Crespo Toral · hotmail.es
Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-17:00 · 7-60 Honorato Vázquez · facebook.com
Burger, Grill, Local, Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-01:00 · 3-11 Avenida Ordoñez Lasso · balconquiteno.com
Varies Weekly, Restaurant · Opening hours: Sa 17:00-20:00 · 1-99 Los Pinos, Cuenca Ecuador · joessecretgarden.com
Regional, TipíCa - Casera, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00 · 1 - 164 Calle Larga, Cuenca, 010150
Breakfast, Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-16:00 · Padre Julio Matovelle
Ecuatoriana, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 4-71 Luis Moreno Mora, Cuenca
Cafeteria, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 · Hermano Miguel, Cuenca
Dessert, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · Los Canarios, Cuenca, 010204
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 18:00-22:00 · Avenida 10 de Agosto
Peruvian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-20:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery · 1-23 Avenida 12 de Abril, Cuenca, 010111
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Sa 18:00-22:00 · Paseo Tres de Noviembre
Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa-Su 09:00-15:00 · Santa Teresa y Padre Aguirre
Ecuadorian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00 · 516 Benigno Malo, Cuenca
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Sa-Su 12:00-21:00 · Calle de las Brevas, Cuenca
Fish, Local, Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Sa-Su 10:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-22:00 · Vía a Soldados
Bagel, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Juice, Regional, Meat, Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: 07:00-21:00 · 10-34 Tomás Ordoñez, Cuenca, 010101
Pasta, Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00 · 11-77 Avenida Hurtado de Mendoza
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:00-22:00; Tu-We 12:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00; Th-Sa 12:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00 · Del Farol
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:30-15:30, 18:00-23:00 · Roberto Crespo Toral
Spanish, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00 · 2-33 Los Rios
Almuerzos, Parrilladas, Hamburguesas, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · General Artigas, Cuenca · facebook.com
Tapas, Steak, Pasta, Seafood, Chef'S Specialties, Restaurant · Tapas/ Steak restaurant · Avenida 12 de Octubre, Cuenca · facebook.com
Grilled Steak, Chicken, Ribs, Baked Potato, Restaurant · Grilled Steak/ Chicken restaurant · 2-25 Avenida Remigio Tamariz · laparrilladarestaurant.com
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant · 1-160 Frederico Malo, 010150 · paradiseindianrestaurantcuenca.com
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:30-22:00 · Avenida Unidad Nacional
Chuzos, Fast Food · Opening hours: 16:00-23:00 · General Artigas, Cuenca
Pinchos, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 16:00-23:00
Cake, Crepe, French, Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00 · 6-26 Honorato Vázquez
CosteñA, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-18:00; Apr 10-15 off; Jun 08:00-14:00; Aug off; Dec 25 off Features: outdoor seating
American Breakfast/Lunch, Daily Specials, Desserts, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-15:00 Features: takeaway · 9-38 Calle Larga
Cuyes Asados, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 10:00-22:00 · Julia Bernal
366 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Mariscal Lamar Airport (CUE) 2.4 km to the centre
Cuenca, A, EC — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (TAME, Aerolane) · direct flights to 2 destinations incl. Quito, Guayaquil (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 2 direct destinations
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Méndez Airport (MZD) 79 km to the centre
Santiago de Méndez, S, EC — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Agroazucar Airport 64 km to the centre
La Troncal, F, EC
El Piedrero Airport 69 km to the centre
San Pedro, F, EC
La Joya Airport 72 km to the centre
Balao, G, EC
Gualaquiza Airport 76 km to the centre
Santiago, S, EC
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Méndez Airport (MZD); 11 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CUE has direct flights to 2 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Quito, Guayaquil).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Cuenca, Ecuador. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.