We arrive in Cuenca early evening from Loja after a 6 hour bus ride. We headed straight for a hostel which we had picked out of the footprint. Casa Cauncana is situated in the centre of town it was a great location but a little noisy when the weekend came round. After having no luck finding a market we grabbed a bite at a local Mexican before heading to bed.
Walking around Cuenca, Ecuador
You can easily spend a day walking around the old colonial centre of Cuenca. The architecture has endless details which keep you engaged for hours. Thousands maybe even millions of small bricks with large almost marble like pillars around huge doorways make the cathedral one of the most breathtaking I have seen on my travels so far. Small squares with busy market stalls are dotted all over and their are at least two impressive markets for fruit and veg all within walking distance of the centre. We found the busses around Cuenca are easy to use and cost $0.25 per trip, you need exact change.
On our last day in Cuenca we took a walk along the river to the edge of the national park in search of a vegetarian restaurant that had been recommended. The buildings along the river stand tall, some are well kept or more modern while others are run down and have great character and charm. As you walk further towards the national park the buildings and architecture become less unique but I always find it interesting to see the moderner and perhaps more commercial areas of any city, it almost tells a story. After walking for an hour and searching for a further 30 mins we could not find the restaurant so hopped on a bus and went in the general direction of the centre, we got of the bus at San Blas church and wam, veggie restaurant bang in from of us, always the way!!
Hot sulphur springs, Baños, Nr Cuenca
The hot springs at Baños are well worth a visit, I felt so relaxed for the rest of the day. City Busses travel across Cuenca from the main terminal en route to Baños, we caught the bus from outside the university on the river. Baños is around a 15 to 20 minute ride from Cuenca. We visited the hot baths at Hosteria Duran which is clearly marked as you enter Baños. Duran has 2 large pools at different temperatures with a very warm pool attached to one and a separate pool with some slides (never to old), unfortunately we where unable to use this as the water was way too hot. There is also a spectacular blue an white church at the top of the village which is worth a visit.
Is all of Equador like this?
I’m sure its not the whole of Ecuador but in Cuenca the contrast of the people is amazing. It’s not like the rich (I use the term rich loosely) poor divide like I saw in Bolivia and parts of Peru, it’s more traditional verses modern. Traditionally dressed women walk the streets alongside business men/woman wearing suits carrying blackberrys. In one of the markets yesterday we whatched some students perform modern abstract dance routines followed by another group performing traditional Ecuadorian dances. Traditional colonial buildings now house modern offices, shops and bars. I have never seen anything quite like it, I’m excited to see what the rest of Equador has in store.
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