VISIT THE RIVERS
Cuenca is crossed by four rivers. Yes! Four! They are the Tomebamba river, Yanuncay river, Tarqui river, and Machangara rivers. All of them join to form the Cuenca river.
This gave the city a unique attraction because its rivers are unpolluted and people can take a walk on their shores to see the sunset, exercise, eat something or have a drink.
The bridges over the rivers also play a part in the tourist scene, offering beautiful views to enjoy and places to go.
LARGEST INCA RUINS IN ECUADOR: INGAPIRCA
Nearby Cuenca you’ll find the Ingapirca ruins, the best-preserved archaeological complex in all of Ecuador. It is located at 3,160 meters above sea level in the Cordillera Sur mountain range and is a powerful symbol of the magnificent Inca culture in Latin America.
Ingapirca means “Inca’s wall.” Before the arrival of the Spanish, it was used as an essential ceremonial area and is, together with Machu Picchu in Peru, one of the most representative buildings of this civilization.
CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
Just 33 km away from Cuenca you’ll find this impressive protected highland area made up of many massive Andean mountains and beautiful lakes.
The park is home to about 1,000 bodies of water, of which 235 are lagoons. Rivers such as the Tomebamba or the Yanuncay that pass through the city of Cuenca, are also born in “El Cajas” and are the sources of the city’s drinking water.
With such a special ecosystem, its flora and fauna are impressive and that’s the reason why it’s a protected area. If you want to go to El Cajas, be sure to bring some clothes for cold weather. In summer the temperatures range between 8°C in the night and 12-18° in the day, while in winter the temperature can drop to -2 ° C with a maximum of 10 ° C.
In this altitude, rains are frequent, especially from October to May.
THE CUENCA RIVER WALK
On the riverside of the Tomebamba River is the 3 de Noviembre promenade. A road of more than 800m travels the route of the river, providing a privileged view of the city.
Along the road, you can appreciate more than 100 historic houses as well as a variety of species of flowers and local animals. This is a favorite place in the city to run, walk, and ride bicycles.
VIEWPOINTS
Turi’s viewpoint on the south side of the city and La Colina’s viewpoint in the north are great places to visit in Cuenca. This is the best way to see its famous red roof architecture. At night the view is really something special. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
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