As a traveler, you will love Cuenca. This colonial city is full of history and beautiful architecture. Many indigenous women walk around in traditional clothing, and the historic city center has something special. You can easily stay here for a few days and enjoy all the charming things this city has to offer. When you are visiting, these are some of the must-sees in Cuenca:

• Plaza San Sebastián
• Parque Calderón
• Plaza San Francisco
• Museum of Pumapanga
• Panama Hat Factory
• Mirador de Turi
• Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes

Joining a free walking tour is a great way to walk around and get to know the city. The guide will give you more information about the architecture of buildings, the customs of locals and the history of the town. If you prefer to explore by yourself, I will give you more information about the places you should add to your list.

1. Plaza de San Sebastián

This is quite a quiet plaza with the church San Sebastián. This is one of the oldest churches in Cuenca. You do not need a lot of time to spend here but you should stop by this park and wander around.

Modern Art Museum

At this plaza, you can also find the Modern Art Museum. The museum was built in 1876 and had several purposes. It used to be a home for alcoholics, a school, and a men’s prison. The museum has hosted art exhibitions of artists from Cuenca, artists from the country but also internationals. There is also a library, which specializes in art. It is free to enter this museum and on weekdays it is open from 09:00 until 16:45. On weekends, the museum only opens from 10 am until 2 pm.

2. Parque Calderón 

Parque Calderon is located in the historic city center and is the biggest plaza in Cuenca. The plaza is named after Abdón Calderón, who was a war hero, who fought in many combats for the independence of Ecuador. You can find his monument in the middle of the plaza. Across the plaza there are two churches: Cathedral de la Inmaculada Concepción and El Sagrario.

El Sagrario (Old Cathedral)

This church is known as the old cathedral. It is white-washed and was built when Cuenca was founded by the Spanish and is one of the oldest in Ecuador. Inside it has a beautiful wooden interior. They offer an audio guide in English, so you can get to know all about the history.

 Cathedral de la Inmaculada (New Cathedral)

Across the Old Cathedral, you will find the Cathedral de la Inmaculada. This church is also known as the New Cathedral. The cathedral was constructed in 1885 and if you search for Cuenca this is the church that will be shown in pictures. This is not a surprise as the Cathedral looks stunning from the inside and outside. Its giant sky-blue domes are visible from all over Cuenca!

3. Plaza San Francisco

Another plaza in Cuenca is San Francisco. Stroll around this plaza to visit the main street market and pay a visit to the church. This Catholic church is named *surprise* San Francisco. Inside the church, you can find an important gold-leaf altar that is preserved from the colonial period. Its walls and arches were built with bricks while the roof is made of wood. A charming building from the inside and outside.

4. Museum of Pumapanga

The biggest and most complete museum in the southern region of Ecuador is the Museum of Pumapanga. Each room exhibits different art about Ecuador’s indigenous cultures. You can learn about the history of the Incas and the importance of their heritage. Additionally, the museum also has temporary exhibition halls and a room for emerging artists, where all kinds of dynamic, varied, and inclusive exhibitions are held. There is also a library that is open to the general public. Outside you can find the Archeological park where you can walk through the important Inca ruins of Pumapungo and the ethnobotanical garden.

It is free to visit the museum and it is open from Tuesday to Friday from 8 am until 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am until 4 pm.

5. Panama Hat Factory

Did you know that the Panama hat is actually a product from Ecuador? The original name of these hats is ”Toquilla hat”. Its name was given the Panama hat because in the nineteenth century when workmen started to dig the Panama canal it was hot with a very bright sun. Smart businessmen brought these Toquilla hats from the coastal region of Ecuador to protect the construction workers from the sun. The hats were a relief from the blazing sun and once the construction was done, the workers took the hats back to the U.S. and that’s how the name Panama hat was born.

The hats are made of a special palm called the toquilla palm, which can only be grown in the tropical coastal area of Ecuador. Most of the original hats are manufactured in Cuenca. You can join a tour of the museum of the Panama hat factory “Homero Ortega” and hear about its history and see the techniques and processes that are done for making this beautiful hat.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 8 am until 5.30 pm (they do close between 12:30 and 2:30). On Saturdays, the Homero Ortega is open from 8:30 am until 12.30 pm. The entry is free.

6. Mirador de Turi 

Turi is a lookout over the city and the river and is just 10 minutes away. On top of a hill south of Cuenca, you can admire the city. This place was a sacred hill and strategic point in the Inca times because of its panoramic view.

Besides the view, you can also find several attractions such as an old church or the sculpture of the Lord of Bethlehem embedded in a mountain grotto. There is also a gallery in which you can admire ceramics.

For children, there is a mini canopy, a high swing, and other activities.

7. Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes

The Museum of Cultural Aboriginals has more than 8,000 archaeological pieces of the Ecuadorian Aboriginals and it presents different historical periods. The museum is considered to be the most complete museum in the area. While you are here, you are able to explore customs and beliefs by participating actively.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am until 4 pm and on Saturdays, it is open from 10 am until 2 pm. To enter the museum a fee of $4,00 is charged to adults and $2,00 for students. People usually spend here about one and a half hours.

Cuenca is a must-visit colonial city, rich in history and the Andean culture!