Cuenca is the third biggest city in Ecuador. The city locates in the highlands of the southern region of Ecuador. The Andean mountains surround the town, and it lies around 2,500m above sea level. The city counts more than 630k inhabitants and is home to many locals and immigrants. Cuenca is a beautiful colonial city of which its city center is a UNESCO World Heritage. It is rich in history dating back before 5000 BC, but the city map, as it is now, is still the same as 400 years ago. If you are traveling to Ecuador, make sure you do not miss out on this beautiful colonial city Cuenca.
Why is this city called Cuenca?
In the 16th century, the Spanish colonized the city and renamed it Cuenca, after the town Cuenca in Spain. Before the Spanish settlement, the Incas named the city Tomebamba, which means Valley of the Sun. It was the capital of the Incas, and the city used to be full of temples and gold. Once the Spanish arrived, all left were ruins due to a war between different Inca groups. The Spanish rebuilt the city and used the Inca stones for their buildings. When you walk around the historic city center of Cuenca, you can see the Spanish influence in the town.
Weather conditions in Cuenca
Cuenca has a subtropical highland climate, and during the days, it can be reasonably hot, especially when the sun is out. The nights are a bit cooler, so I recommend taking a jacket or sweater with you. On average, year-round, the average temperature is 20-22 °C (68-72 °F) during the day. Cuenca does not know four seasons. Instead, it has dry and wet seasons. The most rain falls from January until May, while June until December are considered dry months. It is exceptional that it rains for whole days. Instead, you will see rain showers in the afternoon.
How many days should I spend in Cuenca?
Depending on the type of travel you can decide how long you want to stay in Cuenca. In one or two days, you can visit most attractions inside Cuenca, such as walking around the city and visiting the historical center, the cathedrals, plaza San Francisco, or joining some tours. In this article, I have described everything you can do in Cuenca. Besides visiting just the city, there are also some national parks and Inca ruins that you may want to visit. Based on what you want to see you can decide how long you will stay in this city.
