In southern Ecuador, surrounded by green hills and crossed by four rivers that slowly wind through its historic neighborhoods, Cuenca is a city that offers a beautiful balance between heritage, daily life, and landscape. Unlike other Latin American cities that are more intense or noisy, here a tranquil atmosphere prevails where the pace of life seems to adapt to the surroundings.
Its historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to the coherence of its architecture and to the good state of preservation of its buildings. Colonial houses with iron balconies, monumental churches, and tree-lined plazas comprise an urban fabric where centuries of history are reflected in every street.
When I undertook my journey of almost a year across South America, this city surprised me by its daily life, which unfolds in bustling markets, cafés facing the river and neighborhoods where tradition and modernity coexist. I enjoyed the clean air, the calm pace and the hospitality inherent to its inhabitants. Although you can see everything in a couple of days, I decided to stay a week to fully absorb the magic of Cuenca.
The historic center
The first thing Cuenca invites you to do is to walk through its historic center. Distances are short and the cobbled streets invite you to move forward without hurry, paying attention to architectural details that repeat from one block to the next.
Calderón Park serves as a meeting point for locals. Under the shade of its trees, students, families and neighbors gather, using the square as a space for rest and conversation. It is one of those places where we can simply sit to observe the ebb and flow of people in their daily lives. But the truth is that we will likely be distracted by being surrounded by some of the city’s most representative buildings.
One of them is the Old Cathedral. Built in the 16th century, its sober appearance recalls the early colonial period and contrasts with the nearby presence of the New Cathedral, recognizable by its large domes covered with blue tiles. The coexistence of both reflects the city’s historical evolution.
