Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION
Tourist information Go to the iTur o ce on the main
square (Mariscal Sucre; Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8.30am-
1.30pm; T 07 282 0521, W www.cuenca.gov.ec), which
has friendly staff providing maps and regional information.
Museo Pumapungo
Museo Pumapungo (C Larga, at
Huayna Capac; T 07 283 1255,
W pumapungo.org; Mon-Fri 9am-6pm,
Sat 9am-1pm; $3) is easily Cuenca's
best museum and worth the twenty-
minute walk east of the centre (taxi
$1.50). The museum is spread out
across three floors and includes a large
collection of colonial art, an archeology
room and an exhibition of indigenous
costumes and masks. The highlight
is the ethnographic exhibition of
Ecuador's indigenous cultures with
animated dioramas, re-created dwellings
and a stunning display of five tsantsas
(shrunken heads) from the Shuar
culture. Entrance includes access to
the Pumapungo archeological site
behind the museum, where the most
important buildings of the Inca city of
Tomebamba were located, although
mainly only foundations remain. Below
the ruins are landscaped gardens and
a bird rescue centre.
TOUR OPERATORS
The following offer tours to Ingapirca, Cajas and else-
where. Trips to Cajas and Ingapirca cost $40-50/person.
Expediciones Apullacta Gran Colombia 11-02, at
General Torres T 07 283 7815, W apullacta.com.
Metropolitan Touring Mariscal Sucre 6-62, at Hermano
Miguel T 07 283 1463, W metropolitan-touring.com.
Río Arriba Expeditions Hermano Miguel 7-14, at
Córdova T 07 283 011.
Terra Diversa Travel and Adventure Hermano Miguel
5-42, at Honorato Vásquez T 07 282 3782, W terradiversa
.com.
6
ACCOMMODATION
Cuenca has a wide range of hotels in charming colonial
buildings. The best area to stay is south of the centre on
the north bank of the river. Consider booking ahead at
weekends and on national holidays.
El Cafécito Honorato Vasquez 7-36, at Cordero T 07
283 2337, W cafecit o.n et. A frie ndly café with basic rooms
at the back. Dorms $7 , doubles $25
El Capitolio Hermano Miguel 4-19 T 07 282 4446.
Opposite La Casa Cuencana , this is an equally good budget
option offering decent, basic roo ms with shared bathroom
in a quiet home from home. $16
La Casa Cuencana Hermano Miguel 4-36 T 07 282
6009. With terracotta walls adorned with artwork, and
a friendly family atmosphere, these simple room s w ith
private bathrooms are excellent value for the price. $16
Hostal Casa del Barranco C Larga 8-41, at Cordero
T 07 283 9763, W casadelbarranco.com. Many of the
hotels on Calle Larga come at a premium, but this historic
house displaying paintings by local art ists is a great-value
mid-range option. Breakfast included. $31
Hostal Chordeleg Gran Colombia, at General Torres
T 07 282 2536. An attractive converted colonial home on
a corner in the city centre with decent mid-range rooms
set aroun d a pleasant courtyard and garden. Breakfast
included. $40
Hostal La Cigale Vasquez, at Cordero T 07 283 5308.
Simple ro oms an d th e popular Café Goloso attached.
Dorms $8 , doubles $22
Hostal Colonial Gran Colombia 10-13, at Padre Aguirre
T 07 2841 644. Compact mid-range rooms in an
eighteenth-century hou se set around a small courtyard.
Breakfast included. $34
Hostal Monarca Borrero 5-47, at Honorato Vasquez
T 07 283 6462. Loud, bright decor but a quiet family
Mirador de Turi
For great views over Cuenca, take a taxi
($3) or a bus from 12 de Abri, at Solano
($0.25), to Mirador de Turi , a lookout
point on a hill 4km south of the centre.
Views are particularly good on evenings
when the churches are lit up.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Cuenca's airport (Mariscal Lamar Inter-
national Airport) is 2km northeast of the centre. There
are daily flights to and from Quito and Guayaquil by
Tame (Av Florencia Astudillo; T 07 288 9581, W tame
.com.ec), LAN (Bolívar 9-18, at Benigno Malo; T 07 282
2783, W lan.com) and Aerogal (Av España 1114; T 07
286 1041, W www.aerogal.com.ec). Icaro also operates
regularly to Quito (Av España 11-14; T 07 280 2700,
W icaro.aero.com). Prices start at about $70 one-way.
From the airport buses run on Av España to the northern
edge of central Cuenca or it's a 10min walk to the main
bus terminal.
By bus The bus terminal is near the airport, northeast
of the centre.
Destinations Quito (hourly; 10hr); Guayaquil (hourly;
4hr 30min); Ambato (hourly; 7hr); Riobamba (hourly; 6hr);
and Loja (hourly; 5hr).
Taxi Taxis cost about $2 from the airport to Cuenca.
Minimum charges around town are $1.25.
 
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