Tours That Made Me Fall for Cuenca (and One I DIYed)
When it comes to exploring a new city, I’m usually a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda traveler. Cuenca was able to support me in my spontaneity. Whether it was a book-the-day-before traditional walking tour, a double-decker hop-on/hop-off ride, or a scrappy little DIY taxi adventure, the tours I took here left me smitten.
If you’re wondering what’s worth doing (and how to add your own twist to the experience), here’s the inside scoop.
Standout Cultural Experiences
Cuenca Sur City Tour: This was my first hop-on/hop-off tour ever! The sun was cooperating that day so I got to snag a prime seat on the open-air top deck—perfect for snapping pics from a whole new angle. Winding through Cuenca’s charming streets, they covered major landmarks like the Pumapungo Museum and the Turi lookout point before returning to Calderón Park. (The company also offers bus tours through other parts of the city.)
📌 Tip: Some tours are Spanish-only. If you need English, double-check that you’re getting on the bus for bilingual tour.
If you want a broad overview before diving deeper, this tour is a great way to get your bearings. Pair it with the walking tour below for the best of both worlds.
Cuenca – Ec – Highlights City Tour: My walking city tour with Flavio was an outstanding experience. Not only did I get an insider’s view of Cuenca’s highlights, but I also got to practice my Spanish (since I was the only person on the tour that day—thank you, “shoulder” season!).
Flavio was knowledgeable, patient with translations to English when needed, and went above and beyond in answering my questions, even ones way off the official tour script. He even rescued me from a taxi miscommunication when my Spanish failed me. If you want a mix of history, culture, and good company, I can’t recommend this tour enough.
Interesting Factoid: The Real Origin of Panama Hats
Did you know that Ecuador, not Panama, is the true home of the famous Panama Hats? Ecuadorians have been crafting them since the 1600’s. In the 1800’s, the hats were exported through Panama. The hats ended up with the name of their point of international shipping, instead of their actual country of origin. 😞 But Ecuadorans (and Panamanians) know real story.
We stopped at the Panama Hat Museum, where I felt like a VIP thanks to Flavio’s connections. I was this close to buying a stunning hat, but alas—suitcase space (and airport hassle) won that battle.
My Self-Made Tours (Taxi Adventure!) 🚖
I curated my own custom tour using Radio Taxi Sidcay — they were uber affordable. Now, I had a girlfriend who used to say I could “pinch a penny in half with my butt cheeks,” but trying to save money was not the only reason for this DIY taxi tour; where I wanted to go wasn’t on any established tour’s list.
Challaubamba, a nearby area I’d heard was a few degrees warmer than Cuenca proper. (Spoiler: It was not!). My taxi “tour” even included an impromptu grocery stop, because hey—scouting an area means doing normal-life stuff too.
I highly recommend trying this if you have specific spots you want to visit that aren’t part of regular tours.
Everyday Moments That Stole My Heart
The rest of my time in Cuenca was pretty chill, you could find me…
- Trying to figure out the technical aspects of blogging and website building
- Having a blast in my makeshift photography studio (the chair in my Airbnb).
Like the day I got utterly absorbed photographing hibiscus tea. Psst! Want a peek into that spontaneous four-hour shoot? Check out the full story here. 🍵📸) - Spending Thursday nights at El Cafecito Hostal’s informal cooking exchange. There sadly wasn’t a lot of exchange — more like local Cuencanas and Tony, the owner/organizer, graciously teaching us how to cook using local ingredients. On my last night, the American women and I took over the kitchen, and let’s just say…when Tony tried to give me cooking advice, my decades of experience had something to say about that. (“Boy, I’ve been cooking since I was 10 years old…”) 💁🏾♀️ I hope my smackdown wasn’t too harsh.
✨Final Thoughts
I have no regrets about skipping most of the museums and landmarks on people’s Top Things To Do lists. Instead, I spent time connecting—with the city, with new friends, and with the slower rhythms of life here.
Have you ever built your own tour or taken an unexpected detour that made you fall in love with a place? I’d love to hear your stories—drop a comment below! 📝
