Cuenca Travel Magazine – From Inca Heritage to a City of Life, Golf and Business

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October edition | By Lassi Pensikkala

There are several ways to arrive in Cuenca. You can come for its historic streets and cathedral domes, for a family holiday, for a business meeting or with golf clubs and a tournament ahead of you. Each reveals a different city.

I have visited Cuenca with my family, met local companies and the chamber of commerce, explored Ingapirca and competed in national open golf tournaments. Those experiences have given me several reasons to return—and a broader picture of a city whose appeal reaches well beyond its famous architecture.

Cuenca is a place to enjoy Ecuadorian cooking, discover an internationally connected business community and understand why both Ecuadorian travellers and foreign residents feel drawn to it. Give it time, and a sightseeing visit can become something more personal: an introduction to a way of life.

Expert Insights by Lassi Pensikkala

As a Finn who lived for decades in Germany and has made Ecuador home for more than fifteen years, I approach destinations with an interest in how people live and work. Beautiful buildings attract my attention, but so do local companies, restaurants, conversations and the places where people spend their free time.

Cuenca brings those interests together. My business meetings have introduced me to its commercial life. Family visits have given me time to explore its surroundings. Golf has brought another kind of encounter, through competition and the shared experience of a demanding course.

For this issue, I want to bring those perspectives together. The city deserves to be understood through its heritage, its productive economy and the pleasures of spending time here.

8 Elements to Experience

1. The Historic Centre: Look Beyond the Domes

Begin around Parque Calderón, where the cathedral and surrounding streets provide an easy introduction to Cuenca. Then allow yourself to wander. Look at doorways, balconies, interior courtyards and the changing details of the façades.

There is an economic story in this architecture. UNESCO describes how prosperity from exports—including quinine and straw hats—helped transform older houses into more elaborate residences. Local and European influences combined as the city’s ambitions grew.

That makes a walk through Cuenca particularly interesting: the buildings record changing tastes, trading connections and the ways successful families chose to express themselves. The New Cathedral, begun in 1885, belongs to this evolving city rather than its earliest colonial chapter.

2. The Tomebamba: Make Room for an Ordinary Walk

A river walk gives a city visit a different rhythm. Along the Tomebamba and El Barranco, the relationship between buildings, riverbanks and changing ground levels becomes part of the experience.

UNESCO includes the river corridor and its traditional architecture in its account of Cuenca’s historic character. It is a useful reminder to explore the edges of the old centre as well as its principal squares.

Leave some of this walk unplanned. Stop for a coffee when somewhere appeals to you. Cross a bridge, look back towards the buildings and give yourself time to notice ordinary life around you. These pauses help turn an unfamiliar city into somewhere you can begin to understand.

3. Cuenca at the Table: Local Roots and International Taste

Cuenca’s food deserves a central place in a visit. The city offers excellent opportunities to move between traditional Ecuadorian cooking and international cuisine, making meals an enjoyable part of the journey in their own right.

Start with mote, the cooked maize that appears in several characteristic preparations. Mote pillo combines it with eggs and seasonings; hornado brings roast pork to the table. Mercado 10 de Agosto is one place to discover these familiar local dishes and see the ingredients around which everyday cooking is built.

Then explore the other side of the dining scene: contemporary restaurants, international menus and kitchens that reinterpret Ecuadorian ingredients. The municipal tourism foundation highlights this range, from traditional food to fusion cooking, alongside artisan bread, chocolate and craft beer.

A satisfying stay should leave room for both a straightforward local lunch and a longer evening meal. For readers who enjoy wine, dinner is the natural place to explore a restaurant’s selection and pairings. Here, wine can enrich the food experience without needing to turn the journey into a vineyard itinerary.

4. Golf in Cuenca: A Course That Deserves Your Attention

I have played in Cuenca, including in national open tournaments organised through the Federación Ecuatoriana de Golf. It is a very interesting and challenging course, and one of my personal reasons to include the city in a wider conversation about golf travel in Ecuador.

Cuenca Tenis & Golf Club lists a nine-hole course of 3,340 yards, situated at approximately 2,630 metres above sea level. Those figures provide an introduction; the experience of playing it deserves more attention than the number of holes alone might suggest.

The annual national open connects Cuenca with Ecuador’s competitive golf community. For a traveller, a golf visit also creates the possibility of combining the sport with restaurants, cultural exploration and time with the family.

Access requires advance arrangements. This is a private club, so visiting golfers should contact it about eligibility, guest access and playing conditions before making plans around a round.

5. The Cuenca That Manufactures, Trades and Builds

My meetings with local companies and the chamber of commerce have given me an appreciation of Cuenca’s business life. Travellers interested in economics and enterprise will find plenty to investigate here.

Indurama provides a clear example. Founded by Cuenca entrepreneurs in 1972, it began exporting to Peru in 1985. Its development shows how a locally founded manufacturer built connections with markets beyond Ecuador.

Grupo Consenso’s history adds an unexpected connection: its origins lie in the export of toquilla hats from Cuenca. Manufacturing and household appliances became later chapters in that entrepreneurial story.

The Eljuri business network brings another dimension. Centro Cerámico identifies itself as part of Corporación Eljuri, with activities covering factories, mining, transport and commercial distribution. Grupo Vázquez, headquartered in Cuenca, represents further diversification across sectors including automotive businesses, finance, insurance and hospitality.

These examples help explain why Cuenca belongs on a business traveller’s map. They also offer a richer context for understanding the city’s prosperity and international connections.

6. A City Ecuadorians Visit and Foreign Residents Choose

Cuenca holds an important place in Ecuadorian travel as well as attracting international visitors and expatriates. That combination deserves attention: people arrive with different expectations, yet find reasons to enjoy the same city.

For a visiting family, the appeal may lie in a few days of good food, exploration and time together. For someone considering a longer stay, the questions become more practical: which neighbourhood feels comfortable, how daily errands work and where social connections might develop.

If you are curious about living here, make room for ordinary activities during your visit. Walk outside the main sightseeing circuit, browse local shops and spend time in the neighbourhood you might actually choose.

Understanding Cuenca also means meeting the people whose city it already is. Spanish, curiosity and a willingness to listen can make those encounters much more rewarding.

7. Ingapirca: Give the Past a Full Day

I have visited Ingapirca, and it deserves a place in a Cuenca itinerary. Set in Cañar province, roughly 90 kilometres from the city, the archaeological complex offers an opportunity to explore the region’s history beyond the urban centre.

Its story involves both Cañari and Inca heritage. That distinction matters: the region had its own communities and cultural traditions before Inca expansion. A thoughtful visit should give attention to those earlier foundations as well as the celebrated stonework.

Treat the excursion as a full day, with time for the journey, the site and an explanation from a knowledgeable guide. Looking at archaeological remains becomes far more meaningful when someone helps you understand how the spaces were used and how successive cultures shaped them.

8. Cajas and the Family Journey

Our family travel diary includes Cajas National Park, Cuenca’s historic centre, Ingapirca and sport fishing. Together, those experiences show how varied a stay based around Cuenca can become.

For a family itinerary, variety is valuable. Follow a day of streets and museums with time in the surrounding landscape. Allow room for a relaxed meal and for interests that may matter more to the children than another building.

Cajas deserves its own allocation of time. Choose an excursion suited to your group, and confirm weather, access and walking requirements locally. A short scenic outing and a demanding mountain walk are very different plans.

You can see the places featured in our journey in the Cuenca family travel video diary.

Traveler Pro-Toolkit

Historic centre

A useful starting point for a first visit focused on architecture, museums, restaurants and walking. Ask about street noise and room position when choosing accommodation.

Tomebamba and El Barranco

Consider this area if riverside walks are an important part of your stay. Check the actual walking route to your accommodation, including steps and slopes.

San Joaquín and Barabón

Relevant for golfers planning around the club, and for travellers exploring local food outside the central sightseeing area.

Business visits

Choose your base after locating your meetings. A central hotel can be appealing, but its convenience depends on where the companies you are visiting are situated.

Excursions

Give Ingapirca and Cajas separate days if you want to enjoy both without rushing.

Longer stays

Try a neighbourhood through a short stay before committing to it. Pay attention to transport, noise, everyday shopping and the atmosphere at different times of day.

Disclosure: As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying bookings made through the links below at no extra cost to you.

A Tip Beyond the Main Squares

Connect the golf chapter with the food around San Joaquín.

The municipal tourism foundation identifies San Joaquín and the Barabón corridor with traditional grilled meats, mote pillo, broad beans with cheese and other regional dishes. The golf club is also located on the road to Barabón, in San Joaquín. That creates a practical connection between a sporting visit and a local lunch outside the historic centre.

For non-golfers, the food provides a reason of its own to explore this part of the Cuenca area. For a mixed group, it can help make the day enjoyable for everyone.

The Soul of Cuenca

Cuenca becomes especially interesting when you consider how its different histories overlap.

Cañari and Inca heritage form part of its foundations. Spanish urban planning shaped the historic centre. Later trade brought prosperity and architectural change. Manufacturing, commerce and services added further dimensions to the city’s development.

The export history provides a particularly revealing connection. A visitor might encounter a toquilla hat as a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. An economist also sees skilled work, distribution, overseas markets and the income that helped shape a city. Grupo Consenso’s progression from hat exports towards manufacturing makes that connection tangible.

This is the perspective I want to share through AmerExperience: understanding a destination through the relationship between its culture, economy and everyday life.

In Cuenca, my experiences as a business visitor, golfer and family traveller each contribute to that understanding. Together, they encourage a longer look.

What to Avoid

Avoid filling every day with excursions. Leave time to enjoy Cuenca itself, especially its food and the simple pleasure of walking without an appointment.

Do not assume you can arrive at the golf club and immediately play. Confirm access beforehand.

Keep business meetings and distant excursions on separate schedules where possible. A full day at Ingapirca should have enough room around it to remain enjoyable.

If you are considering a longer stay, look beyond holiday impressions. Spend time doing the ordinary things that would become part of your routine.

Planning Your Visit

For the range of experiences described here, I would allow five to seven nights. That gives you time for the city, separate excursions to Ingapirca and Cajas, and either golf or business commitments without sacrificing every relaxed meal.

For a shorter stay, choose your priorities. Three nights can introduce you to Cuenca, but trying to fit every experience into them would change the character of the trip.

Walking is a rewarding way to explore the historic centre. The city also has a modern tram, useful when its route matches your plans. Confirm current tickets and services locally.

Pack layers and rain protection, particularly if your plans include the surrounding highlands. Check current transport connections and road conditions before travelling, and confirm excursion details directly with your provider.

For a broader journey, use our Ecuador travel and tourism guide to connect Cuenca with other parts of the country.

How It Looks Actually

The cathedral domes provide a memorable image, but this issue’s Cuenca includes many other scenes: a company meeting, a demanding round of golf, a market lunch, a family excursion and an evening choosing where to eat.

These are different ways of participating in the same city. You do not need to share all my interests to enjoy it. You might arrive for the history and become curious about the food, or come for business and decide to return with your family.

That possibility of discovering another reason to visit is part of Cuenca’s appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days should I spend in Cuenca?

I recommend five to seven nights for a stay combining the city, Ingapirca, Cajas and golf or business. For a shorter visit, select one excursion and leave enough time for Cuenca’s streets and restaurants.

Can visitors play golf in Cuenca?

Cuenca Tenis & Golf Club has a private nine-hole course. Contact the club before travelling to confirm whether and how you can arrange access.

What local food should I try?

Mote pillo and hornado are useful starting points. Explore traditional market cooking alongside Cuenca’s international and contemporary restaurants.

Is Ingapirca in Cuenca?

No. It is in Cañar province, roughly 90 kilometres away, and works as a separate day trip from Cuenca.

Is Cuenca interesting for business travellers?

Yes. The companies discussed here illustrate activity across manufacturing, distribution, automotive businesses, finance, insurance and hospitality. Arrange meetings in advance and leave time to experience the city around them.

Can I combine Cuenca with a family holiday?

Yes. Our own family journey included the historic centre, Cajas, Ingapirca and sport fishing. Adapt the pace and excursions to your family’s interests.

Continue Exploring

Cuenca through our eyes: a family travel video diary

Things to do in Cuenca: our Spanish-language guide

Ecuador travel and tourism: plan your wider journey

Warm regards,

Lassi Pensikkala

Destination expert & travel writer

Updated 2026 · © Lassi Pensikkala

This guide is part of my 125 USA,  Europe, Latin America and Scandinavia Travel Guides, curated from decades of travel experience. Read and download the guides for free here

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