Aaron’s Cuenca Guidebook

Aaron
Aaron’s Cuenca Guidebook

Food scene

Bistro Yaku – next block over – Enter the hostel Yakumama and go to the back of the building Closed on Monday Luis Cordero 5-66 y Honorato Vásquez Pepo speaks English
Bistro Yaku
5-66 y Calle Luis Cordero
Bistro Yaku – next block over – Enter the hostel Yakumama and go to the back of the building Closed on Monday Luis Cordero 5-66 y Honorato Vásquez Pepo speaks English
Kolo Restaurant and Bakery – next block over – Enter Hotel Vieja Mansión and walk upstairs Closed Tuesday Luis Cordero 5-65 y Honorato Vásquez Frank and staff speak English
Kolo Restaurant and Bakery
5-65 e Honorato Vasquez
Kolo Restaurant and Bakery – next block over – Enter Hotel Vieja Mansión and walk upstairs Closed Tuesday Luis Cordero 5-65 y Honorato Vásquez Frank and staff speak English
Le Petit Jardin On the outskirts of town to the west. Use their website for directions; otherwise, you will not find it, but I guarantee a great meal. French-inspired cuisine Only open on Saturday and Sunday Calle de las Brevas Giovanni speaks English
Le Petit Jardin
San Miguel de Putushi
Le Petit Jardin On the outskirts of town to the west. Use their website for directions; otherwise, you will not find it, but I guarantee a great meal. French-inspired cuisine Only open on Saturday and Sunday Calle de las Brevas Giovanni speaks English
La Guarida Calle Mariscal Lamar y Luis Pauta Staff speak English
La Guarida
22.23 Calle Mariscal Lamar
La Guarida Calle Mariscal Lamar y Luis Pauta Staff speak English
Capitan Several blocks away – very small – make a reservation Seafood based cuisine Closed Wednesday Tomás Ordóñez 6-76 y Presidente Córdova
El capitan
6-76 y Tomás Ordóñez
Capitan Several blocks away – very small – make a reservation Seafood based cuisine Closed Wednesday Tomás Ordóñez 6-76 y Presidente Córdova

Grocery, Mercados, Tiendas

Located a couple of blocks west on Calle Larga. Calle Larga 11-47. Of the mercados in Cuenca, this is closest. The mercados have fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.
39 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Markets 10 ka-Agosto
1147 Calle Larga
39 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Located a couple of blocks west on Calle Larga. Calle Larga 11-47. Of the mercados in Cuenca, this is closest. The mercados have fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.
Located on Alfonso Cordero Palacios 2-41 on the other side of Parque de la Madre, near the McDonalds. This is similar to an American supermarket. You’ll need to take a copy of your passport if you don’t have a SuperMaxi card (tarjeta). We take our backpacks and walk there and back. If buying large quantities consider taking a taxi back. Taxis are located out front of SuperMaxi.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Supermaxi El Vergel
PALACIOS
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Located on Alfonso Cordero Palacios 2-41 on the other side of Parque de la Madre, near the McDonalds. This is similar to an American supermarket. You’ll need to take a copy of your passport if you don’t have a SuperMaxi card (tarjeta). We take our backpacks and walk there and back. If buying large quantities consider taking a taxi back. Taxis are located out front of SuperMaxi.
Worth the trip if you are in Cuenca for any length of time and not just here for a day or two. Located just west of Avenida de las Americas and Avenida Remigio Crespo Toral. Keep your valuables secure!!
CUENCA FERIA LIBRE
Worth the trip if you are in Cuenca for any length of time and not just here for a day or two. Located just west of Avenida de las Americas and Avenida Remigio Crespo Toral. Keep your valuables secure!!
Located at Tarqui y Presidente Córdova. There are several Corals around Cuenca. This one is a few blocks away. For home goods, food, etc. Think Wal-Mart.
Coral Hipermercados | Calle Tarqui
792-707 Tarqui
Located at Tarqui y Presidente Córdova. There are several Corals around Cuenca. This one is a few blocks away. For home goods, food, etc. Think Wal-Mart.

Pharmacy

There are many pharmacies close to the apartment. Walk up Calle Larga toward the 10 de agosto mercado and there is a Cruz Azul on the right-side corner before reaching the mercado.
Cruz Azul
10-78 Calle Larga
There are many pharmacies close to the apartment. Walk up Calle Larga toward the 10 de agosto mercado and there is a Cruz Azul on the right-side corner before reaching the mercado.

Medical

One of the nicer hospitals in Cuenca.
Consultorios Médicos Santa Ines
Agustín Cueva Vallejo
One of the nicer hospitals in Cuenca.
One of the nicer hospitals in Cuenca.
Mount Sinai Hospital
6-140 Miguel Cordero Dávila
One of the nicer hospitals in Cuenca.

Sightseeing

Incan ruin museum and grounds are within a close distance to the apartment. The entrance is free.
91 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Pumapungo Museum
182 Calle Larga
91 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Incan ruin museum and grounds are within a close distance to the apartment. The entrance is free.
City center park w/ dining and outdoor activities within a few blocks of the apartment.
61 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Plaza Abdon Calderon
Mariscal Sucre
61 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
City center park w/ dining and outdoor activities within a few blocks of the apartment.
Plaza within a couple of blocks of the apartment
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iplaza yaseSan Francisco
Padre Aguirre
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Plaza within a couple of blocks of the apartment
City center Cathedral at Park Calderon is located within a couple of blocks of the apartment.
81 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
Benigno Malo
81 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
City center Cathedral at Park Calderon is located within a couple of blocks of the apartment.
Tomebamba river is located directly south of the apartment.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rio Tomebamba
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tomebamba river is located directly south of the apartment.
Multi-purpose park within a few blocks of the apartment. There is a running track, workout equipment, jungle gyms for children, and other activities.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Madre Park
Avenida 12 de Abril
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Multi-purpose park within a few blocks of the apartment. There is a running track, workout equipment, jungle gyms for children, and other activities.
Turi offers spectacular views of Cuenca. This is walkable, but a taxi is recommended.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Avenida Mirador de Turi
Avenida Mirador de Turi
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Turi offers spectacular views of Cuenca. This is walkable, but a taxi is recommended.

Amacebiso ngesixeko

Ukuhamba-hamba

Transportation, Private Tours, General Help:

Orlando Siguenza (speaks English) for transportation or tours. Please contact me via the Airbnb platform for contact information. Javier Carmona (speaks English) for transportation. He can guide you around town for tours and provide general assistance.
Ukuhamba-hamba

Buses / Tranvia:

There are public buses all over downtown and beyond. Buses cost $.30, and run from about 8:30 am until about 8:30 pm. Many people use the Moovit web site or Moovit app to view routes and plan trips. It’s free from the app stores. The Tranvia (Tram) is completed within the past year. As we don’t live close to the Tranvia I’m not sure on the fare but believe it is the same cost as the bus. Buses and Tranvia require a card, and not the same card for both. To obtain or recharge the cards, go to the Etapa office at Tarqui 9-76, the corner of Tarqui and Gran Colombia.
Ukuhamba-hamba

Taxis:

Taxis are cheap here, a minimum of $1.50 from 7am (0700) to 7pm (1900). Then the minimum raises to $1.75 during evening hours. Always make sure the driver turns on the meter. Just give him the directions of where you want to go. If you’re returning to the apartment, say “Benigno Malo entre Calle Larga y Juan Jaramillo”, then tell the cab drive “para aqui” when you are near or at the apartment. Tips are not expected so I usually round up to the nearest $.25. Download the AzuTaxi app. However, you will need an Ecuadorian phone number for the app to work.
Ukuhamba-hamba

Car Rental:

Cuenca Car Share is a private owner of vehicles in Cuenca that rents his vehicles out. I have used them once and it was a good service. Emilio Morocho is the proprietor. Insurance is included in the rental. Contact Emilio directly for the best price vs. using his website.