Cuenca Trips & Tours

South of Quito, the Andes flatten out into gentle, undulating waves and the mountain vistas of the north are replaced by faraway scenes of burbling brooks and pastures green. This is the southern sierra, a tranquil land where life is laid-back and tourists are still a novelty. At its heart is the town of Cuenca, a beautifully-preserved example of almost 300 years of colonial rule with a UNESCO-designated city centre of cobbled streets and pastel-hued churches. The home of the panama hat (we challenge you to leave without one!), the town today remains a hub for artisans with ceramicists, jewellers and weavers lining the walkways. Beyond the town, the southern landscape unfolds in a unique glory, from the wild, lake-dotted moorlands of Cajas National Park to incredible Ingapirca, the country’s only major Inca ruins. Both are day-trippable from Cuenca and well-worth a visit in your journey around the sierra.