The 10 Best Free Things to do in Cuenca, Azuay Province

Known for its more than 275 Andean lakes and many waterfalls, this national park is a popular destination for trout fishing, rugged hiking and camping.

In "MIGUEL ILLESCAS C. ART GALLERY" you can find two and three-dimesional works made by ecuatorian artist MIGUEL ILESCAS C., an invitarion for the viewer to discover codes that will lead to a magicl an fantastic encounter. Permanent exhibition of national and international guest artist also silver jewelry designs. Visit us, we will glad to receive you.

Separating the colonial section from the modern residential areas of the town of Cuenca, this river features scenic walking paths along its north bank and several Inca ruins.

The main city square of Cuenca is dominated by the magnificent Catedral de la Immaculada (New Cathedral).

This large cathedral (circa 1885) features a series of sky-blue cupolas; the interior contains a magnificent altar and a famous crowned image of the Virgin Mary.

The Museum and Ancestral Park of Pumapungo, are the two main elements that conform the cultural complex administered by Ecuador's Culture and Heritage Ministry in the city of Cuenca. These are public spaces, open to a variety of cultural activities, projects, and initiatives, that have a very profound meaning for Cuenca's citizens. Pumapungo Museum has a lot of different components. It has seven temporary exhibition rooms were a wide diversity of exhibitions are produced: art, history, photography, sculpture are some of them. It also has an archeology exhibition room - site museum, where the development of society is explained through time, as well as the Inca occupation and findings at the Pumapungo archeological site. In addition, the museum exhibits the national ethnography room, where Ecuador's multicultural diversity is displayed through vivid representations of every day's life, dresses, instruments and images. The museum also counts with a library and historic archive; both open for free and open access from the public, art, archeology and ethnography reserves, which are available for students as well as for national and international investigators. In total, the complex conserves around 160.000 cultural and heritage goods. Another important component of the cultural complex is the Ancestral Park. There are three main elements: The archeological park, where visitors can appreciate the remains of the once most important administrative, military and religious center of the northern part of the Inca Empire; the Ethnobotanic park, with more than 230 species of native Andean plants and trees, this space has become the last native ecological niche in the center of Cuenca, and it is the reason why it is visited by more than 30 local species of birds daily. The park is also a very important space for educational activities aimed at illustrate ancestral knowledge and traditions. The bird rescue center is the last element of Pumapungo's Ancestral Park. At the moment it contains about 200 birds of around 25 species. It complements the whole educative content of the park, as this animals are filled with significance and myths of our ancestors. We work together with the Ministry of environment to fight against the illicit traffic of native species. In this area we cure and feed the birds that are brought by the competent authorities. After the birds have reached its optimal shape, we coordinate its liberation in the birds original environment. Shamefully, in most of the cases, this liberation process is not possible, as the birds have suffered from irreversible injuries, and conditioning of their behavior. The park has a full time 13 people team, that carry the traditional knowledge needed to attend all of its areas. Biologists, veterinarians, agronomic engineers, are amongst them.

Visit the artists, artisans and designers of Cuenca. Art Cuenca can plan a great visit into the studios, galleries or shops to see the process and learn from them. You can also buy the art straight from the artists paying a good price. Also visit our gallery located on Bolivar and Miguel HerediaVisite artistas, artesanos y disenadores de Cuenca. Art Cuenca puede planear una visita a los estudios, galerias y talleres para ver el proceso y conocer mas sobre el mismo. Puede compara el arte directamente del autor, pagando un buen precio.Tambien puede visitar nuestra galeria ubicada en la Simon Bolivar y Miguel Heredia.