Baños to Cuenca Bus Tickets, Shuttles, and What to Do!

What to see in Cuenca

There’s more to see in Cuenca than just ex-pats and retirees, although the city has become a haven for them due to its easy and affordable living and favorable climate. We thought we would list some off-beat activities here that you don’t normally see in guides, but that would help you gain a fond appreciation for this beautiful city.

#1 - Get the bird’s eye view from the Turi lookout

At the southern end of the city climbs a steep hill over an area known as Turi. The “mirador”, or lookout, is at the top of this hill next to a charming town square with a church and several restaurants and bars all next to each other. The lookout offers sweeping views of the city and the mountain ranges surrounding it, and for an even greater thrill, just a few steps away is El Columpio, a cable car that glides up the hillside some more to so you can look down not only on Cuenca, but Turi too! After all adventure, stick around in the Turi area because it also boasts its own natural hot springs that. Many travelers actually prefer the hot springs in Cuenca over the more famous ones up north because they find them better maintained and less crowded.

#2 - Stroll along the rivers

Not one or two, but four rivers cross through Cuenca, making the babbling of brooks audible everywhere you wander. Each river also comes with its own trail, but the two that are the most accessible are the Rio Tomebamba which runs through the downtown section alongside Calle Larga and therefore has lots of businesses and small parks on either side of it. But our personal favorite is Rio Yanuncay located in the southwestern section of the city. There you’ll find Parque Lineal, which as its name suggests, lines the entire river length going through city, so you can stroll the whole afternoon walking the riverside uninterrupted by streets, cables, or civilization. At the end of it, you come to Cuenca’s botanical garden right where the river joins Cuenca’s third river, Rio Tarqui. Oh yes, the fourth river is on the northeastern edge of the city, Rio Milchichig, which meanders through a more industrialized side of the city, but is interspersed with playgrounds and parks to enjoy.

#3 - Museum of Aboriginal Cultures

An unusual but excellently curated museum on Calle Larga is Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes. Here you’ll find exhibited a rich collection that preserves the cultures of Ecuador’s past or vanishing civilizations, including the Valdivia, Puruhá, Guangala, Machalilla, Inca, and many others. Experience pottery, household utensils, and art dating all the way back to 13,000 B.C., as well as a fine gift shop.

#4 - Museum of Sombreros

A distinctive trademark of Ecuadorians, especially in Cuenca, is the handwoven sombrero made from the palm-like toquilla plant. The hats became known as “Panama hats” only because Ecuador shipped them to Panama, and Panamanians took charge of distributing them from there all over the world. Most of these are made on the coast in Montecristi, but the finishing and large-scale manufacturing and sales are routed through Cuenca. A fascinating museum and experiential workshop is Museo Del Sombrero De Paja Toquilla, also located on Calle Larga. In one place, you can explore the history of the sombrero, then see it being hand-crafted in the factory, and then finish off in a wonderful on-site coffee shop featuring Ecuadorian arabica coffee. What’s more, everything created here is for sale, so don’t pass up on taking a sombrero home.

#5 - Unique experience of Ecuador wildlife

On the eastern side of Cuenca you’ll find a one-of-a-kind natural setting in which you can stroll trails like going through a forest, and then suddenly meet up with a jaguar or a bear! Not to worry, all the animals are kept safely behind barriers, but you’ll find it different than a zoo. This is Amaru, a bio-park and foundation dedicated to rescuing Ecuador’s at-risk wildlife and providing them their own habitat while at the same time allowing humans to observe them in their habitat. Many tourists won’t ever be able to see the spectacled bear up in the high Andes where it is a rare sight, but here at Amaru you can transport yourself there and appreciate this wonderful mammal, as well as many other Ecuadorian mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

Conclusion

Get started on your plans to visit Cuenca after a relaxing time in Baños, and you’ll find your adventure continuing to reward you with great experiences. Just click the Reserve Now button at the top of the page to find a bus or shared shuttle departure convenient with your plans, or visit ecuadorbus.com/shuttles if you want to arrange a private form of transport.