Attractions in Cuenca & Southern Highlands
Colonial charm and ancient Incan secrets 👒🏛️
Showing 27 attractions · Sorted by importance
Cajas National Park
📍 Cuenca
🏔 Scenic ViewA breathtaking high-altitude wilderness featuring over 200 glacial lakes and unique paramo ecosystems perfect for family hiking and photography.
Cajas National Park Scenic Drive (E582)
📍 Cuenca
🚗 Road Trip70km paved mountain highway (1.5-2 hours) crossing the Continental Divide at 4,167m. This well-maintained route features dramatic high-altitude paramo landscapes, over 200 glacial lagoons including Laguna La Toreadora, and jagged Andean peaks.
Ingapirca Archaeological Complex
📍 Ingapirca
🏰 CastleEcuador's most significant Inca ruins featuring the unique elliptical Temple of the Sun and ancient stone masonry.
New Cathedral (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception)
📍 Cuenca
🏰 CastleAn iconic symbol of the city known for its three giant blue-and-white tiled domes and impressive red brick architecture.
Pumapungo Archaeological Park
📍 Cuenca
🏰 CastleAn extensive archaeological site in the city center featuring Inca ruins, terraced gardens, and a comprehensive museum.
Cuenca to Ingapirca Scenic Drive
📍 Cuenca
🚗 Road Trip80km paved highway (2 hours) following the Pan-American North through the rugged heart of the Southern Highlands. Highlights include the cliffside Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío in Biblián and the Ingapirca archaeological complex, Ecuador's most important Inca site.
Jardín Botánico de Cuenca
📍 Cuenca
🌿 GardenA modern riverside park featuring themed Andean gardens, walking trails, and a unique collection of high-altitude flora perfect for family strolls.
Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno
📍 Cuenca
🖼 Art GalleryHoused in a beautifully restored colonial temperance house, this museum features vibrant contemporary Ecuadorian art that captivates visitors of all ages.
Novaqua Spa at Hostería Durán
📍 Baños, Cuenca
♨ Hot SpringA historic and expansive thermal facility featuring Olympic-sized mineral pools, private contrast baths, and Turkish baths. The 38°C water is naturally heated by the geothermal activity of the dormant volcanic valley.
Piedra de Agua Fuente Termal
📍 Baños, Cuenca
♨ Hot SpringPremier thermal complex featuring 38°C natural mineral water, volcanic mud baths, subterranean thermal pools carved into volcanic rock, and steam caves. Facilities include structured thermal circuits and outdoor pools.
Pumapungo Ethnobotanical Garden
📍 Cuenca
🌿 GardenVast terraced gardens at an archaeological site showcasing over 300 species of native Andean plants and ancient Inca agricultural techniques.
Qhapaq Ñan: Achupallas to Ingapirca
📍 Achupallas
🥾 Hiking & Cycling40km challenging 3-day trek following the ancient Inca Road with 1,500m elevation gain. Reaches altitudes of 4,400m. Equipment rental and guided tours: TerraDiversa (terradiversa.com).
Chordeleg
📍 Chordeleg
🏘 Town / VillageA UNESCO Creative City famous for its exquisite silver filigree jewelry, artisanal pottery, and picturesque central plaza.
Gualaceo
📍 Gualaceo
🏘 Town / VillageA traditional artisanal village known as the 'Garden of Azuay,' famous for its high-quality handmade textiles and vibrant Sunday markets.
Old Cathedral (El Sagrario)
📍 Cuenca
🏰 CastleA historic colonial church turned museum of religious art, showcasing the city's earliest Spanish architecture and murals.
Aqua River Park
📍 Santa Isabel
🌊 Water ParkA premier family destination in the warm Yunguilla Valley offering high-speed slides, a lazy river, and extensive aquatic play structures.
Centro de Rescate Yurak Allpa
📍 Cuenca
🦁 ZooA dedicated mountain rescue center offering families an up-close look at native Ecuadorian wildlife like pumas and monkeys in a serene forest setting.
Cerro San Luis Trail
📍 Cuenca
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate 4-hour loop hike with 350m elevation gain. Offers 360-degree views of Cajas National Park. Gear available at outdoor shops in Cuenca: Tatoo Adventure Gear (tatoo.ws).
Ecuagenera Orchid Garden
📍 Gualaceo
🌿 GardenA world-famous orchid nursery offering guided tours through spectacular greenhouses filled with thousands of rare and colorful Ecuadorian orchids.
El Barranco
📍 Cuenca
🏔 Scenic ViewThe scenic riverside border of the historic district, where the Tomebamba River flows past hanging gardens and colonial architecture.
El Chorro de Girón
📍 Girón
🌲 NatureA series of three spectacular waterfalls cascading down a high rock face with accessible trails through lush cloud forest.
Parque Acuático Planeta Azul
📍 Gualaceo
🌊 Water ParkThe largest water park in the region, featuring multiple slides, wave pools, and dedicated children's splash areas set in a lush mountain valley.
Ruta de las Artesanías (The Artisanal Route)
📍 Cuenca
🚗 Road Trip60km paved scenic loop (full day trip) through the Santa Bárbara and Paute river valleys. Key stops include Gualaceo for ikat textiles, Chordeleg for world-famous silver filigree jewelry, and Sigsig for traditional toquilla straw hats.
The Southern Pan-American Highway (Cuenca to Saraguro)
📍 Cuenca
🚗 Road Trip140km paved mountain pass (3 hours) traversing the high-altitude 'Tinajillas' paramo. This route connects the cultural hub of Cuenca to the ancestral lands of the Saraguro people, offering expansive views of the southern Andes and dramatic cloud forest transitions.
