city cuenca tours express

Cuenca Tour: The Best of Cuenca Ecuador in 12-Video City Tour

Visiting Ecuador and looking for a great Cuenca tour ? In this post, you’ll get to see the best of the city of Cuenca Ecuador in this 12-video tour of the city.

In this post, I’ve put together our 12 best videos for a great Cuenca driving tour. On this virtual Cuenca tour, you have two options:

• Just sit back and watch. Start the video playlist below – and enjoy your 90-minute Cuenca tour.
• Choose the area you want to see most. Below this video, you’ll see a list of the areas we’ve covered – and you can choose the video of the specific area you want to see most.

Ready to get started? Let’s go – your Cuenca tour bus is now departing!

Cuenca City Tour (12 Video Playlist)

In this playlist, you’ll visit the most popular areas of the city. The first video is a time-lapse of a bus tour around Cuenca.

Then we slow it down as we visit the main streets and neighborhoods in the city.

Cuenca Tour: Street by City Street:  For a time lapse bus trip around Cuenca, jump to the end of the post.

Tour of Baños in Cuenca Ecuador (Driving via a Baños)

On this drive, we start on Avenida de las Americas and travel the full length of via a Baños to the large blue church.

For many years, we lived at the foot of via a Baños and know it well. We’ve hiked extensively in the roads and hills above the blue church. There is a small produce market in front of the church on the weekends. The views from the parking lots are amazing.

You’ll also find a number of hotels with hot springs in Baños.

Tour of Avenida Remigio Crespo in Cuenca

Av. Remigio Crespo runs from Avenida de las Americas (at the Feria Libre), crosses Avenida Loja and continues to Avenida Solano (by the stadium).

Remigio Crespo runs through two parroquias (parishes):  El Batán and Sucre.

There are many nice restaurants on the lower (Solano) end of Remigio Crespo. There are also a number of apartment towers, furniture stores and bike shops in this area. SRI (Ecuador’s national tax office – like the American IRS) is located here.

Why I Like Avenida Remigio Crespo:  Remigio Crespo Avenue is one of my favorite streets for walking. It has really wide sidewalks, plenty of trees and a lot to do. There are a couple of parks, a number of coffee shops and lots of stores. What’s not to like?

Tour of Avenida Loja, Cuenca, Ecuador

Now we’ll tour the length of Avenida Loja in Cuenca, Ecuador. Starting at Avenida de las Americas and ending at Avenida 12 de Abril (runs parallel to the Tomebamba River).

This area is affectionately known as Gringolandia by both expats and locals. Because of the number of apartment towers and its closeness to Supermaxi (a high-end grocery store) many expats start their lives in Ecuador on this street.

Tour of Gringolandia in Cuenca, Ecuador (Avendia Ordoñez Lazo)

Within walking distance of Gringolandia, you’ll find the Cuenca Orchidarium, an  English-speaking dentist , and Plaza de las Americas – home of Supermaxi (1 of 3 in Cuenca) and SuKasa .

This area is close to both the city center and the airport. There are many stores nearby and there are nice walking trails along the Tomebamba River which runs parallel to the Avenue.

The majority of buildings in this area are security buildings and the area is known to be safe. After we were robbed , we moved to one of the apartment towers for a year.

Avenida Ordoñez Lazo is located in the parroquia (parish) of San Sebastián.

How Do You Spell Ordoñez Lazo?  It’s a good question. We’ve seen it spelled at least three different ways:

• Ordoñez Laso
• Ordoñez Lasso
• Ordoñez Lazo

We’ve noticed that consistent spelling isn’t that important in Ecuador. Many towns have multiple spellings – even multiple names. Sometimes two signs within sight of each other will spell the town name differently.

Visiting Supermaxi El Vergel in Cuenca

This is an area you’ll come to know well. There are a number of government offices, TV Cable (internet/cable provider), and Supermaxi. 

This video shows how to get to Supermaxi (El Vergel) and Parque de la Madre from Avenida Solano.

What’s Nearby Supermaxi (El Vergel) and Parque de la Madre:  This video travels from Avenida Remigio Crespo, crossing Avenida Solano and going around Estadio de Cuenca – where the local soccer team plays.

After passing Supermaxi, we continue on to Parque de la Madre (with the new McDonalds restaurant on the right). We continue past Millennium Plaza and merge into Avenida 12 de Abril.

Supermaxi Grocery Stores in Cuenca

The Supermaxi shown in the video is just one of three here in Cuenca. Here are the three Supermaxi locations:

• Supermaxi El Vergel:  as shown on the video, it is located just two blocks from the stadium on the corner of Alfonso Cordero Palacios.
• Supermaxi Las Americas: on the corner of Avenida Ordoñez Lazo and Avenida de las Americas in the Plaza de las Americas. Enter the Plaza off of Camino del Tejar.
• Supermaxi Miraflores: located just two blocks from the airport on Av. Elia Liut and  Gil Ramirez.

Cuenca Tour: Driving to Mall del Rio

Mall del Rio is the largest shopping center in Cuenca, Ecuador. In this video, you’ll see how to drive there from the old city along Avenida Solano.

Drive Avenida Don Bosco on Your Cuenca Tour

On this drive, we start at Tres Puentes (3 Bridges) on Avenida Solano and travel the full length of Avenida Don Bosco to Avenida de las Americas. This road runs almost parallel to Avenida Primero de Mayo.

Avenida Don Bosco is famous for its roast cuy and pork – sold right on the street. Read more about pork and cuy .

Cuenca Tour of Avenida Primero de Mayo

On this drive, we start on Avenida de las Americas and travel down Primero de Mayo. On the left, is the Yanuncay River.

As we come to the end of the video, we arrive at the redondel tres puentes (Three Bridges Rotary) and turn right onto Avenida Don Bosco.

What’s Nearby on Primero de Mayo?  This road is great for walkers. There is a nice sidewalk – separated from the main road and runs along the Yanuncay river. There are many green areas and parks the length of the road.

Cuenca City Tour of Avendia 10 de Agosto, Parque Paraiso and Solca

On this drive we’ll start on Avenida del Paraiso by Solca (Cuenca’s famous cancer clinic) and pass Parque Paraiso. We travel the full length of the Avenue to Avenida Loja.

To the left of Avenida 10 de Agosto is the Yanuncay River. As we drive, we go through a number of redondels (traffic circles or roundabouts).

Driving Tour of Avenida Solano, Cuenca

We begin on 12 de Abril (at the foot of the stairs heading to El Centro) and travel toward 3 Puentes. At the beginning of the Avenue, you’ll see the headquarters of Banco Pichincha.

What’s Nearby on Avenida Solano, Cuenca?  At the corner of 12 de Abril and Solano (where the video begins) you can go left (on foot) and head up into the city center on a walking tour.

Also at that intersection, you’ll see the main office for Banco Pichincha in Cuenca. If you follow Solano from one end to the other, you’ll cross Remigio Crespo, 10 de Agosto, Primero de Mayo and Don Bosco. Avenida Solano ends at Tres Puentes (Three Bridges). From there, it’s super close to Mall del Rio.

And there you have it. Our top 12 Cuenca tour videos. 

How did we shoot these videos? These were all shot with a GoPro and Fat Gecko Suction Mount  mounted to the inside of the windshield of our ’94 Trooper. The bus tour time lapse was shot with our GoPro mounted on the UltraClamp  on top of a double-decker bus.

Double-Decker Bus Time Lapse in Cuenca

Over the past year, we’ve published a number of driving videos around Cuenca Ecuador . In this video, we want to share something a little different. This video is a complete timelapse of the two-hour double-decker bus trip around Cuenca.

We shot this video on top of the large red double-decker bus. You can catch it at Parque Calderon in Cuenca’s downtown.

Note:  As you’ll notice in the video, the bus loops around the main park (Parque Calderon) before leaving the downtown.

Tour of Cuenca Ecuador: Double-Decker Bus Time Lapse (7:24)

This video lasts 7 minutes 24 seconds. Would you like to see more detail? Check out the second video for the same trip at half the speed.

Tour of Cuenca Ecuador: Time Lapse Video (Half Speed 15:06)

This video is identical to the first one, except that is slowed to half speed. If you are thinking of moving to Cuenca, this might be the one for you.

Have you taken a city tour of Cuenca? What’s your favorite area? Planning a trip? What area do you want to see most?

Hi, I'm Bryan Haines . And I'm a co-founder of Storyteller.Travel . I'm a traveler and photographer.

I also blog about photography on Storyteller Tech .

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Explore Cuenca: Full-Day Guided City Adventure

City tour cuenca.

Meeting point:  

Hotel and Airbnb Pick-up

Departures:

9:00 am (Private tours flexible)

Free  cancellation:

up to 24 in advance   

About this trip

Immerse yourself in Cuenca's rich history and culture on our full-day guided city tour. Enjoy panoramic views from Turi, visit the Eduardo Vega Gallery, and explore Barranco's picturesque charm. Discover the heritage at Pumapungo Museum and stroll through the historic city center. Book now for an unforgettable Cuenca adventure!

Highlights:

Embark on a journey to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Cuenca.

Enjoy a customizable itinerary, allowing you to choose the sites you want to see.

Discover the city's hidden gems with our expert guides.

Tour Itinerary

Our tour begins with hotel pick-up, and then we will head to the breathtaking Turi viewpoint, offering stunning views of Cuenca. Optionally, we can visit the renowned Eduardo Vega Gallery, one of Ecuador's important ceramists.

We continue to explore the picturesque Barranco, an idyllic neighborhood of terraced houses lining the Tomebamba River. Here we will reach the renowned Pumapungo Museum, which beautifully showcases the city’s rich cultural heritage. We will also have the opportunity to witness traditional craftsmanship at a Panama hat factory, where skilled artisans meticulously create exquisite “Paja toquilla” fiber hats, ranging from charming simplicity to elegant complexity.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in downtown Cuenca, followed by an immersive exploration of the Historical District. Take time to explore the San Sebastian neighborhood, which represents the old western border of the city. Discover the vibrant 10 de Agosto market and the enchanting flower market. As you continue your tour, marvel at the revered “New Cathedral,” adorned with its renowned gold leaf altar. Finally, our journey culminates in the main square, where we can admire the captivating Colonial and Republican architecture.

4:00 pm: End of our tour with drop off at your hotel.

Discover Ecuador's treasures in this unforgettable tour, artfully blending history, craftsmanship, and natural splendor.

What’s included

✓ Hotel pick-up ✓ Licensed tour guide in English/Spanish ✓ Private transport ✓ Lunch in a local restaurant

Not included

✘ Entry (If applicable) ✘ Personal Expenses

Please Note:

Bookings within 24 hours of departure are subject to availability.

Shared tours require a minimum of two participants. If not met, we may suggest an alternative, reschedule, or provide a full refund.

For groups of 1 to 6 passengers, a bilingual guide will also serve as the driver.

Cancellation Policy:​

You can cancel up to 24 hours before your experience for a full refund. Cancellation within 24 hours of the experience, will not be eligible for refund. 

Changes made less than 24 hours before the experience will be subject to availability. 

This experience requires a minimum of 2 participants. If conditions are not met, we reserve the right to cancel. We will offer you an alternative date/experience or a full refund.

Related Day tours from Cuenca

Cajas National Park tour

USD $ 54. 99

Ingapirca ruins tour

USD $ 49. 99

* This tour requires a minimum of two participants and you will be part of a group.

* Bookings within 24 hours of departure are subject to availability.

* This private tour is exclusively for your group, and we are highly flexible in tailoring the experience.

Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory

TICKET PRICES STARTING FROM

Taxes and fees will be calculated at checkout

Head through Cuenca historic district with a local expert that will show you the highlights including churches, beautiful historical buildings with wrought-iron balconies, and carved wooden doors, amidst a flower market, art galleries, etc.

Ticket Options

2 Options Available

Shared Half Day Tour: $19.99

Duration: 4 hoursPickup included

Private Half Day Tour: $20

Duration: 4 hoursPrivate Tour: This option allows you to customize the tour and its only for you and your partyPickup included

Ticket Information

• Mobile or paper ticket accepted
• One per booking

What's Included

• Transportation
• Professional tour guide
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off

What's not Included

• Food and drinks

Cancellation Policy

• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Additional Info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please contact us to [email protected] within 2 days notice to reconfirm the tour.
• For 1 to 5 passengers, a bilingual guide will also be the driver. For more than 5 passengers, a driver and a bilingual guide will be provided.
• Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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Double Decker Bus

Panoramic city tour visit the south of cuenca.

Vanservice offers the panoramic City Tour service in double-decker buses, if you visit Cuenca, Athens of Ecuador, you cannot miss the panoramic double-decker bus, it is a unique sensation, the panoramic double-decker buses go through the most tourist places. important of the city of Cuenca, the tour is led by a professional bilingual guide (Spanish-English) who will help explain and inform about the history and traditions of the city. In the panoramic double-decker bus you will be able to appreciate the roofs, balconies, gardens, museums, churches, monuments and other tourist places of the city of Cuenca in a different way. Now you can visit the northern part and the southern part of the city using our two routes, North Basin and South Basin, in addition the tickets have a duration of 24 hours, in which the tourist can get on and off at certain stops during this period and We offer you a free digital photo as a reminder of your visit.

• Calderón Park • Street Bolivar • San Sebastián Park • Plaza del Otorongo • Museum of the hat • Long street • Ruins of Pumapungo • Central bank • Pumapungo Museum • Av. Huayna Cápac • Av. April 12 • Broken bridge • Church of El Vergel • Ruins of Pumapungo • Av. Solano • University of Cuenca • Colegio Benigno Malo • Three bridges • Turi viewpoint • Mall del rio • Av. Loja • Calderón Park.

From Monday to Sundays: 10h00 11h00 12h00 14h00 15h00 16h00 17h00 18h00 19h00 Duration: 1 hour 45 min. Hop on – Hop off Tour Price:  Adult $8.00 child $5.00

Panoramic City Tour Visit the North of Cuenca

It is a panoramic tour of the North Part of the city that allows you to see a part of the historic center, the new and regenerated Mirador de la Libertad, and the most beautiful thing about this TOUR is that we have one for the world-renowned HOMERO ORTEGA HAT MUSEUM , in which you can appreciate from scratch the making of the toquila straw hat, wrongly called the Panama Hat, in this tour you will know what the real name should be.

• Calderón Park • Calderon Park • Benigno Malo Street • Juan Jaramillo Street • Mariano Cueva • Church of All Saints • Broken Bridge • Archaeological Ruins • Calle de las Herrerías • Monument of God Vulcano • House of Chaguarchimbana • Av. Huayna Capac • Chola Cuencana • Terrestrial Terminal • Airport • Homero Ortega Hat Museum • The pillory The Roll • Church of San José • Rafael María Arizaga Street • Christ the King • Freedom Park • President Borrero Street • Calderon Park

Monday to Friday 09h45 11h45 15h45 Duration: 1 Hour 45 min. Price: Adult $5.00 Child $3.00

• Transport + Audioguide

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Ven, conoce y disfruta Cuenca de una manera diferente

La mejor manera de conocer y visitar la ciudad, lo mejor de guayaquil solo en city tour 593, visita los atractivos más importantes de la ciudad.

Descarga tu Fotografía digital

La mejor forma de conocer la ciudad, citytour panorámico cultural.

Visita Cuenca

Adultos $8 niños $4.

Precios especiales por reactivación

Visita Guayaquil

Visita Quito

Adultos $10 niños $5.

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CityTour Compartido

En el bus panorámico de dos pisos podrás apreciar los tejados, balcones, jardines, museos, iglesias, monumentos y más lugares turísticos de la ciudad

City Tour Privados

Cuando requieras un tour personalizado dentro de la ciudad para tu grupo de amigos, turistas o clientes, puedes acceder a reservar la capacidad completa del bus.

CityTour Educativo

Este recorrido está dirigido para las instituciones educativas que requieran un tour personalizado para sus estudiantes

Este recorrido esta dirigido para turistas o personas que desean disfrutar de la parte cultural de la ciudad y quieran combinarlo con un poco de diversión.

La mejor experiencia para tu viaje

Tours diarios.

City Tour Cuenca Sur

City Tour Cuenca Norte

Parque Nacional Cajas Full Day

Parque Nacional Cajas Half Day

Tour Arqueológico y Artesanal/ Ingapirca, Gualaceo y Chordeleg

Tour Ingapirca + Gualaceo & Chordeleg (Express)

Tour Gualaceo & Chordeleg (Express)

Tour Cajas Express

Tour Cuenca a tu medida

Transporte en servicio compartido desde Cuenca a Guayaquil o Guayaquil Cuenca

Tour de Miradores

Cajas Express B2P

Girón y Laguna de Busa Express

Girón y Laguna de Busa full day

Cuenca Express

Tour de Leyendas

Jurassic Paute

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