If you want a short trip outside Cuenca, Ecuador, try these suggestions. A guide to travel from Cuenca to nearby cities and Towns, including Guayaquil and Quito. You can go for a day trip or stay overnight for easy sightseeing outside the city.
20 Great day trips & overnight excursions from Cuenca, Ecuador
Nearest & Best places to go
Location: Cañar province
Ingapirca Inca Ruins are the best-preserved ruins in Ecuador. Ingapirca means "Inka Pirka" in Quechua (Wall of the Inca). This archaeological discovery protects the memory of the Incas that once walked along the roads. They buried their dead in the cemetery and worshiped at the Temple of the Sun, also known as El Castillo (The Castle). ...
Location: Cañar province
Azogues is a small city, capital of Cañar. It is situated about 19 mi. (30 km.) north of Cuenca, 40-minute ride. Its full name is "San Francisco de Peleusí de Azogues". Azogues is a major exporter of Panama hats — you will find them all around the city. Also, known for its proximity to the Ingapirca Ruins. About the altitude, ...
Location: Zamora Chinchipe province
Podocarpus National Park is located in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Loja in Ecuador. It covers an area of 1460 km2. Podocarpus has some of the greatest plant and animal diversity in the world such as mountain tapirs, spectacled bears, northern pudus, and jaguars. Among Podocarpus National Park's main attractions are the Podorosa waterfall, Higuerones ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Guano is a nice town surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It is famous for its handmade leather products. Located in the Chimborazo province, 20 minutes from Riobamba. Main attractions are the Chimborazo and "El Altar" volcanoes.
Location: Tungurahua province
Baños de Agua Santa or "Baños" is a beautiful town located in the Tungurahua province, Ecuador. Baños means "springs" and Agua Santa means "holy water." This town possesses natural beauty, surrounded by lush vegetation, waterfalls, rapid rivers, and thermal springs. Hence its name, holy hot springs. The closest cities are Ambato and Riobamba. The movie Proof ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Loja province
Loja is a colonial city, the capital of the province also called Loja. This city is located in the southern part of Ecuador. The center of the city has small cobbled streets, churches, and places with beautiful porches and patios. Its town squares are full of statues, and other remnants of its colonial past. This beautiful ...
Location: Loja province
Vilcabamba is a peaceful town, surrounded by mountains, located 28 mi (45 km) from the city of Loja, Ecuador. It offers stunning panoramic views. Vilcabamba is a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Most people gather in the center of town, around the main square. The climate of Vilcabamba is subtropical. The rainy season ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Devil's nose is a four to five hour train ride. This zigzag railroad is one of the scariest and most thrilling ride in the Andes mountains. The track goes over rocky ravines, along raging rivers, through dense cloud forests and around mountains. Rute: Riobamba-Alausí-Sibambe.
Location: Chimborazo province
Colta Lagoon is a large water body of elongated shape, surrounded by lush vegetation, native bird species, colorful boats, a a playground. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including ducks, swans, sheep, birds, and fish.
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
Location: Guayas province
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, major port, leading commercial center, and capital of the Guayas province. It is famous for being the gateway to the Galapagos Islands and for its nightlife.
Location: El Oro province
Machala is the capital of El Oro province, Ecuador. It is located three hours south of Guayaquil, located near the Gulf of Guayaquil. Machala is also known as the "Banana Capital of the World" — "Capital Bananera del Mundo" in Spanish. Machala has the second most important port in Ecuador. From Puerto Bolívar, mainly bananas and shrimp ...
One-day trips
Location: Azuay province
El Chorro waterfall or Girón waterfall is a beautiful waterfall with a double fall and approximately 230 ft. (70 m.) high. Located 3 mi. (5 km.) from the Girón canton, this is 28 mi. (45 km.) South of Cuenca. From the entrance, there is a path that leads up to the base of the falls, ...
Location: Azuay province
Chordeleg is a town in the Azuay province of Ecuador. Located approximately 24 mi. (40 km.) from Cuenca. Many local people produce silver, nickel, and brass jewelry. In fact, its handicraft jewelry is one of the attractions that Chordelet has. In the center of the town, there are more than 100 jewelry shops. They offer ...
Location: Azuay province
Yunguilla Valley is a warm valley. It is full of fruit trees as mangoes, oranges, bananas, avocados, and lemons. Located 14 mi. (22km.) South West of Cuenca, in the province of Azuay, Ecuador. At its highest point, Yunguilla Valley is 1,500 ft. (457 mt.) lower than Cuenca. The place is one and a half hours ...
Location: Azuay province
Cajas National Park is located about 30 km west from Cuenca. Due to the altitude - 3,156 to 4,450 meters above sea level - it is really chilly in the park. It is characterized by páramo flora and fauna plus features over 230 glacial lakes and lagoons.
Location: Azuay province
Sígsig is a town located in the Azuay province, 90 minutes East from the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Sigsig sits in a valley surrounded by steep mountains. This town has incredible views. Sigsig is famous for its traditional handicrafts, as well as its handmade toquilla hats (Panama hats). Sigsig's main attraction is the central plaza ...
Location: Azuay province
Gualaceo town is located in the Azuay province, close to Cuenca. This town retains its colonial architectural elements, has a beautiful historic district that is filled with markets, parks, squares, riverbanks and even an ancient aqueduct.
Overnight trips - Short excursions
Location: Chimborazo province
Guano is a nice town surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It is famous for its handmade leather products. Located in the Chimborazo province, 20 minutes from Riobamba. Main attractions are the Chimborazo and "El Altar" volcanoes.
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Cañar province
Azogues is a small city, capital of Cañar. It is situated about 19 mi. (30 km.) north of Cuenca, 40-minute ride. Its full name is "San Francisco de Peleusí de Azogues". Azogues is a major exporter of Panama hats — you will find them all around the city. Also, known for its proximity to the Ingapirca Ruins. About the altitude, ...
Location: Cañar province
Ingapirca Inca Ruins are the best-preserved ruins in Ecuador. Ingapirca means "Inka Pirka" in Quechua (Wall of the Inca). This archaeological discovery protects the memory of the Incas that once walked along the roads. They buried their dead in the cemetery and worshiped at the Temple of the Sun, also known as El Castillo (The Castle). ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Colta Lagoon is a large water body of elongated shape, surrounded by lush vegetation, native bird species, colorful boats, a a playground. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including ducks, swans, sheep, birds, and fish.
Location: Guayas province
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, major port, leading commercial center, and capital of the Guayas province. It is famous for being the gateway to the Galapagos Islands and for its nightlife.
Location: Loja province
Loja is a colonial city, the capital of the province also called Loja. This city is located in the southern part of Ecuador. The center of the city has small cobbled streets, churches, and places with beautiful porches and patios. Its town squares are full of statues, and other remnants of its colonial past. This beautiful ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Devil's nose is a four to five hour train ride. This zigzag railroad is one of the scariest and most thrilling ride in the Andes mountains. The track goes over rocky ravines, along raging rivers, through dense cloud forests and around mountains. Rute: Riobamba-Alausí-Sibambe.
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
Location: El Oro province
Machala is the capital of El Oro province, Ecuador. It is located three hours south of Guayaquil, located near the Gulf of Guayaquil. Machala is also known as the "Banana Capital of the World" — "Capital Bananera del Mundo" in Spanish. Machala has the second most important port in Ecuador. From Puerto Bolívar, mainly bananas and shrimp ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Baños de Agua Santa or "Baños" is a beautiful town located in the Tungurahua province, Ecuador. Baños means "springs" and Agua Santa means "holy water." This town possesses natural beauty, surrounded by lush vegetation, waterfalls, rapid rivers, and thermal springs. Hence its name, holy hot springs. The closest cities are Ambato and Riobamba. The movie Proof ...
Location: Loja province
Vilcabamba is a peaceful town, surrounded by mountains, located 28 mi (45 km) from the city of Loja, Ecuador. It offers stunning panoramic views. Vilcabamba is a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Most people gather in the center of town, around the main square. The climate of Vilcabamba is subtropical. The rainy season ...
