3 Days in Cuenca Itinerary: Blue Domes, Pumapungo, Panama Hats, Cajas & Ingapirca

Three full days in Cuenca allow you to explore the UNESCO colonial grid and Inca ruins on foot, discover the artisan traditions of Azuay Province, and venture above the treeline into the glacial lakes of Cajas National Park or the Inca stones of Ingapirca.

Day 1: Parque Calderón, Both Cathedrals, Plaza de las Flores, El Barranco & Pumapungo

• 09:00, Parque Calderón, the 1557 Old Cathedral & the New Cathedral Rooftop: Begin on Parque Abdón Calderón by touring the restored 1557 Catedral Vieja, then cross the square to admire the gold-leaf baldachin of the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (New Cathedral) and climb the 155 spiral steps to the rooftop terrace directly beneath the three blue Czechoslovakian domes.
• 11:30, Plaza de las Flores, Monasterio del Carmen & Museo de las Conceptas: Step outside the cathedral's western portal into the fragrant Plaza de las Flores, buy rosewater agua de pitimas from the cloistered nuns' turnstile, and walk three blocks south-east to tour the 1599 Museo de las Conceptas.
• 14:30, El Barranco, Puente Roto & Museo Pumapungo: After a traditional lunch of locro de papas and mote pillo, descend the brick steps to the Río Tomebamba, cross the 1840s Puente Roto, and spend two hours exploring the ethnographic rooms, Inca terraces, and bird rescue garden of Museo Pumapungo.

Day 2: Toquilla Straw Hat Workshops, Mercado 10 de Agosto, Chordeleg & Mirador de Turi

• 09:30, Mercado 10 de Agosto & a Toquilla Straw Hat Museum: Start along Calle Larga at Mercado 10 de Agosto, then visit a Toquilla straw hat museum and workshop (Paredes Roldán on Calle Larga or Homero Ortega) to watch how handwoven straw hoods from Sígsig and Montecristi are blocked and finished.
• 13:30, Afternoon Excursion to Gualaceo & Chordeleg + Sunset at Turi: Head forty minutes east into the Santa Bárbara Valley to see ikat macana weavers near Gualaceo and silver filigree jewellers in UNESCO-designated Chordeleg, returning to Cuenca by 17:30 for sunset views from the hilltop terrace of Mirador de Turi.

Day 3 Option A: Hiking Among Glacial Lakes in Parque Nacional Cajas

Travel thirty-five minutes west to Laguna Toreadora (3,920m) in Parque Nacional Cajas to hike through twisted paper-bark Polylepis forests and enjoy a fresh Andean trout lunch in the Llaviucu valley.

Day 3 Option B: The Inca Temple of the Sun at Ingapirca

Alternatively, travel north into Cañar Province to explore the mortarless elliptical stonework of the Inca and Cañari ruins of Ingapirca.