CUENCA’S CHARMS IN A DAY

This is the perfect combination of a city tour with emphasis on the handcraft produced in the area. Since Cuenca is considered the main crafts center of the country, on this trip we concentrate on visiting the workshops where jewelry, paja toquilla (straw fiber), leather, different types of ceramics, iron, wood carvings, textiles, basketry, fireworks and other crafts are made. Cuenca is also home to several art and handcraft galleries, exhibiting work by famous artists, painters, and sculptors such as Eduardo Vega (ceramics), Manuel Pulla (various), Simon Cordero (jewelry), Homero Ortega (Panama hats). Regarding museums, we could choose among the Banco Central (archeology, ethnography, on-site ruins and Inca gardens), Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes (archeology and history of Ecuadorian cultures), Museo del Monasterio de las Conceptas (religious art and history of a cloister from the 1500s).

This tour will give us the opportunity to enjoy everything that Cuenca has to offer, including lunch at one of Cuenca’s traditional restaurants.