10 Best Day Trips from Cuenca, Ecuador — With Driving Times, Costs, and Where to Eat

Cuenca is a great home base, but some of the best experiences in southern Ecuador are 30 minutes to 2 hours outside the city. You don't need a multi-day trip — leave after breakfast, be home for dinner, and see landscapes that range from alien moonscapes to tropical fruit orchards.

Here are the ten best day trips from Cuenca, with the practical details you need to actually do them.

1. Cajas National Park

Distance: 30 km west (35–45 minutes by car) Cost: Free entry for cedula holders, $2 for foreigners Best for: Hiking, photography, solitude

Cajas is the trip everyone does first, and for good reason. The páramo landscape — high-altitude grassland dotted with over 230 glacial lakes — looks like another planet. On a clear day, the lakes reflect the sky in impossible blues and greens. On a cloudy day, you're hiking through fog with visibility at 20 meters, which has its own eerie beauty.

What to do:

• Short hike (1–2 hours): The Toreadora Lake loop starts right from the ranger station. Well-marked, easy terrain, stunning lake views. This is the one everyone does.
• Medium hike (3–4 hours): The Tres Cruces trail takes you deeper into the park with fewer people. More elevation change, better chance of seeing wildlife.
• Full-day hike (6–8 hours): The Llaviuco to Toreadora traverse. Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water, and tell someone your plan. Weather changes fast at 4,000 meters.

What to bring: Layers. Cajas sits between 3,100 and 4,450 meters elevation. It can be 15°C (59°F) and sunny at 9 AM, then 4°C (39°F) with horizontal rain by noon. Wear a waterproof jacket, hiking boots, and pack a warm fleece. Sunscreen is non-negotiable — UV at this altitude is intense even when it's cloudy.

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Cuenca-Molleturo road (E582) west. The main entrance (Toreadora) is well-signed. Parking at the ranger station is free.
• By bus: The Occidental bus to Molleturo/Guayaquil passes the park entrance. Catch it from Terminal Terrestre — tell the driver "Cajas, Toreadora" and they'll drop you at the ranger station. $2, about 45 minutes. For the return, flag down any Cuenca-bound bus on the highway.
• By tour: Organized tours run $30–50/person including transport and guide. Useful if you want someone to explain the ecosystem, but unnecessary if you just want to hike.

Where to eat: The ranger station has a small cafe with hot chocolate and basic snacks. For a real meal, stop at Dos Chorreras restaurant on the road back to Cuenca — trout fresh from the stocked ponds, cooked over wood fire, $6–8 per plate. It's a local institution.

2. Ingapirca

Distance: 80 km north (1.5–2 hours by car) Cost: $2 for residents, $6 for foreigners (includes guide) Best for: History, culture, photography

Ecuador's most significant Inca archaeological site. Ingapirca was originally a Cañari ceremonial center that the Inca expanded and incorporated when they conquered the region in the late 1400s — about 50 years before the Spanish arrived. The Temple of the Sun (an oval stone structure) is remarkably well-preserved and demonstrates the Inca's precision stone-fitting technique.

What to do:

• The guided tour takes about 1.5 hours and covers the full site: Temple of the Sun, the Cañari ceremonial area, storage rooms, baths, and the Inca trail section. Guides are included with admission and speak Spanish. Some speak English — ask at the ticket office.
• The on-site museum adds context with Cañari and Inca artifacts. Small but worthwhile. 30 minutes.
• Walk the surrounding area — the site sits in gorgeous highland countryside with views across the valley.

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Pan-American Highway (E35) north through Azogues and Biblián toward Cañar. The turnoff to Ingapirca is well-signed from the highway. The road is paved the entire way.
• By bus: Direct buses to Ingapirca leave from Cuenca's Terminal Terrestre. Cooperativa Cañar runs the route, about $3.50 each way, 2 hours. Buses depart roughly every hour. Confirm the return schedule at the Ingapirca bus stop — missing the last bus back means an expensive taxi.
• By tour: Full-day tours from Cuenca run $40–70/person and usually combine Ingapirca with stops in Biblián (the hillside church) and Cañar.

Where to eat: The small town of Ingapirca has basic restaurants near the entrance. Posada Ingapirca, a country inn near the site, serves a solid set lunch for $5–7. On the drive back, the town of Biblián has several good almuerzo spots along the main road.

Pro tip: Go on a weekday. Weekends and holidays bring school groups by the busload. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest.

3. Gualaceo and Chordeleg

Distance: 35 km east (45 minutes by car) Cost: Free Best for: Shopping, artisan crafts, market culture, food

These two towns are Ecuador's artisan heartland. Gualaceo is known for ikat weaving (macana shawls) and its Sunday market. Chordeleg, 10 minutes further, is the filigree jewelry capital — silver and gold worked into intricate designs by families who've been doing it for generations.

What to do in Gualaceo:

• Sunday market: The reason most people go. Fills the town center with produce, textiles, clothing, and prepared food. Arrive by 9 AM for the best selection. Winds down by 1 PM.
• Ikat weaving workshops: Several family workshops offer demonstrations and sell directly. Look for the "macana" signs. Prices start at $15 for a small shawl and go up to $200+ for intricate pieces that took weeks to make.
• Eat a tortilla de choclo: Gualaceo is famous for these thick, sweet corn tortillas cooked on a flat griddle. Street vendors sell them for $0.50–1.00. They're nothing like Mexican tortillas — more like a dense corn cake with cheese.

What to do in Chordeleg:

• Walk the main street lined with jewelry shops. Silver filigree earrings start at $5–10. Gold pieces are more, obviously. Quality varies — the shops further from the main square tend to have more authentic handmade work.
• Museo de la Comunidad de Chordeleg on the main square — free, small, covers the town's craft heritage.

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Via Cuenca-Gualaceo east. Well-paved, scenic drive through the Santa Bárbara valley. From Gualaceo, Chordeleg is 10 minutes further on a signed road.
• By bus: Frequent buses from Terminal Terrestre, $1.00, 45 minutes. Buses between Gualaceo and Chordeleg run every 15 minutes, $0.30.

Where to eat: In Gualaceo, Residencial Gualaceo near the market serves excellent almuerzo for $3.00 — soup, main course (often hornado or roasted pork), juice, and dessert. For something more upscale, El Jardín has a riverside terrace and serves local trout dishes for $6–8.

4. Girón Waterfall (El Chorro de Girón)

Distance: 45 km south (1 hour by car) Cost: $2 entry Best for: Easy hiking, waterfall photography, getting out of the city

A 70-meter waterfall cascading down a rock face surrounded by green mountains. The hike to the base is easy — about 20 minutes on a maintained trail. A steeper trail continues to the top for better views (another 30 minutes, moderately challenging).

What to do:

• Hike to the base for photos and mist. On a sunny day, you'll get rainbows in the spray.
• Continue to the upper viewpoint if you're reasonably fit. The trail is steep but short.
• Swim in the pool at the base — cold but refreshing, especially if you visited on a warmer day.
• The town of Girón itself is a quiet, traditional highland town worth a 30-minute wander. Nice central plaza.

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Pan-American Highway south toward Pasaje. The turnoff to Girón is well-signed. From Girón town, follow signs to "El Chorro" — the last few kilometers are on a rougher road but manageable in any car.
• By bus: Buses to Girón from Terminal Terrestre, $1.50, 1 hour. From Girón, you'll need to take a camioneta (pickup truck taxi) to the waterfall entrance, about $3–5.

Where to eat: Girón has simple almuerzo restaurants on the main square. $2.50–3.50 for a full meal.

Best time: Go after rain for maximum water flow. The dry season (June–September) can reduce the falls to a trickle. Mornings offer the best light for photography.

5. Baños de Cuenca (Thermal Hot Springs)

Distance: 8 km southwest (20 minutes by car) Cost: $3–8 depending on facility Best for: Relaxation, soaking sore muscles, a quick escape

Not to be confused with Baños de Agua Santa (the adventure tourism town near Ambato, 8 hours north). Baños de Cuenca is a small parish just outside the city with volcanic mineral hot springs that have been used for bathing since pre-Inca times.

Options:

• Piedra de Agua — the most developed and tourist-friendly facility. Volcanic stone pools, steam rooms, cold plunge, mud baths. $15–25 depending on the package. Clean, well-maintained, and offers spa treatments. Reserve on weekends.
• Termas de Baños — the municipal pools. More basic, more local, much cheaper ($3–5). Less polished but authentically Ecuadorian. Expect families, kids, and the smell of sulfur.
• Hostería Durán — a hotel with thermal pools open to day visitors. Mid-range option, $8–12, nice gardens, quieter on weekdays.

Getting there:

• By car: Drive south on Avenida Loja, follow signs to Baños. Straight shot, can't miss it.
• By bus: Line 100 from downtown Cuenca runs directly to Baños, $0.35, 20 minutes. Drops you in the town center, and all the hot springs are within walking distance.
• By taxi: $3–5 from central Cuenca.

Where to eat: The town of Baños has several restaurants. Hostería Durán has a restaurant with Ecuadorian and international food ($8–15 per plate). For cheaper, the comedores near the municipal pools serve almuerzos for $3.

Pro tip: Go on a weekday morning. Weekend afternoons are packed, especially at the municipal pools. Bring your own towel — rental towels at some facilities are small and thin.

6. Yunguilla Valley

Distance: 75 km south (1.5 hours by car) Cost: Free (just transport and food) Best for: Warm weather, tropical fruit, a change of scenery

When Cuenca's drizzle and 55°F mornings get old, drive 90 minutes south and drop 1,500 meters in elevation to Yunguilla Valley. The temperature climbs to 25–30°C (77–86°F), the landscape turns tropical, and you can buy fruit that was on the tree an hour ago.

What to do:

• Buy fruit at roadside stands: Mangoes, papayas, guanábana, passion fruit, sugar cane juice — all grown in the valley. Prices are almost comically low. A bag of 10 mangoes for $1.
• Visit a sugar cane trapiche: Small farms where cane is pressed and boiled into panela (raw sugar blocks) and aguardiente (cane liquor). Some offer demonstrations. Ask around in the town of Santa Isabel for directions — the locals know which trapiches welcome visitors.
• Swim: The Jubones river runs through the valley and has swimming spots. Ask locals for safe, calm areas. Some haciendas have pools open to day visitors for $3–5.
• Just exist in warm weather: For many Cuenca expats, the point of Yunguilla is simply sitting in the sun for a few hours. Nothing wrong with that.

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Pan-American south through Girón, then descend through dramatic switchbacks into the valley. The road is paved and scenic — you'll watch the landscape change from highland to subtropical in real time. Santa Isabel is the main town and makes a good base for exploring.
• By bus: Buses to Santa Isabel from Terminal Terrestre, $2.50, 1.5 hours.

Where to eat: Santa Isabel's main street has several restaurants. Picantería Doña Rosa serves coastal-style food — encebollado, ceviche, pescado frito — $4–7 per plate. The fritada (fried pork) spots along the main road are also excellent, $3–5.

7. Paute Valley

Distance: 40 km east (50 minutes by car) Cost: Free Best for: Warmer weather, scenery, exploring a growing expat area

The Paute Valley sits at lower elevation than Cuenca (about 2,300 meters vs. Cuenca's 2,550) and is noticeably warmer — 2–4°C more on average. The valley follows the Paute River through agricultural land, orchid farms, and small towns. A growing number of expats have settled here for the climate and lower property costs.

What to do:

• Drive the valley road from Paute to Guachapala — beautiful river views, orchards, and roadside produce stands
• Visit an orchid farm — the valley is one of Ecuador's orchid-growing regions. Ecuagenera in Gualaceo/Paute has one of the largest collections in South America and offers tours ($5)
• Explore the town of Paute — pleasant central square, Sunday market, good bakeries
• Check out Guachapala — tiny hilltop town with spectacular valley views and a charming church plaza

Getting there:

• By car: Take the Via Cuenca-Gualaceo east, then continue north to Paute. Well-paved.
• By bus: Direct buses from Terminal Terrestre, $1.25, 50 minutes.

Where to eat: Paute town has basic but good almuerzo places. Hostería Uzhupud between Paute and Gualaceo is a hacienda-style hotel with a restaurant serving traditional food in a gorgeous garden setting, $8–15 per person.

8. Zhud and Cañar Markets

Distance: 65–80 km north (1.5 hours by car) Cost: Free Best for: Indigenous culture, authentic highland markets, photography

The Cañar province north of Cuenca is home to the Cañari indigenous people, one of Ecuador's most culturally distinct groups. The markets in Cañar and smaller towns like Zhud offer a window into rural highland life that's unchanged in many ways.

What to do:

• Cañar Saturday market — livestock, produce, textiles, and household goods. This isn't a tourist market — it's where Cañari families buy and sell. Respectful photography is generally fine, but ask before photographing individuals, especially women and children.
• Observe the traditional dress — Cañari women wear distinctive embroidered blouses and pollera skirts. Men wear ponchos and felt hats. This is everyday clothing, not performance.
• Combine with Ingapirca — Cañar town is on the way to Ingapirca, so you can do both in one day.

Getting there: Same route as Ingapirca — Pan-American north through Azogues.

Where to eat: Market stalls serve hornado (roasted whole pig), mote (hominy), and llapingachos (potato patties) for $2–4 per plate. This is some of the best traditional food in the highlands.

9. Hacienda Tours and Horseback Riding

Several working haciendas (farms/estates) within an hour of Cuenca offer day visits with horseback riding, farm tours, and traditional meals.

Options:

• Hostería Uzhupud (Paute Valley) — horseback riding through the valley, $15–25 for 1–2 hours
• Hacienda San Martín (near Gualaceo) — farm tour with livestock, cheese-making demonstration, horseback riding. $20–30/person including lunch.
• Susudel (south of Cuenca, near Oña) — a colonial-era hacienda town being restored. The old hacienda has irregular tour hours — call ahead. Worth the trip for the architecture alone.

Getting there: Car is best for hacienda visits. Roads to rural properties are often unpaved for the last few kilometers.

10. Biblián and the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Dew

Distance: 35 km north (40 minutes by car) Cost: Free Best for: Architecture, quick stop, combine with Ingapirca

A neo-Gothic church perched on a hillside above the town of Biblián. The Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío is dramatically built into the rock face and visible from the highway. The walk up from town takes about 15 minutes. Views from the top stretch across the valley.

This works best as a stop on the way to or from Ingapirca or Cañar, rather than a standalone trip. Budget 45 minutes to an hour.

Where to eat: Biblián has almuerzo spots on the main road through town, $2.50–3.50.

Practical Tips for All Day Trips

Renting a Car

Having your own wheels opens up everything. Rental rates in Cuenca:

• Localiza (Av. España near the airport): $35–50/day for a compact, $50–70 for an SUV
• Budget/Avis (airport location): $40–60/day
• Local agencies on Av. España: Often cheaper, $30–45/day, but check insurance coverage carefully

You need a valid driver's license from your home country (International Driving Permit recommended but not always required) and a credit card for the deposit. Drive defensively — Ecuadorian driving norms differ from what you're used to.

Hiring a Driver

If you don't want to drive, hiring a driver for the day is a great option:

• $60–80/day for a driver with a comfortable vehicle. Arrange through your hotel, a tour operator, or ask in expat Facebook groups for recommendations.
• Your driver will know the roads, handle parking, and often serve as an informal guide. Many speak some English.
• Agree on the price, route, and expected return time before departure.

General Packing List

Regardless of destination, always bring:

• Rain jacket — weather changes fast in the highlands
• Sunscreen and hat — UV at altitude is no joke
• Water — stay hydrated, especially at elevation
• Cash — small towns don't reliably accept cards. Bring $20–30 in small bills ($1, $5)
• Snacks — just in case
• Charged phone — Google Maps works well for navigation. Download offline maps for areas with spotty signal.

Best Time to Go

The "dry" season (June–September) has more reliable sunshine, but Cuenca's weather is famously unpredictable year-round. Morning outings tend to have better weather than afternoons. For waterfalls and rivers, the rainy season (October–May) means more water flow but muddier trails.

Start early. Most of these trips are best begun by 8–9 AM. You'll beat crowds, get the best light for photos, and have plenty of time to explore without rushing.

Every one of these trips will remind you why you moved to Ecuador. The scenery within two hours of Cuenca is some of the most diverse and beautiful in the Americas — and almost none of it is crowded. Take advantage of it.