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Traveling in Cuenca

Useful City Facts

Facts: is the third largest city in Ecuador by population, which totals 467,000. It is the capital of the Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 8,200 ft (2,500m) above sea level. The center of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site because of its historical buildings.

Population: 467,000 inhabitants

Altitude: 8,200 ft/2,560 m above sea level

Time zone: ECT (UTC-5)

Currency: US dollars

Voltage: 110/120V, same as in America and different from the voltage in Europe. 2 prong electrical inputs are most common, so bring an adapter for appliances using 3 prong electrical inputs.

Climate: Cuenca enjoys a mild climate year-round. Days are generally warm and nights are cool enough that sweaters or jackets are needed. There are two seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season, with some variation, falls between June and December. The rainy season, which is characterized by bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers, falls between January and May. The heaviest rains come in the invierno (winter) of March, April and May.

In the winter temperatures vary around 54ºF/15ºC, while the rest of the year temperatures estimate 77ºF/25ºC.

Safety Tips: Cuenca is one of the safest cities in Ecuador, but as in any other city in the world we suggest you to follow a few safety tips:

• Have a color copy of your passport at all times for identification, especially if you plan to go out at night
• Have your student ID (or a plain card if you are not a student) stating your exact address in Cuenca
• All major credit cards are accepted in Cuenca (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Visa Electron), but if needed, carry only one card.
• Try your best to always go out accompanied by a friend and avoid being out late if you are alone

Emergency telephones: 101 / 911
Police: 593-7-2831401 / 28613101



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