Cuenca, situated in the Andean mountains of Ecuador, offers many advantages as a tourist destination.

It is an ideal spot for the those looking for pleasure and rest in a short period of time.

Recognised as a World Heritage City by the United Nations, Cuenca possesses characteristics that make it unique with regard to architectural beauty.

It is also home to both tangible and intangible cultural treasures.

Reflecting its success in the tourism sector, the city has been nominated for the titles of South America’s Leading City Break Destination, South America’s Leading City Tourist Board and South America’s Leading Cultural City Destination at the upcoming World Travel Awards Latin America Ceremony.

With voting open now, there are countless reasons to support Cuenca in its race to be recognised as the best in the region.

With a well-preserved architectural heritage, orderly traffic, short walking distances, many attractive features concentrated in the area and a safe environment, it is a great place to visit.

On the natural side, the area has landscapes of great scenic beauty that are within easy reach of the city.

Here one can enjoy nature in all its splendour.

For the more adventurous, both within the city and the surrounding area one can enjoy many adventure and extreme sports, including cycling, rock climbing, forest canopy, canyon walking, trekking, horseback riding, and off-road motorcycle riding.

Cuenca has a variety of offerings for health, rest and wellbeing: hot mineral springs at Baños, numerous holistic centres with alternative therapies at reasonable prices, spas, and aesthetic and medical treatments at reasonable costs.

In Cuenca one has the opportunity to enjoy numerous real-life experiences that make a real difference in the cultural tourism market.

These include contact with ancestral traditions such as shamanism, cleansing of energies and open-air communal meals, as well as direct contact with artisans and local traditions.

The is also the possibility of engaging in rural tourism to discover business endeavours such as organic farms and ecotourism projects.

Discover the abundant popular and religious traditions, which offer an interesting display of fireworks, cuisine and folk dancing. 

Cuenca is a city with an intense cultural and artistic life.

There are numerous cultural centres, museums, art galleries and studios, and spaces where visitors can have an interesting interactive experience with cultural promoters.

World Travel Awards

Voting for the World Travel Awards Latin America Ceremony is open until August 5th.

The winners will be revealed at the Palacio de Cristal, Guayaquil, Ecuador, on September 15th.

Find out more about the event on the official World Travel Awards website.