Azuay

CULTURE

Cuenca: Andean city with colonial heritage

Cuenca, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, The city's unique cultural heritage combines living history and architectural beauty. Walk through its Historic Center and marvel at the imposing New Cathedral and the charming Old Cathedral, icons of its colonial heritage. Visit the Museo de las Conceptas to learn about colonial convent life. Enjoy the popular art at the Inter-American Center of Crafts and Popular Arts (CIDAP), stroll along the traditional Calle Larga and close the day with an unforgettable view from the Mirador de Turi that will allow you to admire this wonderful and legendary city.

Pumapungo Museum and Archaeological Park: Great Pre-Hispanic Civilizations

The Pumapungo Museum and Archaeological Park invites you to discover the legacy of the great prehispanic civilizations of the Ecuador. Inside, tour rooms with Cañari and Inca artifacts, ancestral costumes, ceramics and religious art. Outside, explore archaeological remains such as temples, canals and Inca terraces in an impressive natural setting. Walk through gardens with more than 300 species of native plants and visit an Andean bird rescue center. Pumapungo is a complete experience that connects history, living culture and nature in the heart of Cuenca.

NATURE

El Cajas National Park

El Cajas National Park offers an impressive Andean landscape with more than 200 lagoons, glacial valleys, polylepis forests and moorlands full of life. Just 30 minutes from Cuenca, this destination is perfect for those seeking pure nature. Walk along well-marked trails, observe birds such as the giant hummingbird and enjoy the tranquility of the Llaviucu Lagoon, ideal for gentle hikes and photography. With viewpoints natural and routes of different levels, El Cajas is a unique place to connect with the Andean biodiversity.

ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND RURALITY

In Azuay, the ancestral communities keep their traditions alive through their language, clothing, rituals and knowledge passed down through generations. The Cañari people are a fundamental part of this identity, with a presence in areas such as Cañaribamba, Tarqui, Quingeo and San Joaquín. These communities preserve their Andean cosmovision, traditional agricultural practices, celebrations linked to the solar calendar and craft techniques such as weaving and ceramics. Visiting these territories is an opportunity to connect with a culture that is alive, hospitable and deeply rooted in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Fairs and ancestral festivals:

In Azuay there are four Raymikuna, Andean ritual festivals that coincide with the solstices and equinoxes of the year. These celebrations are linked to the agricultural calendar and have corn as their main symbol. They are: Koya Raymi in September, which honors femininity and sowing, with rituals dedicated to Pachamama. Capac Raymi in December, which celebrates the spiritual maturity and learning of the youth. Pawkar Raymi in March, which celebrates the flowering of mother earth with cultural and sporting events. Inti Raymi in June, the most representative festival in honor of the Sun.

Holidays:

Azuay celebrates its traditions with festivities full of color, faith and living culture. In Cuenca, enjoy the anniversary of its founding in April and its independence in November, with parades, concerts and fairs in a heritage environment. In June, Corpus Christi offers altars, pyrotechnics and typical sweets; and every December 24, the Passing of the Traveling Child fills the streets of Cuenca with music, dances, traditional costumes and floats in one of the largest and most emblematic processions in the country. Outside the capital, Gualaceo welcomes the Lord of Miracles in September with massive processions. Sigsig in August honors San Bartolomé with masked dancers. You cannot miss these important celebrations full of cultural richness.

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy of Azuay will conquer you with authentic flavors and ancestral recipes. Try mote pata, a thick soup of mote, peanuts, pork and aromatic herbs. The mote pillo is prepared with mote, egg, onion and achiote, while the mote sucio is enriched with pork fat and spices. Roasted guinea pig is served crispy with potatoes and chili. And don't miss the tamales and humitas, made with tender corn, cheese or meat, and wrapped in achira leaves.

CRAFTS

Toquilla straw hats: hats made of natural Andean fibers

Sigsig welcomes you with its living tradition in the elaboration of the toquilla straw hat, recognized as one of the most important Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Here you can learn about the artisan process, from fine weaving to the final finish, in workshops where artisans maintain techniques passed down for generations. Walk through its history-filled center, visit local stores with high quality hats and take with you an authentic handmade piece.

Visitors to Cuenca cannot miss the wonderful experience of entering the stores selling beautiful garments made by the hands of Cuencan artisans who weave hats and unique products of daily use in toquilla straw.

Macana: Andean textiles

Gualaceo welcomes you as the epicenter of textile handicrafts in Azuay, where the macana becomes the protagonist. In this charming artisan town, you will be immersed in traditional workshops where expert weavers create colorful textiles using ancestral ikat and backstrap loom techniques. Walk through its illuminated corridors with blankets, ponchos and shawls; participate in live demonstrations and learn about natural dyes. Enjoy and take home a unique handmade piece, a symbol of creativity and cultural legacy.

Chordeleg: The creative city

Chordeleg invites you to immerse yourself in a world of creative tradition where every street and workshop breathes artisanal excellence. Known as the “creative city,” this destination is famous for its silver filigree goldsmithing, where master jewelers transform fine threads into elegant pieces of exceptional quality. Stroll through small stores and watch live demonstrations, from delicate earrings to necklaces of pure elegance.