Cuenca (2650m) marks the start of the southern sierra - a traditional region that boasts some of Ecuador's most unusual indigenous communities as well as remote landscapes. The city of Cuenca, founded in 1557, is considered to be one of Ecuador's most beautiful cities. It has preserved its old-world architectural charm and feeling of the colonial period, with its cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings and a huge cathedral. UNESCO recently named it a World Heritage Trust site.
Cuencaños have a proud intellectual tradition that has produced many writers, poets, artists, and philosophers. It really is the cultural Mecca of Ecuador. Within an hour of Cuenca there are some pleasant villages such as Gualaceo and Chordeleg which are noted for their silver and goldsmiths, and there are also excellent hiking opportunties in El Cajas National Park.
