Cuenca Ecuador Day Trips
There are lots of day trips you can take that are 1 to 2 hours from Cuenca Ecuador. Orchids, guitars, waterfalls, jewelry, hiking, Inca ruins and more. There’s something for everyone!
Cuenca Ecuador Day Trips VLOG
WATERFALLS are NOT supposed to be like THIS! (Dos Mangas Ecuador Cascadas) (4/29/2021) - We waited for the rainy season to do the hike up to Las Cascadas in Dos Mangas, Ecuador. It's been on our list since we moved to Olón, but the waterfalls (cascadas) have been dry for most that time.
What SURPRISED us about Ayangue Ecuador + Is it a good place for expats? (2021) (2/2/2021) - Following our visit to Ayampe about 30 minutes north of Olón, several of our viewers asked us to show Ayangue, which is about 30 minutes south of Olón.
We live by HOWLER MONKEYS!!! Incredible jungle trek to the natural springs of Dos Mangas (2021) (1/9/2021) - The Dos Mangas Ecuador jungle trail has been on our bucket list since we arrived in Olón and we're so incredibly thankful that we finally did it!
Epic Adventure FINALLY Checked Off the Bucket List! (Isla de la Plata & the Blue-Footed Boobies) (12/31/2020) - We've been wanting to experience this adventure since we moved to Ecuador!
Over the DESERT and through the JUNGLE from Cuenca to Machala Ecuador to apply for my VISA (2020) (1/11/2020) - We're working with Maite Duran from GringoVisas to get our Permanent Residency Visa for Ecuador. She prefers going to the government office in Machala to file the visa applications so we made the trek from Cuenca to Machala Ecuador on Thursday to file our paperwork.
Rock Climbing in the Rain at Cojitambo Ecuador (Episode 89) (4/6/2019) - When Stephen said he wanted to come visit us here in Cuenca Ecuador, his main request was to do some adventure sports. Lucky for him, our friend Pietro is a rock climber and we have a great climbing mountain not far from Cuenca called Cojitambo.
If you missed our last video showing Stephen playing like a kid at Aventuri Cuenca, you can check that out here: Aventuri Adventure Park in Cuenca...
Hiking in Upper Cajas National Park – Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 79) (3/14/2019) - On this excursion outside Cuenca, Ecuador, we went to Upper Cajas in the Cajas National Park. Edwin picked us up about 9:30AM and the drive took us about 45 minutes to reach the check in station.
Entry into the park is free, but we did have to sign in at the building by the parking lot before venturing down the trail toward the lake...
Hiking in Lower Cajas National Park near Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 72) (2/26/2019) - We went on another hiking adventure just 40 minutes west of Cuenca to Lower Cajas, which is part of Cajas National Park.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to drive from highway 582 to the trailhead parking lot. It was free to enter, but we had to show our cedulas (or passports would work). There are no food services so bring your own snacks....
Ecuagenera Orchid Farm Gualaceo Ecuador + Casa Museo de la Makana & Paute Ecuador Indigenous Mercado (Episode 66) (2/12/2019) - The Ecuagenera Orchid Farm Gualaceo Ecuador is a short drive from Cuenca Ecuador and a must-see if you're an orchid lover, or if you just appreciate the beauty and variety of colorful flowers. We also enjoyed visiting La Casa de Makana and the indigenous mercado in Paute Ecuador....
Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador + WATERFALLS!!! (Episode 57) (1/22/2019) - We hope you enjoy our Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador Hiking and Waterfalls as much as we did! This is a SUPER relaxing video from our very enjoyable hike with Edwin.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day driving through the picturesque Ecuadorian countryside, hiking around Laguna de Busa, doing a little scary rock climbing and hiking up to a waterfall outside of Girón, Ecuador....
Ingapirca Inca Ruins Ecuador + La Cara del Inca (Episode 53: Part 3) (1/12/2019) - This is Part 3 in our 3-part series from an excursion we took with Flavio from Polylepis Tours northeast of Cuenca, Ecuador to Biblián, Cañar and Ingapirca. Our third stop was in Ingapirca, Ecuador.
Ingapirca is an important archaeological site in Ecuador. It's considered the second largest Inca ruins in South America, second only to Machu Picchu. In reality, it's a combination of Cañari and Inca ruins. The Cañari people have been living here for nearly 1500 years and the Inca only arrived a little over 500 years ago....
Cañar Ecuador Indigenous Market 2019 (Episode 52: Part 2) (1/10/2019) - This is Part 2 in our 3-part series from an excursion we took with Flavio from Polylepis Tours northeast of Cuenca, Ecuador to Biblián, Cañar and Ingapirca. Our second stop was in Cañar, Ecuador.
Cañar is the ancestral home of the indigenous Cañari people who have lived in this region of Ecuador for nearly 1500 years. Every Sunday, people come from miles around to the indigenous market in the center of Cañar....
La Virgen del Rocío | The Church Built Into a Mountain in Biblián Ecuador 2019 (Episode 51: Part 1) (1/8/2019) - This is Part 1 in our 3-part series from an excursion we took with Flavio from Polylepis Tours northeast of Cuenca, Ecuador to Biblián, Cañar and Ingapirca. Our first stop was in Biblián, Ecuador.
Biblián is home to El Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío, or the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Dew. This church was built into the side of a mountain after the residents of Biblián believed a miracle happened....
Unbelievable Orchids in Gualaceo Ecuador + Handmade Macanas (Episode 17/Part 3) (10/24/2018) - For our first tourist-y excursion since we’ve been in Cuenca, Ecuador, we took a trip east of town to three different artisan villages: San Bartolomé, Chordeleg and Gualaceo. This video covers the third town of Gualaceo, Ecuador, which is famous for its orchids and textiles.
Be sure to check out our other videos from this excursion to San Bartolomé Ecuador (Part 1) and Chordeleg Ecuador (Part 2).
We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Andean scenery, the picturesque town of Gualaceo, and the interesting people we meet along the way. We’ve also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you....
Filigree Jewelry in Chordeleg Ecuador + Handmade Miniature Ceramics (Episode 16/Part 2) (10/22/2018) - For our first tourist-y excursion since we’ve been in Cuenca, Ecuador, we took a trip east of town to three different artisan villages: San Bartolomé, Chordeleg and Gualaceo. This video covers the second town of Chordeleg, Ecuador, which is famous for its miniature ceramics and filigree jewelry.
Be sure to check out our other videos from this excursion to San Bartolomé Ecuador (Part 1) and Gualaceo Ecuador (Part 3).
We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Andean scenery, the picturesque town of Chordeleg, and the interesting people we meet along the way. We’ve also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you....
San Bartolomé Ecuador Handcrafted Guitars (Episode 15/Part 1) (10/20/2018) - For our first tourist-y excursion since we've been in Cuenca Ecuador, we took a trip east of town to three different artisan villages: San Bartolomé, Chordeleg and Gualaceo. This video covers the first village of San Bartolomé, Ecuador, which is famous for its handcrafted guitars.
Be sure to check out Part 2: Chordeleg Ecuador and Part 3: Gualaceo Ecuador to see the rest of our tour.
We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Andean scenery, the picturesque town of San Bartolomé, and the interesting people we talk to along the way. We've also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you....