Cuenca
Ecuador
Tumebamba, Tomebamba, or Tumipampa was a main regional city in the Inca Empire. Tumebamba was chosen by the Emperor Huayna Capac to be the Inca northern capital. The city was largely destroyed during the Inca Civil War between Huáscar and Atahualpa shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1532. The Spanish city of Cuenca, Ecuador was built on the site of Tumebamba although a portion of the Inca city is preserved at the archaeological sites of Pumapunku and Todos Santos.
Read more — WikipediaThe best months to visit are November–January.
November is the hottest month, with highs around 22°C (72°F).
July is the coldest month, with lows around 8°C (46°F).
The wettest month is April, with rain on about 17 days.
July is the sunniest month, with about 5.6 hours of sunshine a day.
In October, it’s warmer here than in 31% of places in Ecuador.
16-day forecast
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 64%
- Wind
- 9 km/h NE
- Gusts
- 25 km/h
- Cloud cover
- 89%
- Pressure
- 1020 hPa
- UV index
- 6 (now)
- Sunrise / Sunset
- 05:54 / 18:06
Next 48 hours
Pollen forecasts are only available in Europe.
Best time to visit Cuenca
Average conditions for each month, from long-term climate normals (1961–2020).
Month by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 21° | 22° | 21° | 21° | 21° | 20° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 21° | 22° | 22° |
| Average low | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 9° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 64 | 85 | 103 | 113 | 60 | 47 | 37 | 32 | 51 | 78 | 81 | 74 |
| Rain days | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| Sunshine per day (h) | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 5 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 4.9 |
| Daylight (h) | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
| Humidity (%) | 77 | 79 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 76 |
| Wind (km/h) | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
| Go score | 71 | 68 | 62 | 61 | 63 | 65 | 64 | 65 | 69 | 69 | 75 | 74 |
The go score (0–100) favours daytime highs of 22–27 °C, mild nights, plenty of sunshine and few rainy days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000) · CRU CL 2.0 (1961–1990) About this data: Climate normals
What to do in Cuenca, month by month
When each activity is at its best, judged from the climate averages.
| Activities | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing & city walks | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Good | Poor | Poor | Fair | Poor |
| Hiking | Fair | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| Photography & sunsets | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Fair | Poor | Poor | Fair | Poor |
Good Fair Poor · Estimated from long-term averages of temperature, rain days, sunshine and sea temperature.
How each activity is rated
- Sightseeing & city walks — Good: highs of 15–27 °C and few rain days. Fair: 11–33 °C.
- Hiking — Good: highs of 10–24 °C and few rain days; a wider window with trails or national parks nearby.
- Photography & sunsets — Good: at least 7 hours of sunshine a day and few rain days. Fair: 5 hours or more.
Rainy season in Ecuador: January–May · Wettest month: March Month by month
Cuenca: tourist crowds by month
How busy it gets through the year — and the months with good weather and fewer visitors.
Best value months
Good weather, fewer visitors, usually lower prices.
March–August
- Mar62
- Apr61
- May63
- Jun65
- Jul64
- Aug65
An estimate: months with a go score of 60 or more and below-average tourist numbers.
Updated: About this data: Crowds & prices
Landmarks nearby
Mountains, castles, museums, beaches and heritage sites within 25 km.
Tumebamba
human settlement
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
UNESCO World Heritage site
Iglesia de San Alfonso, Cuenca
church building in Cuenca, Ecuador
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Museo Pumapungo
ethnographic & Art museum in Cuenca, Ecuador
Iglesia de San Francisco, Cuenca
church building in Cuenca, Ecuador
Church San Blas
church building in Cuenca, Ecuador
Iglesia de Todos Santos, Cuenca
Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes
Museum in Ecuador
Pumapunku, Ecuador
archaeological site in Azuay Province, Ecuador
Iglesia San Sebastián
church building in Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Cuenca: practical information
Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices: what to know before you go.
- Voltage
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Driving
- Drive on the right
US Dollar
USD · $
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +593
- Emergency911
- Meal, casual restaurant$11.00
- Cappuccino$2.70
- Beer (0.5 l)$3.90
- Bottled water (1.5 l)$1.20
- Taxi, 5 km$7.40
- Public transport ticket$1.40
- Mid-range hotel, per night$93.00
Estimated from Ecuador’s consumer price level — real prices vary by place and season. Prices are about 44% of US levels.
- Nov 2All Souls' Day
- Nov 3Independence of Cuenca
- Dec 25Christmas Day
- Jan 1New Year's Day
- Feb 8Carnival
- Feb 9Carnival
28 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 100 km in the last 51 years.
Strongest: M6.8 (2023).
How to get to Cuenca
Nearest airports
- CUEMariscal Lamar AirportCuenca1 km
- XMSCoronel E Carvajal AirportMacas118 km
- ETRSanta Rosa - Artillery Colonel Victor Larrea International AirportSanta Rosa127 km
- GYEJosé Joaquín de Olmedo International AirportGuayaquil128 km
- LOHCiudad de Catamayo AirportLa Toma (Catamayo)129 km
Distances
- Quito301 km 5 h 13
- Guayaquil126 km 2 h 11
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados294 km 5 h 06
- Ambato188 km 3 h 15
- Portoviejo261 km 4 h 31
estimate
Hotels in Cuenca
Hotels and holiday rentals with live nightly prices.
We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.
Places with a climate like Cuenca
Matched on temperature and rainfall across the whole year.
Ambato
Cajamarca
Mosquera
Madrid
Naivasha
Limuru
Wildlife around here
The species recorded most often within 25 km, and the months they’re seen.
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Climate in Cuenca
Add a free climate card for Cuenca to your website or blog. Copy the code below.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cuenca?
Based on climate normals, the best time to visit Cuenca is November–January.
What is the weather like in Cuenca in October?
In October, Cuenca averages a high of 21°C (71°F) and a low of 8°C (47°F), with 78 mm of rain on about 14 days.
What is the rainiest month in Cuenca?
April, with rain on about 17 days.
What is the nearest airport to Cuenca?
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE), about 128 km away.
What power plugs are used in Ecuador?
Plug types A, B, at 120 V.
What currency is used in Ecuador?
US Dollar (USD).
What is the emergency number in Ecuador?
911.
Is Ecuador safe to visit?
US travel advisory: Exercise increased caution. UK travel advice: Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
When is Cuenca most crowded?
The busiest months are November.
When is Cuenca least crowded?
The quietest months are March–May.
When is the best time to visit Cuenca without the crowds?
January–October: good weather with fewer visitors than in peak season.
What time zone is Cuenca in?
America/Guayaquil (UTC-5).
What is the population of Cuenca?
About 636,996.