The 16 best things to do with kids in Cuenca

We went to Turi at night on the day after Christmas, on a 'City Lights' tour. Turi is definitely worth a visit to see the lights at night, and step into the church to have a moment of calm contemplation and to look around at the holy relics. I also went during the day on the Tourist Bus, that was great too, they gave us half an hour to look around and then the bus went down the hill again!

Cuenca is so beautiful. They even have an area where ex-patriots live called Gringlandia. These pictures are from the top of the mountain where they also have a crystal bridge! Just don’t look down, it’s way up there.

Awesome place to see Cuenca-Ecuador. These are the type of pictures you can get. There is a lot of things to do in this touristic area. Many restaurants, bars and fun activities for kids of all ages. Do not forget to get a "Canelazo" they sell it in different flavors, it would warm up your body and spirit.

Nice and beautiful view over the city!

Very crowded and a popular turistic spot, It was nice to visit it... had a good time!!

A very beautiful spot to view Cuenca from. Stunning views of the city. There is nothing else in Turi except some restaurants. So if you are not planning to eat, it will be a short visit.

This is one place you can the entire city of Cuenca. The city is declared patrimonio cultural por la unesco. Has a lot of attractions and still keeps its Spanish roots. Very clean and low crime.

Beautiful park, right across from age old church, nice fine dining around the park. No public toilets and all the establishments won’t let you use until you are a patron. Always some activities going on. Don’t miss it!!

Very active area with lovely historical churches right across the street. S few Police officers around helping with traffic and security Many different types of souvenirs stands and a fabulous chocolate company near by We spent close to 3 hours in this area and loved it

Around this park you can find a number or great places to buy food and drinks ever restaurant or rooms looks different and glamorous. Even the plaza has things to see and buy.

We love it People are friendly Safe Plenty of police there but there is no trouble there

A beautiful park in one of the main plazas of the city, it's very nice to sit in, very clean, and feels very safe even at night, occasionally there are musicians and artists playing or making some art. In general just a great place to rest yourself while roaming the city.

Beautiful park with lots of shade and places to sit.

In the heart of Cuenca surrounded by good restaurants and shops. On the north side is the famous Cathedral. Well maintained and well attended.

There were almost a dozen artists working on redoing paintings, columns, etc. A beautiful church in Cuenca worth the $1 entry.

Excellent place to explore and learn a out the Old cathedral. Walking inside was an experience that's worth the visit. You can also climb the stairs to the top of the observation level. Family friendly atmosphere with a wonderful view of the Park and El Centro. Definitely recommend while in Cuenca Ecuador.

I highly recommend the $3 tour inside the Old Cathedral. My tour guide presented fascinating information not only about the history of the cathedral but also interesting information about Cuenca. Through the admittance fee you’ll gain access to places most people wouldn’t think about. Enjoy walking up the spiral staircase to see the pipe organ up close or walk below to discover where many church members found their resting place starting back in the late 1500s. This church is often overlooked because of the newer and bigger cathedral across the street. But don’t miss this wonderful tour. And don’t forget to tip your tour guide.

On one side of the square, you'll find an older white cathedral from Spanish colonial times. It is said that many of the stones within the church's foundation were taken from the Cañari/Incan ruins nearby - before people realized they were destroying ancient history. The Antigua Cathedral is now a small museum, which costs a couple dollars to enter. They also host concerts, including free symphony concerts by the University. For more recommendations on what to do in and around Cuenca, find our blog posts by searching: "Intentional Travelers Cuenca"

The colors in this church are simply spectacular. The restoration of the church was impeccable. The attention to detail is amzing

This is Church with public exhibits, be respectful when you enter. Besides the main temple, there are several small chapels with antique furniture and artwork. To the back of the main temple you will find liturgical artifacts such as a beautiful tabernacle with an engraved Pelikan, a symbol of Christ. If you go to the inner patio you will find an intersting collection of old photos and a gift shop.

Loved the 16th century architecture of this building. Sadly I didn't get opportunity to go inside, but the exterior was beautiful!

A great stop on our half day tour. Great to see a local factory using century old techniques. Well set up!

I had an amazing experience at Homer Ortega hats. Not only are the hats amazing, but the customer service at the store is out of this world. If the hat doesn’t fit you perfectly, they will take you to the back and adjust it and re-sew it if need be to fit you perfectly. They even took care of getting me a cab when all was finished. Excellent customer service and product.

Fascinating insight into how Panama hats are made. You get to see the whole factory in action! Beautiful shop at the end with hats, bags and other souvenir items.

Family-run hat factory for generations. Perfect tour and great selection/prices of hats. Thank you to the nice lady who gave a very entertaining tour and helped sew hats to custom sizing for us! Very happy we made the trip here after visiting the "museum" in the center that had overpriced hats with less selection...

Take a full factory tour, including the history and fabrication process. The tour was highly informative, first seeing a small museum where you learn about the history and initial process and then you actually walk among the workers in the factory, seeing every step of the finishing process. At the end of the tour, you are left in the store to shop among all of the various styles, including purses and hats they make. Surprisingly, there were many decently priced options as I expected it to be more expensive. Great tour and an excellent family learning experience!

Excelente place to visit and learn about Panama Hats. The real story about this traditional activity from Cuenca

We loved the free guided tour here and then went through it again as a self guided tour so we could read all the boards at our leisure. We also liked the shop. There are plenty of quality hats for men and women to try on. We bought two hats. The factory is 1.5 blocks from the tram stop, across from the bus stop (be sure to pay the $1 for the tram ticket. The fine is a hefty one.).

This is an excellent zoo - spread out in a loop that took me about two hours to see it all . It is kid friendly . Some zoos have the animals in small confined spaces where you feel sorry for them but not here . There is of space with a very wide variety of animals -monkeys , birds of all kinds, reptiles , and various kinds of cats including a couple of beautiful jaguars . It is hilly and unpaved but that makes it an adventure . There are strategically placed bathrooms and places to buy water and refreshments . Great way to spend some time outside !

This was the most unique zoo I have been to. The concept and layout are very different from north American zoos. There is a one-way path through the zoo. The total trail is about 4 kg with the pavilion and cafeteria at the halfway point. The animals have a nice natural habitat they live in. There is a large variety of animals housed at the zoo. We spent 4 hours walking the trail.

Best zoo I have ever been to. Bring your boots if you go on a wet day. The trails are not handicap accessible. But the animals are beautiful. Get to the bird exhibit it will Change your life.

A zoo like you've never been to walking. It's built on a side of a mountain. Very steep. Lots of walking up steep hills but it's worth if you can take walking up steep hills. It was very interesting and informative keep note equivalent to walking up 17. Flights of stairs but it was worth it.

Cool way to see some of the unique animals of the region. A little ways outside of town, but worth a visit. Give yourself at least 2-3 hours to enjoy the different exhibits.

Generally not a fan of zoos, but this was a fun adventure, Roughly 3 hour hiking along trails to various exhibits/enclosures. It was clean a bit muddy, due to recent rains. The animals appeared well cared for. The hike was mild to moderate.

Be Prepared to Hike! It’s not a big zoo but there are big slopes and downfalls so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. This was my second time visiting and there are much less animals compared to May of 2019. The zoo itself needs to be renovating. For the price you’re charging you would expect more color and better designs. The prices have gone up since last I visited I thought there were going to be improvements but no. Be careful with some handrails when going down they were loose. There isn’t staff walking around to help guide you or answer questions. They provide signs that are fading with information on their animals. Overall visit it’s a nice place to walk. However I don’t recommend it for older people because there is a lot of walking. I came with my partner and we barely stopped to watch the animals and it took us 2.5 hours. If you like to hike it should be a problem if you come with kids please be careful with them. They’re more likely to trip because there are many rocks on the floor. Bathrooms are limited so if you see one and you need to go use it because the next one will not be close!

Cool!

Interesting

(Translated by Google) A small and cozy planetarium, video broadcast in a cozy room with comfortable chairs. Small display at the entrance. Free admission. (Original) Небольшой и уютный планетарий, видеотрансляция в уютном зале с комфортными креслами. Небольшая экспозиция при входе. Вход свободный.

(Translated by Google) They should publish their opening hours and requirements. Google says they're open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but they won't let you in until 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. When we finally got there at the designated time, they told us that since there weren't any other people, we couldn't get in. We ended our stay in the city and were never able to get in. (Original) Deben publicar el horario de atención y los requisitos, en Google dice que está abierto desde las 8 hasta las 5, pero no dejan ingresar sino solo a las 10 am y 3 pm. Cuando por fin pudimos estar a la hora específica , nos dicen que como no habían más personas no podíamos acceder. Terminamos nuestra estadía en la ciudad y nunca pudimos ingresar

(Translated by Google) The Cuenca City Municipal Planetarium is a scientific dissemination center located in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. It was inaugurated in 2013 and is the first planetarium in the country. The planetarium has a 12-meter diameter projection dome and a state-of-the-art digital projection system. It offers a variety of screenings, for both children and adults, that explore different themes related to outer space. The planetarium also has a science museum where a variety of objects related to astronomy, physics and biology are displayed. The museum is aimed at students of all ages. The planetarium is an excellent option to learn about outer space and science in general. It is a must see for anyone visiting Cuenca. The main attractions of the planetarium are the following: Screenings: The planetarium offers a variety of screenings, for both children and adults. Projections include topics such as the solar system, the Milky Way, stars and planets. Projections of the Municipal Planetarium City of Cuenca Ecuador Science Museum: The science museum has a variety of objects related to astronomy, physics and biology. The museum is aimed at students of all ages. Science Museum of the Municipal Planetarium City of Cuenca Ecuador Temporary exhibitions: The planetarium also offers temporary exhibitions on science-related topics. The planetarium is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Magnificent place in Cuenca (Original) El Planetario Municipal Ciudad de Cuenca es un centro de divulgación científica que se encuentra en la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador. Fue inaugurado en 2013 y es el primer planetario del país. El planetario cuenta con un domo de proyección de 12 metros de diámetro y un sistema de proyección digital de última generación. Ofrece una variedad de proyecciones, tanto para niños como para adultos, que exploran diferentes temas relacionados con el espacio exterior. El planetario también cuenta con un museo de ciencias donde se exhiben una variedad de objetos relacionados con la astronomía, la física y la biología. El museo está dirigido a estudiantes de todas las edades. El planetario es una excelente opción para aprender sobre el espacio exterior y la ciencia en general. Es una visita obligada para cualquier persona que visite Cuenca. Las principales atracciones del planetario son las siguientes: Proyecciones: El planetario ofrece una variedad de proyecciones, tanto para niños como para adultos. Las proyecciones incluyen temas como el sistema solar, la Vía Láctea, las estrellas y los planetas. Proyecciones del Planetario Municipal Ciudad de Cuenca Ecuador Museo de ciencias: El museo de ciencias cuenta con una variedad de objetos relacionados con la astronomía, la física y la biología. El museo está dirigido a estudiantes de todas las edades. Museo de ciencias del Planetario Municipal Ciudad de Cuenca Ecuador Exposiciones temporales: El planetario también ofrece exposiciones temporales sobre temas relacionados con la ciencia. El planetario está abierto de martes a domingo de 10:00 a 16:00 horas. La entrada es gratuita. Magnifico lugar en Cuenca

(Translated by Google) The projection room is very good, the rest shows that they have no budget, even the astronaut has his arms down, what a pain😔. It is noted that in Cuenca the infrastructure of the cathedral is better than the planetarium, magical thinking dominates the poor minds that do not invest in education and science. (Original) La sala de proyección está muy bien, lo demás se nota que están sin presupuesto, hasta el astronauta tiene los brazos caídos, que pesar😔. Se nota que en Cuenca está mejor la infraestructura de la catedral que el planetario, el pensamiento mágico domina a las mentes pobres que no invierten en educación y ciencia.

(Translated by Google) It was excellent for being free, with a clean projection and entertaining function that managed to capture the attention of the little ones. (Original) Estuvo excelente para ser gratuito, la de proyección limpia y función entretenida que logró acaparar la atención de los pequeños.

Maybe one of the best parks in Cuenca. Something to do for everyone. A great way to spend the day. Various types of affordable food and it's close to a mall. It's a park for people of all ages. Very safe. I recommend.

Big park, you cal almost practic anything you like with big lake in the middle and bike lines going through the trees one of the best places for families and friends to gather their , there is garage near it and you can access it by bus also

This is a large park with a walking/running trail and beautiful green spaces and scenery. And you can duck over to Wayra Plaza for some shopping after your walk in the park!

Cuenca’s most popular urban park. The grounds are very well manicured: the lawns mowed smooth, blooming flower beds, trees with good canopies provide shade and are also blooming.😎😎😎 The focal point is man made lake fed by a tributary from the adjacent Rio Tomebamba. The level of the lake control by a loch. 👏👏👏Lots of birds. There’s an attractive clock as well, and several children’s playgrounds. Nice shelters are strategically built around the park.

The biggest park in Cuenca, it is ideal to come and visit with family and spend an amazing day. You can play sports such as soccer and volleyball, do yoga, play in the swings, do a picnic, and many more activities.

Beautiful serene, peaceful place! Quite a large park the biggest in Quenca if not mistaken. Pet friendly and eco conscious with a program where you can take veggie scraps and yard waste in return for free compost- win-win!

Parque Paraíso just east of the historic center of Cuenca, and situated between the two beautiful central rivers of the city, the Tomebamba and the Yanuncay, has a little bit of something for everybody. It has a lovely lake with ducks and other waterfowl for children and adults alike, playground equipment, beautiful old trees, broad grassy areas, exercise equipment for children and adults alike, and much much more. Expansive enough to “stretch out” and lose yourself in its peacefulness, it is nonetheless not so wild that one, other than a small child, would get lost. A great addition, if not a cornerstone to the city’s extensive system of beautifully maintained parks.

A collection of native orchids in a series of greenhouses and shade houses managed by the University. Hundreds of orchids to see. Best time to visit Mat to August, though orchids are in bloom any time. $1 per person entry. No guide.

Not in operation anymore

(Translated by Google) They have a wide variety of orchids. I visited it years ago and it was very well maintained. I went these days, it is poorly maintained. They should maintain it more often. (Original) Tienen una gran variedad de orquídeas. Hace años que lo visite estaba muy bien cuidado. Fui en estos días, esta mal cuidado. Deberían de darle mantenimiento más seguido.

(Translated by Google) Very difficult to find, but searching is rewarded. For just a few dollars you can get a lot of information about endangered orchids on a guided tour. (Original) Sehr schwierig zu finden, aber das Suchen wird belohnt. Für wenige $ bekommt man bei einer Führung viel über bedrohte Orchideen erklärt.

(Translated by Google) Always when passing by there I wondered what it was, I wasn't very clear if it was a bar because of the name or an orchid garden, now that I'm going to go shopping there it is very striking from the outside it is a very nice place (Original) Siempre al pasar por ahí me preguntaba que era, no tenía muy en claro si era un bar por el nombre o un orquidiario, ahora que se iré a comprar ahí es muy llamativo desde afuera es un lugar muy lindo

(Translated by Google) A nice experience to learn about the varieties of orchids in our region. Economical prices (Original) Un linda experiencia en conocer las variedades de orquídeas de nuestra región. Precios económicos

(Translated by Google) Beautiful and interesting! Wonderful! (Original) Hermoso e interesante! Wonderful!

Nice park with incredible views but definitely in need of maintenance. The boardwalk is full of holes and raised boards are tripping hazards. To make matters worse, yellow precaution tape is strung across numerous areas. The gates to certain areas are closed. As someone that had never been there before, it was confusing trying to find our way into and out of the park along the trails. We descended using a grass hill in frustration. We still enjoyed the views and spent time sitting and relaxing.

Need some repairs on the structure. It's very dangerous for little kids..."

It is a wonderfull place it has a nice view it is ready yo walk to bike run and mak exercise.

New spot to view the beauty of this city. Great place to take pictures. This place is located in Miraflores on the opposite side of Turi. Parking available. Totally recommend to visit.

A very nice walking park, with overlook decks in several places..a great way to get a view of the city. Clean, quiet.

Beautiful views all around. Well maintained.

A unique place with an incredible 360 deg view of Cueca. Perfect for a picnic and even has bbq sites for public use. You have to go.

Park is big and nice ambiance.. Nice for picnic.. Hopefully soon they allow camping.. And especially the zipline please.. People will surely come for this fun adventure..

(Translated by Google) A nice place to visit with the family, excellent views, several viewpoints ideal for taking good photos, green areas, trails for walking and recreation, pets allowed on a leash, picnic areas available, as a recommendation it is preferable to visit during the day. (Original) Un lindo lugar para visitar con familia, excelente vista, varios miradores ideales para tomar buenas fotos, áreas verdes, senderos para caminar y distraerse, permiten en ingreso de mascotas con correa, áreas para picnic disponibles, como recomendación es preferible visitar durante el día.

(Translated by Google) Excellent place to share with family, have a picnic, camp, hike and bike. It has parking and a paved route that runs through the park. The views are beautiful. (Original) Excelente lugar para compartir en familia, hacer un picnic, acampar, hacer senderismo y montar bicicleta. Tiene parqueadero y una ruta pavimentada que recorre el parque. Las vistas son hermosas.

(Translated by Google) A wonderful view of the city of Cuenca. A place to pray to God. (Original) Una vista maravillosa de la ciudad de Cuenca. Un lugar para orar a Dios

(Translated by Google) I liked it more than the viewpoint we visited previously, this one is more authentic, more rustic and for $1 you have the option to go up and enjoy many things, incredible photos come out, unfortunately we couldn't stay longer because of the heavy rain that started (Original) Me gusto más que el mirador que visitamos anteriormente, este es más auténtico, más rústico y tienes por $1 la opción de subirte y disfrutar de muchas cosas, salen fotos increíbles, lamentablemente no pudimos quedarnos más tiempo por la fuerte lluvia que empezó

(Translated by Google) It is a very large park, in the middle of nature, mountains, forests, to get to the place you must do it by car, the route is extensive with well-marked trails, there are also several wooden attractions and a downhill trail, it feels It lacks a little maintenance but in general terms it is a very pleasant place to walk outdoors with the whole family. There is also a very good view of the city of Cuenca. It could be taken as a note that the city Jail is very close, which in my point of view is a negative point. (Original) Es un parque muy grande, en medio de la naturaleza, montañas, bosques, para llegar al lugar se lo debe hacer en auto, en recorrido es extenso con senderos bien marcador, además hay varias atracciones en madera y un sendero para downhill, se siente que le falta un poco de mantenimiento pero en terminos generales es un lugar muy agradable para pasear al aire libre junto con toda la familia. Además hay una vista muy buena de la ciudad de cuenca. Se podria tomar como nota que se encuentra muy cerca la Carcel de la ciudad, lo que a mi punto de vista es un punto negativo.

(Translated by Google) Nice place to walk, very quiet, there are no courts or children's games and it is a bit neglected (Original) Bonito lugar para pasear muy tranquilo, no hay canchas ni juegos infantiles y esta un poco descuidado

This is a fantastic national park, one can never miss it when travel to Cuenca. Not too long trip, about 45mins drive to the high mountain side. There's a long trail to go around, beautiful lagoon, clouds, enjoy every step move forward. Get used to the acclimated location, move slowly if you just arrive in Ecuador for 1-2 days.

Such a beautiful place it is so nice to walk around look around and listen to the quietness and enjoy the views. Such an incredible nice place we went on a pretty day but it was a little windy and slightly cold which complimented the experience. You should definitely go here look around there's so much to see and do here just amazing.

Great park with several hiking trails to explore. If you want to trek for multiple days it is possible. The entrance is free, you only need to register your name and how many days you are planning to spend in the park. Hiking on the routes 1 and 2 was a good choice. They don't recommend staying in the park after 4:30, the last bus to Cuenca departs a bit before 5pm.

Easy to access with public transport. A variety of routes, I have done two of them, both spectacular.

A safe place with a gorgeous landscape…. Can’t wait to come back again. Also, don’t forget to bring your jacket because it is COLD.

Great environment and nature. Good walks, but dress warm

Beautiful place with amazing views. Highly recommended to hike some amazing trails. Located 4000 meters above the sea and you will feel it!