Road Trip Alert: Bulán's Apple Festival Is This Friday (and It's Worth the Drive)
Cuenca Expat Staff
Looking for a reason to get out of Cuenca this weekend? The 8th Annual Bulán Apple Festival happens this Friday, May 9, starting at 9:00 AM in the parish of Bulán, Paute canton.
What to Expect
Bulán is known as "the paradise of Azuay fruits," and this festival is the celebration to prove it. You'll find:
- ~30 varieties of apples from local producers (yes, thirty — Bulán takes its apples seriously)
- Traditional fruit exhibitions
- Local food vendors
- Artisan entrepreneurs selling handmade goods
- Traditional dance performances
- Live music
Beyond apples, the region produces peaches, mirabelle plums, pears, and capulí berries — so expect plenty of sampling opportunities.
How to Get There
Bulán is about 52 kilometers from Cuenca and just 7 kilometers from Paute town. You've got options:
- By car: Take the Cuenca-Azogues route, then divert toward Paute. Follow the Interoceánica highway to the Paute-Bulán route via the Cutilcay river microbasin
- By bus: Catch a bus from Cuenca's Terminal Terrestre to Paute, then grab a local connection to Bulán
- Alternative route: Cuenca-Azogues highway to Azogues terminal, then Azogues-Luis Cordero-Bulán
It's a beautiful drive through the valley — pack a cooler, because you're going to want to bring apples home.
Source: El Mercurio
