The 51st Festival del Cuy Is This Weekend in Ricaurte — 16 Kiosks, a Car Show, and All the Guinea Pig You Can Eat

What Is It

Every year, the parish of Ricaurte — about 15 minutes northeast of downtown Cuenca — celebrates its founding anniversary with the Festival del Cuy (Guinea Pig Festival). This year marks the 51st edition, making it one of the longest-running food festivals in the region.

If you've been curious about cuy (roasted guinea pig) but haven't taken the plunge, this is the event.

The Details

Saturday, March 22:

• 7:00 AM — Thanksgiving mass
• 9:00 AM — Civic parade with 20+ schools and community groups
• 10:00 AM onward — 16 food kiosks open, each representing a different neighborhood, serving traditional roasted cuy with all the fixings
• All day — Classic and modified car exhibition
• Evening — Live music performances

Friday, March 21 (today):

• Ecuavolley tournament — if you want to catch some of the most competitive pickup volleyball in the province

What to Expect at the Kiosks

Each of the 16 kiosks is run by a different barrio (neighborhood), and there's genuine pride and competition involved. This year has four more kiosks than last year, which tells you the festival is growing.

Traditional cuy is served:

• Whole roasted on a spit, skin crispy and golden
• With papas (potatoes), mote (hominy corn), and salsa de maní (peanut sauce)
• Some kiosks also serve hornado (roasted pork) and other traditional dishes
• Expect to pay $15-25 for a full cuy plate (prices vary by kiosk)

Pro tip: Arrive hungry and early. The best kiosks sell out by mid-afternoon.

Getting There

Ricaurte is an easy trip from downtown Cuenca:

• By car: Take the road toward the airport/Autopista, then follow signs to Ricaurte. About 15 minutes, free street parking around the central park
• By bus: Buses to Ricaurte run from the Terminal Terrestre and from stops along Av. España. Ask for "Ricaurte centro"
• By taxi: $3-5 from El Centro, $2-3 from the Autopista area

The festival is centered around Ricaurte's central park — you'll see (and smell) the roasting cuy from blocks away.

Why Go

Beyond the food, the Festival del Cuy is one of those authentically local events that gives you a feel for Cuenca's surrounding parishes. It's not touristy. It's families, neighborhoods competing over who has the best recipe, kids in parade costumes, and classic cars in the park.

Proceeds from the kiosks go directly to community programs in each participating neighborhood — so you're eating well and supporting the community.

Source: El Mercurio