Articles

Cuenca's biggest celebration (alongside November 3) is coming up fast. The 469th Foundation Day festival runs April 6 through April 29, with over 100 events including concerts by Andrés Cepeda and Devendra Banhart, parades, food fairs, and more. April 12 is a local holiday. Here's what we know so far.

The national numbers are in from Carnival 2026 — Ecuador's tourism sector pulled in $81.9 million over four days. But Cuenca's story was more complicated, with the city ranking third nationally in emergency calls. Here's the full post-Carnival breakdown.

If Cuenca felt unusually packed this weekend, you weren't imagining it. Hotels hit 90% occupancy, 1.3 million Ecuadorians hit the road, and the government estimates the four-day feriado will generate up to $100 million in tourism spending. Here's what the Carnival boom actually looked like.

Heavy rains during Carnival weekend 2026 flooded 15 Cuenca neighborhoods and lightning struck hikers in Cajas National Park. Which areas were hit, what ECU-911 reported, and what to expect during rainy season.

Remember when we told you they were going to try? They did it. On Valentine's Day, 30 chefs prepared 1,723 kilograms of mote pata at Plaza San Francisco, earning Cuenca an official Guinness World Record and feeding 9,500 people for free.

If you see people in teal blue uniforms patrolling El Centro and don't recognize them — relax, it's still the Guardia Ciudadana. Cuenca's municipal security force ditched the old red look for a full rebrand in 2026. Here's what changed and what they actually do.

Every event, concert, and parade happening in Cuenca for Carnival 2026 — from the Mote Pata workshop to Nicky Jam at the stadium. Plus Tranvía schedule changes, road patrol info, and what's open and closed this holiday weekend.

Cuenca's biggest annual celebration has officially launched with approximately 80 events running through the end of February. Concerts, parades, gastronomic festivals, art exhibitions, and more -- here's your guide.

Cuenca's biggest party of the year runs February 12-17 with a packed schedule: the Four Rivers parade, a Color Fest, concerts at Serrano Aguilar stadium, a chiva market tour, and an attempt to certify the world's largest mote pata with Guinness officials on hand.