Articles

Cuenca's iconic Escalinata -- the staircase connecting Centro Historico to El Ejido -- reopens April 9 after months of renovation. New andesite stone, LED-lit handrails, accessibility features, and renovated restrooms. Here's what's changed.

The March 12 Yanuncay River overflow put multiple neighborhoods in emergency, destroyed a bridge, flooded homes, and contaminated the Botanical Garden's lagoon. Here's the latest on what happened and what's being done.

This has been the wettest first quarter of the decade in Cuenca, and the numbers are alarming: more than 2,500 hectares are classified as disaster-prone, a national emergency covers all 24 provinces, and over half of Azuay's emergency incidents have been right here in the city.

A $50M+ shopping center with 250+ brands — including H&M, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, and Old Navy — opens on the Cuenca-Azogues highway in May. It'll be connected to Mall del Río by a pedestrian bridge. Plus: nightly road closures through March 23.

The University of Cuenca begins its March-August 2026 academic period today. If you drive, walk, or bus along Avenida 12 de Abril, prepare for the return of 18,000+ students and all the congestion that comes with it.

How to get around Cuenca, Ecuador without a car — or with one. A complete guide to the tram, city buses, taxis, ride apps, and whether you should bother driving.

Choosing where to live in Cuenca? A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide covering rent prices, walkability, safety, vibe, and which areas suit retirees vs. remote workers vs. families.

Cuenca's biggest-ever retail development is almost ready. Mall del Alto — 117,000 square meters, 250 stores, $50M+ investment — opens across from Mall del Río in late April. H&M, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, electric go-karts, and a gourmet terrace. Here's everything we know.

Cuenca's biggest infrastructure project — the $43 million Monay-IESS interchange — is 24% complete, with new nightly highway closures starting today. Here's what's closed, what the detour routes are, and when you can expect relief.