Gourmet products local specialties and wines Cuenca

The Cuenca region is famous for its large production of flowers of many varieties. Behind the new cathedral, in front of the church El Carmen de la Asunción, there is a colourful market every day - the Mercado de las Flores - which is fragrant in the sun. Cholas cuencanas in traditional costumes sit on small stools behind their resplendent stalls. It is a great attraction for visitors and this market has become one of the symbols of Cuenca. There are also beautiful potted plants. Worth a visit.

This is one of the main markets in the city centre. It is held in a large hall on two levels and you can find everything. From traditional spices brought by indigenous families working in the fields to clothing imported from the Far East, this is a market for locals more than tourists and that's a big part of its charm. You will also find an area reserved for the feria de la comida type of meal where you can taste the most typical dishes and buy food. A joyful atmosphere

You will find everything and anything in this big market: electronic equipment, animals, fruits and vegetables, other food products, clothes, various souvenirs, trinkets... It is a meeting place where all strata of the population mingle. Many farmers from the region sell their produce there. It is on Thursday that the market is the most important, and thus gathers the most people. Be careful, not everything you find here comes from Ecuador and the sellers will only tell you if you ask them...

Nucallacta means "coffee from the country". The couple who founded Nucallacta worked for many years in the export of green coffee to different countries. They worked in many farms in Ecuador in search of the best coffee. With their experience, they decided to open their own coffee shop, where they make sure to offer a different service from others and an incomparable quality of product. If the coffee is delicious, you won't be able to resist the different treats that are served to accompany the coffee. Perfect for a brunch.

We love this café nestled in a charming renovated colonial house in San Sebastian Park. The small terrace is a nice place to take a break. They serve hearty breakfasts (very famous) and lunches based on local products with purely Americanized recipes. On the menu: sandwiches, paninis, burgers and other salads. A must try! Since a few months, the San Sebas offers the delivery of all its products, a good opportunity to have a great breakfast without moving from your apartment for example!

If you don't pass by Otavalo, the biggest handicraft market of the country, nothing is lost to find the products with the shimmering colors that the craftsmen of the country produce. Here, on the plaza San Francisco, where recently you can even take a picture of yourself in front of the giant letters that form the name of the city, you will discover a hundred stands often held by charming Andean women covered with necklaces and golden bracelets who will offer you clothes and souvenirs.

Installed under a large hall, the population of Cuenca supplies itself with agricultural products of the area. A nice colorful walk, in the middle of very beautiful displays of flowers, spices, exotic fruits, vegetables, corn of all kinds. You can also buy chocolate, produced with Ecuadorian cocoa. You will also find here several stands where you can taste typical almuerzos with the locals, on the floor of the market.