I started my trip in Ecuador in the city of Guayaquil, and was looking forward to it!

Unfortunately when I arrived, I was dropped off in the wrong neighborhood by the Uber driver. When I asked a pharmacist for directions, he told me that it wasn’t safe for me to walk the 13 minutes to my airbnb because the streets are dangerous in Guayaquil (this was at 2pm, in broad daylight)! 😳

When I finally did reach my airbnb, I discovered that it is what’s called a ‘central unit’ meaning it is in between other apartments and has no windows to the outside! It only had one shared window into the neighbor’s bathroom!!! 😳 🛁 😂

The entry way alone, was less than inviting. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Even though I felt safe in the airbnb, it was a little cave-ish and depressing, and after the pharmacist’s warning, I decided to make a quick change of plans, and took a bus to Cuenca.

Cuenca

Cuenca is Ecuador’s 3rd largest city, located in the southern part of the country, and is known for its Tomebamba River waterfront. The center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its many historical buildings.

I took a tour around the city and was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it is! 😀 From a pretty walk along the river front, to bright murals, to Incan ruins, this city has quite a few neat sites.

Flower Market 💐

Ecuador is the world’s biggest producer of roses! Cut flowers are the nation’s 4th largest export and brought in $400 million in sales in 2019. The Cuenca flower market is small, but lovely.

Right next to the market is a small window with a woman selling a drink called Agua De Pitimas. It is a pink, floral drink, with a secret recipe. It’s supposed to help a number of ailments, including anxiety.

I read later that the anxiety reduction may be because it is rumored that nuns add a drop of Valium to the water! I’m not sure this is true, but it did taste good. 😉😂

Piedra De Agua

I read about this neat spa on several blogs, which has thermal pools of volcanic origin, and what sounded like really reasonable prices. It’s just outside of Cuenca in a place called Banos, and I went for a very relaxing afternoon of soaking in mineral baths and a massage that took place in a cave! I also had a chance to try some Ecuadorian empanadas. 😋

Cajas National Park

This beautiful park in the Andes, about 45 minutes from Cuenca, reminded me a little of the Scottish Highlands! It contains over 165 lagoons, with hills and valleys, and over 157 recorded species of birds. I went with a local guide who pointed out flowers, trees and herbs along the hike. It was really lovely to be in nature! 🌿

Though I had a nice visit on mainland Ecuador, I did feel some apprehension about my safety here, mostly because EVERYONE that I interacted with gave me warnings about traveling alone, danger or violence, etc. I appreciated their concern and know that the warnings all came from a place of kindness, but it made me a bit more aware of my solo female traveler status.

Thankfully, I stayed perfectly safe and am grateful that I was able to explore Cuenca! Next stop: the Galapagos! 😁 🦭🦎🐢