Insider Travel Tips for Cuenca: 5 Local Secrets
Every time I go somewhere, there are always a few things I learn by the end of the trip that I wished I had known the whole time. The things you can’t find out simply by scouring Tripadvisor or reading Lonely Planet guides cover-to-cover. During my recent trip to Cuenca, Ecuador I was lucky enough to stay with an amazing local host family that I found on Airbnb. They were super helpful with giving us the inside scoop on Cuenca – where to go, where not to go, and how to get around. Since we were only in town for four days, their advice was invaluable!
So what did I learn that’s worth passing on to future Cuenca visitors? Here are six insider travel tips to help you make the most out of your trip to this beautiful Ecuadorian city.
What To Pack For Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway is one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever visited. But it also has a very unique climate and landscape, which can make packing for your trip quite difficult. With an average of 275 days of rain annually, Bergen is one of Europe’s rainiest cities. It’s also one of the hilliest cities I’ve ever been to, so prepare to use those leg muscles.
If you’re planning a trip, here are my tips on what to pack for Bergen, Norway.
Nashville: It’s a Party in the USA!
Here’s a timely, 4th of July-inspired post for you.
And before I come across as unpatriotic, let’s get one thing straight: I never thought there was anything wrong with travel in the USA. After all, this is my home country and I’ve had my fair share of local family vacations. But up until last month, most of my time was spent plotting how I could leave America. Squeezing in a trip to Ecuador over a long weekend, saving up for a pricey international flight over the holidays and plotting a road trip to Canada – all of that was on the 2014 agenda. And while I had this trip to Nashville planned for over a year, I barely gave it a second thought. I was too busy researching the greatest restaurants in Copenhagen, planning my journey through the fjords of Norway and horseback riding in Ecuador.
Overall, I expected Nashville to be my least exciting trip of the year. So imagine my surprise when it turned out to be MIND-BLOWINGLY AWESOME. So awesome, in fact, that when I arrived back in NYC, I informed Dave that we were moving to Tennessee, ASAP (his response was a firm “no” in case you’re wondering). So what sparked my Nashville obsession? Basically the city has everything I ever wanted and everything I never even knew I needed.
Horseback Riding at Centro Ecuestre Bellavista in Ecuador
One of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling abroad is horseback riding. First because it’s a great way to see the countryside, and second of all because it’s usually significantly more affordable than in the US. But there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration before booking that excursion. Are the horses well cared for? Are the facilities safe and do they provide helmets? How many other people are going to be riding with you? I personally don’t care much for “trail rides” where you walk at an excruciatingly slow pace for an hour, nose-to-tail in a line of 20 horses with a herd mentality. So when I discovered Centro Ecuestre Bellavista just outside of Cuenca, Ecuador and all of its glowing five star reviews, I got excited.
Weekend Getaway: Captivated by Cuenca, Ecuador
A long weekend is a travel-addicted young professional’s best friend. So while most of my fellow New Yorkers spent this past Memorial Day soaking up the sun in the Hamptons or celebrating the unofficial start to summer on the Jersey Shore, I set off on a slightly more adventurous whirlwind trip to Cuenca, Ecuador.
Why would I fly almost 7 hours and then travel 3 hours by car to stay in a destination for just three days? Because it’s on my travel to-do list, and I’m never going to get to all of them if I don’t just GO.
