Cuenca makes another top ten list for places to visit in South America; TripAdvisor says the city is no longer an ‘undiscovered gem’

The travel website and review service, TripAdvisor, has included Cuenca in its top ten list of South American destinations to visit.

The list is based on locations with high quality hotels and restaurants, as well as notable attractions.

TripAdvisor says that Cuenca has shown strong tourism growth in recent years and, after the Galapagos and Quito, is the third favorite destination in Ecuador. “Cuenca can no longer be called an undiscovered gem,” TripAvisor says. “It has definitely been discovered and its quaint cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, tradition of artisanal crafts, and cafes and art galleries will continue to lure growing numbers of tourists.”

It continues: “The city has attracted thousands of foreign residents who give the city the feel of a truly international feel. Cuenca is an emerging destination with the potential for substantial tourist growth.”

Lorena Escudero, regional director for Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism, says the new recognition is “certification that Cuenca has arrived as an acknowledged tourist center. This speaks highly of our city and is one reason we are witnessing such dramatic growth in tourism.” The municipal tourism office says the city has seen as much as 20% annual growth in the number of international tourists in recent years.”

Also included on TripAdvisor’s top ten list are Manaus, Brazil, Santiago, Chile, Cali, Colombia, Iquitos, Peru, La Paz, Bolivia, Campos do Jordao, Brazil, Cordoba and Bariloche, Argentina, and Arequipa, Peru.