landmark
Cuenca
A UNESCO colonial city in the Ecuadorian highlands known for its domed cathedral, Panama hat workshops, and flower-filled plazas along the Tomebamba River.
25 km · about 30 min drive
South AmericaEcuadorAzuay
Gualaceo
Azuay, Ecuador · South America
About Gualaceo
Gualaceo is worth a stop: 10 minutes from La Unión, 50km from Cajas National Park.
Gualaceo is in Azuay, Ecuador, with about 17,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is La Unión, about 5 km away.
Gualaceo, nicknamed “El Jardin del Azuay” (The Garden of Azuay), is a city in the Azuay Province of Ecuador and the capital of the eponymous Gualaceo Canton. It is located 35 km east from the city of Cuenca and is one of the biggest cities in Azuay.
Gualaceo is located in the Sierra Region of Ecuador, nestled in theRead more
Santa Bárbara valley in the Hoya de Paute, at an altitude of 2,330 meters above sea level. and an Andean valley climate of 17 degrees average. It is crossed by four rivers that are part of the Santiago hydrographic demarcation: San Francisco, Santa Bárbara, Guaymincay and San José. It is nicknamed "Jardín del Azuay" for its natural landscapes and the diversity of flora.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Gualaceo?
Within an hour or so of Gualaceo: Cuenca (25 km), Ingapirca (40 km), Cajas National Park (50 km).
Where is Gualaceo?
Gualaceo is in Azuay, Ecuador, about 5 km from La Unión.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 17,122
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- Azuay
- Timezone
- America/Guayaquil
- Coordinates
- -2.8942, -78.7791
Tags
Worth the detour from Gualaceo
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Ingapirca
Ecuador's most important Inca archaeological site featuring the Temple of the Sun, a perfectly fitted stone structure built without mortar.
40 km · about 45 min drive
national park
Cajas National Park
A hauntingly beautiful highland park near Cuenca with over 200 glacial lakes, páramo grasslands, and quinoa trees at 4,000 meters.
50 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Gualaceo
- 73 kmMirador Nariz del DiabloA viewpoint at Pistishi over the Devil's Nose, the near-vertical rock face the Guayaquil-Quito railway descends by a zig-zag of switchbacks cut into the cliff in 1902.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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