Cuenca Guide

Cuenca is a relatively safe city compared to other cities in Ecuador.

Theft, Robberies, and Assaults

Expats and tourists face a risk of becoming victims of opportunistic petty theft, pickpocketing, robberies, and assaults. Especially at night, the city can feel unsafe because many Cuencanos stay indoors after dark.

To avoid becoming a victim, you should avoid the following places:

• Quiet stretches along the rivers during daylight, especially the stretch between the Pumapungo Museum and the Tomebamba River.
• All stretches along the rivers after dark and early in the morning.
• The Chola Cuencana district at night.
• The area around the Mercado 9 de Octubre at night.
• The area around the Cuenca Bus Terminal at night (the bus terminal itself is safe).

Homicides

In 2023, a total of 20 people were murdered in the canton of Cuenca. This means that the canton of Cuenca had a murder rate of 3.36 (3.36 murders per 100,000 inhabitants). To put this into perspective, the homicide rate for Ecuador was 46.5, and for the USA, it was about 6 in 2023. Many European countries have homicide rates between 0 and 2. Most homicides in Cuenca occur between members of criminal gangs.

More Recommendations

The recommendations in our Ecuador Crime and Safety Guide are fully applicable to Cuenca.