Cuenca Guide

Cuenca's caste system

Many visitors may not notice it at first, but Cuencans are divided into castes based on their ancestry (blood and family names). At the top are the white-skinned people with exclusively European ancestry. With around 8,000 individuals, they form a relatively small group in Cuenca. Although they are a minority, they are the most powerful group in the city. Directly below this group are the mestizos, who have a mix of European and indigenous blood. The mestizos represent the largest group in Cuenca. Below the mestizos is the caste of indigenous people, which is also a sizable group. They are typically referred to as "indios" by individuals from higher castes. The lowest caste consists of the Afro-Ecuadorians (afroecuatorianos in Spanish), Ecuadorians of African descent.

This subtle but significant division remains a part of Cuenca’s social structure, even as the city continues to modernize and become more diverse. In recent years, there has been a gradual shift toward greater social integration, but the effects of the caste system can still be felt in some aspects of daily life.