How dangerous is Cuenca?

Hi all. I am currently visiting Cuenca for the first time after doing years of research about this place. I will admit up front that my Spanish is limited. I guess I am hoping that you all might be able to help me understand your approach to living here. So, I have met and interacted with very many simply lovely Ecuadorians in the week that I have been visiting. But I also feel like I have a gringo target on my back everywhere I go. Also I see every house with bars on the windows and fenced and walled houses with broken glass on top and barbed wire.

I have been approached every day that I’ve been here by people asking me for money. There are armed security guards with pistols everywhere. So, again, I have met so many truly kind and generous and helpful people here, but I feel like there is this other side of the coin. Do you just kind of get used to it and not register after a while? Do you just have to accept as an expat that there are trade-offs to living in a county that’s not your own? I keep wondering if I should anticipate the other shoe dropping. How do you feel about this? Am I overreacting? Any words of advice? Thank you,

Karl: .

City: Cuenca

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Suzanne Giuriati Cerny

ProbABLY NO MORE dangerous than Berkeley, Ca, which I just escaped, unscathed. 0 0

Eduardo Cervino

I was in a serious situation in Paris "Les Champs -Elysees", and another time in Venice. My wife was pick pocketed in Cuenca years ago. A friend was stabbed in New York City. So make your own conclusion. Have you traveled a lot? I've been in Cuenca for several years... Read more 0 0

Necesitomascafe

To answer your questions (I have been here almost two years and love it) <b>Do you just kind of get used to it and not register after a while?</b> Some do. Complacency is dangerous no matter where you live, however. I don't think it's wrong to acknowledge that one needs... Read more 0 0

María Isabel Alvarado

Hello!, I'm ecuadorian, I was born in Cuenca 43 years ago, I have lived here all my life except for 2 years I lived in Canada where I learned english (by the way I'm sorry for any mistake or miss spelling). I can tell you Cuenca used to be the... Hello!, I'm ecuadorian, I was born in Cuenca 43 years ago, I have lived here all my life except for 2 years I lived in Canada where I learned english (by the way I'm sorry for any mistake or miss spelling). I can tell you Cuenca used to be the most quiet and safe city of Ecuador, over the years Cuenca citizens have seen how our beatiful town became more and more dangerous compared with what we were used to. I don't want you to get scared, Cuenca is still a very good and safe place to live, but I should warn you about some things for you to have the best experience here! Bars and fences on homes are because sometimes you can get robbed, my home was robbed twice during my hole life, and my dad's car was robbed from inside the garage once (not the hole car but many parts of it). So, it is not often but there is always a risk, I gess thieves will rather robe a house with not security than other that is protected, so, everyone protect their homes to be on the safe side. There are some areas like in any other city, you shlould be aware of or avoid, like 9 de Octubre fruit market area. I'm not saying you can't go there, in fact there are a lot of stores where you cand find things you don't find anywhere else and you have this wonderful artisan market called plaza Rotary which is one of my favorite. Just, never wear jewels in places like this, don't carry expensive things, look at people, don't be distracted, keep your cellphone inside your purse. Avoid visiting this place after 6 pm, never walk around there late at night. Same thing around any other popular market like Feria Libre, 3 de Noviembre Market, 10 de Agosto Market or Plaza San Francisco, I would say the safest markets to get fruits or vegetables are 12 de Abril and 27 de Febrero markets. Some other places to be careful are Barrial Blanco, Terminal Terrestre area. Some of you come from very very safe places and come here and do things that may put you at risk, for example, a few years ago a gringo friend came and leave his suitcase over the sidewalk and went for a walk!!! That is something crazy to do here! Fortunately he was on a recidential neighborhood, he found his suitcase after his promenade, but he was lucky! Please don't do things like that, always keep your belongings close to you. If you have a car, it is better to park it into a public parking place, or over a street with a guard on it sometimes your car can be opened and robbed, don't leave anything of value inside your car if you are parking on the street. If you need to use a cab, look for the ones with some company identification or the ones that say "radio taxi" I recomend "Azutaxi" app. It works like an Uber. Don't accept papers or smell anything from an strager on the street, it is not very common but I've heard cases where people got drugged with escopolamina, that makes you loose your will power and get robbed. Beggers are usualy from Venezuela, if you want to help them there are institutions where you can give donations, it is better not to give this people money because they will continue to come and also most of them use little children to arousse compassion and get more money. Most of ecuadorians respect foreigners, but some sellers will take advantage of you and try to charge you more because you don't know prices. Try to figure out the real cost of things before you go shopping, and you can also bargain, that is a common thing to do. There are a lot more positive things in our city than bad, we are surrounded by nature, beatiful mountains, tons of cultural traditions and things. Food is wonderful, you can have a different traditional dish every festivity don't miss "Fanesca" next holly week!. People is often very open to talk to "gringos" many people speak english and be happy to help you. Your are very wellcome! Enjoy Cuenca!! Read more 0 0

Oswald Garrison

Ripped from the headlines..."The largest-scale US mass shooting in more than two years unfolded over the weekend, one of at least nine mass shootings that left eight people dead and more than 60 others hurt as the nation grapples with a rise in gun violence and crime." What more is... Read more 0 0

Cabinet-guy

Somehow, we simply *know* that this too, is laid at the feet of Putin! Failing that, it's Trump's fault! Amen? 0 0

Silverfox

Too much TV has rotted your brain. Why not go and take a walk outside? It's a beautiful day. 0 0

Cabinet-guy

That'll be the voice of experience talking; I haven't owned a TV for 25 years. 0 0

Jon

We know a family that came to Cuenca having heard nothing about it except its "gates, bars, and walls." It sounded scary but they came. Then they heard of Isaiah 62:10: "Go through! Go through the gates!" Nothing on this earth is perfect but for years they have been very... Read more 0 0

Ntcuenca

one of the big reasons for the guards with big guns outside many businesses---this is still largely a cash society---so the shops have guards because they can have a fair amount of cash on hand. We've lived here 9 years, and we just use the same 'personal safety' precautions as... Read more 0 0

Claude Gravel

All normal. Nothing to be concerned about. I have been coming here every winter for the past 9 years. People who need money are usually Venezolanos. You could find the odd Ecuadorian who is also in need. Pistols, fencing on houses and windows is simply the norm here. That is... Read more 0 0

Corrine Satterwhite

Out of curiosity why would you avoid Gran Columbia at Unidad Nacional and Colonel Talbot? We live at Gran Columbia and Unidad Nacional and love it here! Our building faces Tres de Noviembre on one side and Gran Columbia at the other. 0 0

Claude Gravel

Because I have had a bad experience there and then was told that the area I described is one to avoid. 0 0

Andre Daedone

Simply put, not dangerous at all. Anybody who say it is, is crazy. I guess you could get runned over by nutty taxi drivers. lol 0 0

Cabinet-guy

With the security measures mentioned, I often wonder what drives that. After all, a wire-cutter or a hammer can easily overcome those measures. A casual conversation with a guard will reveal that, while they have pistols and shotguns, they may or may not have bullets or shells. It's purely window-dressing.... Read more 0 0

safer than NYC or Chicago! 0 0

Josef

but certainly less exciting... 0 0

Eduardo Cervino

We leaved in NYC for many years, the two best days, the day I arrive to my job in Manhattan, and the day I moved to Denver Co. HaHa!!! 0 0

Lynnbert

Hi Carl, my wife and I just returned from 6 weeks in Ecuador. This began with 4 weeks in Cuenca. Although there are many police in almost every ATM, museums, large stores, patrols, parks, etc. they are very friendly and are ready to help anyone, including gringos, if you ask... Hi Carl, my wife and I just returned from 6 weeks in Ecuador. This began with 4 weeks in Cuenca. Although there are many police in almost every ATM, museums, large stores, patrols, parks, etc. they are very friendly and are ready to help anyone, including gringos, if you ask for assistance. I too found it strange when I first saw so much security fencing, glass on walls, electrical wires, etc. There must have been a troubling past that would have included armed groups such as the "red path" that kidnapped people for ransom, political assassinations, etc. Today, Cuenca is known throughout Ecuador as the friendliest place in the country (and most beautiful). And I can attest to that! I am Canadian and I can barely get by with my Spanish. However, if you make an effort, they will be more than kind and helpful. Only once that I felt that I was treated differently because I was a Gringo. A taxi driver wanted to overcharge me for a ride in which the meter said less than what he wanted from me. Try to use AMU taxis - they are strickly regulated. The most important thing that Ecuadorians want is "respect". When you pass one on the street, they often will say to you "como esta ustede" which means "how are you?" Respond "muy bien gracias" and look at them in the eye (a sign of respect) and nod. You can also say como esta ustede to them too. Another thing that I noticed, is when you are walking on the sidewalks, they will not move away from their place towards you until the very last second. We always moved in a single file to avoid them, but eventually realized that this is only a cultural thing - not a sign of disrespect. I loved practicing my Spanish with the locals who helped me to find the words and helped me to pronounce the words correctly. I've travelled to over 70 countries and I've never felt so safe in my life. Also, do not give to beggars. Many Ecuadorians have told me that these people can be helped by contacting the "social assistance programs" available to everyone. But they choose to beg because they can make more money... Loved Cuenca!!!! Going back next year for another month, followed by 2 weeks in the Galapagos. ps. nearly all the musems, churches, cultural centers, sites are free Read more 0 0

Dadebbil

Yes, like anywhere else in the world the police are armed. You're probably not used to seeing foot patrols like we used to have in the US a few decades ago. It's common practice here and is no different than seeing a patrol car drive past in your native country.... Read more 0 0

Bobette

I have lived in Cuenca for almost 9 years and have NEVER had a problem, day or night. Cuenca is much safer than was my lovely neighborhood in Seattle, WA, 19 years ago! I walk around here at night, take the last Tranvia, ride buses everywhere. Yes, there are many... Read more 0 0

David Naccari

I think how dangerous compared to what is the proper question. I have lived here 8 years and can tell you that Cuenca is a LOT safer than my hometown of New Orleans which has about the same population as Cuenca but experiences numerous shootings, armed robberies, and carjackings on... Read more 0 0

Patricia Daugherty

I see the walls, barbed wire, guards at banks as sensible deterrents, preventative measures. I feel safer here than I felt in any city where I lived in the U.S. 0 0

Dave Sailer

I feel your self-consciousness about Spanish. I suddenly lost most of my hearing a few months before I first came here and can identify Spanish being spoken but can't hear the words. I manage to get by without causing too-frequent international incidents at Coral and Supermaxi (i.e., structured interactions), but... I feel your self-consciousness about Spanish. I suddenly lost most of my hearing a few months before I first came here and can identify Spanish being spoken but can't hear the words. I manage to get by without causing too-frequent international incidents at Coral and Supermaxi (i.e., structured interactions), but mostly that's about it. It's possible. You're way ahead of me. Run with it. Though I really like night walking, I want to avoid trouble and have no interest in bars or restaurants, so I never go out after dark and wouldn't unless I was with at least two other guys. Someone in the apartment above me got savaged by a dog within a block of here (el centro) one night and had to go to the hospital, so it's not all sketchy humans to watch for. I walk about five miles a day, generally move fast, never dawdle in parks or tourist spots, give a wide berth to trails in wooded areas, and haven't had any problems except for once when a young, clean, well-dressed couple prank-assaulted me along the Tomebamba (around 4:30 p.m.). No real harm done so far. I always carry six or eight dollar coins and share them, avoiding anyone aggressive, feeling lucky to help the elderly or cripples or young parents who sit quietly with a hand out. Some of my most shameful memories are about times when I've followed the "Just say, 'No,' and continue your walk" method. I see my purpose here as living quietly and emitting money. I have enough. Better to share it while I can. The uniformed shotgun-holding guys standing in bank doorways are receptionists. I enjoy their reassuring presence. Cuenca has changed a lot in 10 years, but it's still sort of a city in an early stage of development. Houses are behind walls, there is barbed wire, people have aggressive guard dogs, and so on. As I understand, the laws say that you have to look out for yourself first, and get the authorities involved only if you have a really, really good reason to. Crimes of opportunity against property still seem to be the biggest things. I'd say stay alert, dress down, walk with purpose, stick to busier streets in daylight, and learn your way into the culture as much as you can. Also...I found solid trekking poles at Coral for something line $8.64 apiece. Dogs don't recognize a canister of pepper spray carried in a pocket but each and every one of them knows what a stick can do. I carry one when I'm going where I might have trouble. Makes me feel a WHOLE lot better. Might help against the occasional uppity human too, if it really comes to that. Read more 0 0

Retro_gringo

I feel safer in Cuenca than in any US city. 0 0

Jerry Straka

ditto the 3 comments posted it's a city. like any other city. it does have crime. BUT, it is less - maybe equal to most U.S. cities. There are YouTubers spreading generalizations and untruths based on a single incident. I never judge a place based on a single observation, just... Read more 0 0

Sentient Being

It's important to make your home comfortable to your standards, no matter what country you chose to live in, while accepting how your Ecuadorian neighbors choose to live is also their choice (e.g, dogs never allowed in the house or roam free during the day). I choose to live on... Read more 0 0

Marshall

We find nothing here that is unsafe, other than the usual big city, walking everywhere so you are not whizzing by in a car, etc. Most of what you notice from your post are cultural differences that stand the test of time, like the broken glass on the walls, which... Read more 0 0

Gypsie B. Restin

Ecuador is far safer than many countries out there--to include the US. Panhandlers are everywhere. Just say, "No," and continue your walk. As for a target on your back, it's not real. Yes, you will have some vendors at the market see you and probably think that you can pay... Read more 0 0

Philip Hall

It is a city. The third largest in Ecuador. But it is uncommon to hear about people being robbed on the street. I would not walk around flashing money, cameras, cell phones, jewelry or things of value anywhere in Ecuador. Cars are stolen, house are burgurlized. Tourists are pick pocket.... Read more 0 0

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