The city is the core of the Cuenca metropolitan area, which is also made up of nearby rural towns and parishes.

During the 20th century, the city continued to grow, promoting education and culture, and in 1999 its historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city's main activities are commerce and industry; in recent years, Cuenca has also established itself as an international tourist attraction.

[11] In addition, the name "de los Ríos" includes the fact that it is crossed by the rivers: Tomebamba, Tarqui, Yanuncay and Machángara.

Now the capital city is called Cuenca and the province Azuay.”[13] According to studies and archeological discoveries, the origins of the first inhabitants go back to the year 8060 BC in the Cave of Chopsi.

Later, the early indigenous people used the stable climate, fertile soil, and abundant water to develop agriculture.

Beginning around 2000 BCE, the people developed a more highly organized society, demonstrating delegated responsibilities, such as the managing of water and control of plagues.

Less than half a century before the conquistadors landed, the Incas, after a bitter struggle, conquered the Cañari and occupied Guapondeleg and the surrounding area.

After the defeat of the Cañari, likely in the 1470s, the Inca emperor, Tupac Yupanqui, ordered the construction of a grand city to be called Pumapungo, "the door of the Puma."

Indians told stories to the Spanish chroniclers of golden temples and other such wonders, but by the time the Spaniards found the legendary city, all that remained were ruins.

Tomebamba is considered a candidate for the mythical city of gold which the Spanish called El Dorado.

Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, then Viceroy of Peru had commissioned the founding and ordered the city named after his home town of Cuenca, Spain.

While farming has shrunk in the past years, it is still an important sector of the city's economy, mainly vegetables and corn.

Since Cuenca is located in the Andes mountains surrounded by forested areas nearby, mining and logging are also local industries.

Tourism continues to grow: Cuenca has many churches and a well-preserved old town that are a part of the cultural heritage of the city.

[18] Cuenca, capital of the province of Azuay, is located in the sierra of the Andes in the Austro or southern region of Ecuador.

The rainy season, which is characterized by bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers, falls between January and May.

universities This was stated by the Council for Evaluation, Validation and Assurance of the Quality in Superior Education of Ecuador (CEAACES)[23] International schools: Most tourists visit the historic area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between the river Tomebamba and the streets of Gran Colombia to the north, General Torres to the west, and Hermano Miguel to the east.

This area's compactness, grid-like layout, and numerous readily identifiable monuments make it easy to navigate.

Now it is celebrated by wetting friends and random people with water balloons and spraying "Carioca," a nonstaining foam.

The festivities span a number of days and consist of various parades, concerts, cultural events, and artisan fairs.

Cuenca's interprovincial bus station, called the Terminal Terrestre as it is in most cities, is well organized and clean.

It is located on Avenida España in the northeastern corner of the city, a twenty-minute walk or a brief taxi ride from the historic center.

Those who choose to travel overnight should exercise caution due to reported bus hijacks, which have resulted in armed robbery.

[28] According to the Moovit Public Transport Index, Cuenca's bus system compares extremely favorably with other cities in Latin America.