5 Museums To Visit In Cuenca
Quick answer: The five museums to visit in Cuenca are the Pumapungo Museum and Ruins, the Straw Hat Museum, Prohibido Centro Cultural, the Manuel Agustin Landivar Museum and Ruins, and the Museum of Indigenous Cultures. Three of them are free to enter, so you can explore Cuenca’s museum marvels without flashing the cash.
Overwhelmed by the number of museums in Cuenca? These five depict the history and traditions of Cuenca and Ecuador, from Cañari and Inca cultures to Panama hats and alternative art.
Museums in Cuenca at a Glance
| Museum | Highlights | Entrance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pumapungo Museum and Ruins | Cañari, Inca and colonial history; Inca ruins | Free |
| Straw Hat Museum | Panama hat making; hat store | Free |
| Prohibido Centro Cultural | Extreme and alternative art | USD 1 |
| Manuel Agustin Landivar Museum and Ruins | Cañari, Inca and Spanish pieces; stone mills | Free |
| Museum of Indigenous Cultures | Ecuadorian archaeology; library | USD 4 |
1. Pumapungo Museum and Ruins
Pumapungo is the most recommended museum in Cuenca: if you can visit only one, make it this one. Museo de Pumapungo traces the historical development of the Azuay region and Ecuador through the Cañari, Inca and colonial cultures.
The museum also has five temporary exhibition rooms and one room for emerging local and international artists. The Inca ruins are right next to the museum.
- Open: Tuesday to Friday 08:00–17:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00–16:00; closed Mondays
- Entrance fee: FREE
2. Straw Hat Museum
Panama hats are traditional brimmed hats of Ecuadorian origin. The Straw Hat Museum has several rooms explaining how the hats are made.
There is also a big store where you can buy customised hats, with prices from USD 25.
- Open: Tuesday to Friday 08:30–18:30; Saturday 09:30–17:00; Sunday 09:30–13:30; closed Mondays
- Entrance fee: FREE
3. Prohibido Centro Cultural
Prohibido Centro Cultural is off the beaten track: an extreme art museum dedicated to supporting and spreading alternative culture in all its forms, including music, theatre, painting, sculpture and video art.
Be prepared for giant hands on the sides of the toilets and paintings of bleeding humans around the doorways.
- Open: Monday to Saturday 09:00–21:00; Sunday 09:00–14:00
- Entrance fee: USD 1
4. Manuel Agustin Landivar Museum and Ruins
This museum exhibits pieces from the Cañari, Inca and Spanish periods. Archaeological ruins from all three eras lie right next to it, and the stone mills built during Spanish rule are a particularly interesting exhibit.
- Open: Tuesday to Friday 10:00–18:30; Saturday 10:00–14:00
- Entrance fee: FREE
5. Museum of Indigenous Cultures
This museum specialises in Ecuadorian archaeology and offers cultural events and library services. It has been described as an encounter with fifteen fundamental monuments of the country’s archaeology.
It also keeps a document collection preserving data, images and unique documents related to the history of Cuenca and Ecuador.
- Open: Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00; Saturday 09:00–14:00; closed Sundays
- Entrance fee: USD 4
Frequently Asked Questions
Which museum in Cuenca should I visit if I only have time for one?
The Pumapungo Museum and Ruins. It covers Cañari, Inca and colonial history and has Inca ruins right next door.
Are museums in Cuenca free?
Many are. Pumapungo, the Straw Hat Museum and the Manuel Agustin Landivar Museum are free, while Prohibido Centro Cultural costs USD 1 and the Museum of Indigenous Cultures USD 4.
Are Cuenca museums open on Mondays?
Pumapungo and the Straw Hat Museum are closed on Mondays, but Prohibido Centro Cultural and the Museum of Indigenous Cultures are open.
Conclusion
From Inca ruins to Panama hats and extreme art, these five museums to visit in Cuenca offer a rich, affordable introduction to the city and Ecuador. Check opening days before you go, as several close on Mondays or Sundays.
