Is Cuenca Safe in March 2026?

Cuenca taxis are metered, but drivers frequently refuse to start the taximeter for obvious foreigners, then demand roughly double the real fare at the end. A documented example: a ride that should cost about $1.75 turned into a $3.50 demand. Drivers also hide the meter behind a visor or paperwork, claim a $2 minimum, or tack on an unofficial 'after dark' surcharge.

How to avoid: Insist 'la tarifa con taximetro, por favor' before the car moves, or use the inDrive app where the price is fixed in advance. If the driver won't run the meter, get a different cab. Carry small change so 'I can't break your bill' can't be used to inflate the fare.

A team works together: one person points out a 'stain' or squirts mustard, ketchup, or another liquid on your clothes and helps you wipe it off, while an accomplice lifts your wallet, phone, or bag. Cuenca police call this the paquetazo and note it is often initiated by a woman. It is one of the most frequent street setups in the historic center and markets.

How to avoid: If a stranger suddenly points at your clothing or 'helps' clean a mess, step back, secure your bag and pockets, and decline help. Keep your phone in a front pocket and use a zipped cross-body bag worn in front in crowds.

Cuenca is the commercial heart of the toquilla-straw 'Panama hat' trade, and shops and stalls sell coarse Grade-3 tourist hats, or imports from elsewhere, while implying they are fine handwoven Montecristi-grade pieces. Because weave fineness causes huge legitimate price swings, tourists are talked into paying premium prices for low-grade hats.

How to avoid: Learn the basics: finer, denser weaves cost more; check the rosette at the crown and the tightness of the weave; a true superfino is extremely fine. Buy from a reputable workshop/museum shop such as the Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla, compare several sellers, and don't accept 'genuine Montecristi' claims at face value.

Ecuador uses the US dollar, and visitors are handed counterfeit notes or short-changed in fast cash transactions, especially when breaking a $20 at a market stall, taxi, or unofficial money changer. Tourists unfamiliar with the local mix of US bills and coins are easy to confuse during the handover.

How to avoid: Pay with small bills to avoid needing change, count your change before walking away, and feel/check $10 and $20 notes. Avoid changing money with street vendors; use banks or established casas de cambio. Break large bills at supermarkets rather than market stalls.

A well-dressed stranger, often another foreigner who speaks your language, approaches with a rehearsed story about being robbed, injured, or needing emergency money for a sick relative, and asks for cash or to be walked to an ATM. Cuenca police stress the stories are convincing but are lies, and the ask escalates from pocket money to an ATM withdrawal.

How to avoid: Treat unsolicited money requests from strangers as scams, however polished or relatable. Never go to an ATM with someone you just met. Offer to direct them to the police or their consulate instead of handing over cash.