Cuenca, the capital of Azuay Province, is located in the southern area of Ecuador. It is located at 2.538 meters above sea level and has a population of approximately 400.000 inhabitants.

Modern Cuenca was founded in 1557 upon the site of the Inca city of Tomebamba and the Cañari city of Guapondeleg. The city preserves its pre-Columbian as well as its Spanish heritage. This mix of colonial architecture and Inca ruins, along with all the bustle of living in a buzzing city, makes Cuenca a fascinating place to live in.

In recognition of Cuenca´s historic preservation efforts, UNESCO inscribed the city on its World Heritage List in 1999. Due to its tradition of achievement in scholarship and the arts, Cuenca is often called the Athens of Ecuador. Today Cuenca is the site of several universities, many museums, research and cultural organizations.

Like the rest of the Ecuadorian Andes, Cuenca enjoys a mild climate year-round. Days are generally warm and nights are cool enough that sweaters or jackets are needed. The average daily temperature is 14.6 degrees Celsius. There are two seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season, with some variation, falls between June and December. The rainy season, which is characterized by bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers, falls between January and May. The heaviest rains come during the winter season in March, April and May.