Cuenca, Ecuador Hotel and services I recommend!

Cuenca services I have used and recommend!

I am always looking for the best deal when I need something - plus I always want to make sure I am doing business with trustworthy people.
I do not take any commissions for promoting the following services. Its just more options for anyone who might be looking for specific services here in Cuenca!

San Juan Hotel is just a year old and is located in the best part of downtown Cuenca. It is within walking distance of everything in El Centro.

The Hotel is just 7 minutes from the Airport and once was a 1900 Colonial home in the Historic District of Cuenca.

San Juan Hotel Restaurant offers great cuisine at reasonable prices.

Check out their website: www.sanjuanhotel.ec and then for a room discount contact Bryan Vidal - head of marketing at: ventas@sanjuanhotel.ec

For a quality - affordable - secure place to stay in Cuenca check out the San Juan Hotel!

Restaurant La Riera

Restaurant La Riera is located on Calle Larga 4-24 y Vargas Machuca

It is directly above the broken bridge and has a spectacular mountain and sunset view.

The Restaurant offers two floors of dining and a private dining room.

The bar is very long with lots of room for socializing - Happy Hour is from 11 am to 8 pm offering 2X1 $3 drink specials:

$3.00 The cocktail list are: 

MOJITO.
CUBA LIBRE.
SEX ON THE BEACH.
GIN TONIC
APPLE MARTINI
DRY MARTINI
STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI

Also lunch special:

Soup of the day

Main course choose between:

-Chicken.-Beef tenderloin
-Veal
-Croaker
-Spaguetti bolognese.
-Spring Spaguetti.

-And Soda.

Price $6.00 included taxes.

Lunch or dinner specials for groups will be:

STONE VEAL $ 8.50
VEGETABLE TEPAN $4.50

VEGETABLE TEPAN WITH CHICKEN OR MEAT $6.50

FETUCCHINI ALFREDO $5.50

CHURRASCO $ 7.00
POTATO LOCRO$ 4.00

Great seafood, pastas and meat dishes for around $10

Their Chef was trained in Argentina!

The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays - serving lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and dinner from 6 pm to 11 pm

Paola, second on the left is the Restaurant manager and former owner of ZOE. She speaks English, so be sure to say Hi! to her and tell her you heard about her new restaurant on AAA Living in Cuenca.

For a great meal with a spectacular city view in a fine restaurant give La Riera a try! 

Pharmacy Cruz Azul

Av. Ordoñez Lasso y Cerezos  -  phone #: 074089624

There is a friendly staff of five - Open 7 days a week from 8 am to 10 pm

On the 16th of every month the Pharmacy offers a 20% off sale on all medications and shelf  items. 

Roberto Benavidez is the Pharmacy Manager and he speaks English and is always available to assist you with your medication needs. His e-mail: rebenavidezj@gmail.com  or he can be reached at the above number or cell phone: 0995632090

 

Furniture:

Juan Carlos Vidal who is Jorge's brother is a carpenter and he makes fine furniture! He will come to your house and you can explain what you want made and he will make it! Or he has a shop full of furniture all ready made for your selection. And his prices are very reasonable.

Juan does not speak English but you can e-mail him in English and he will have someone get back to you: juancarlosvidal@latinmail.com

His cell number is: 094914834 or if you don't speak Spanish you can call his brother Jorge at: 099607788

FOX Gym:

I go to FOX gym just down the street from where I live. This gym has great equipment - free weights - treadmills and bicycles!

The address is: Av. Ordonez Lazo 6-192 y Los Olivos  - Telephone: 074073319

Albert  is usually at FOX everyday and is glad to assist with use of equipment.

There is a new trainer at FOX! His name is Daniel Espinoza, he speaks English and has lived in California. He is the one on the left, Albert on the right is the gym manager.




Daniel charges $5 an hour, his phone number is:  0995767066




Daniel is a certified licensed instructor, he has been working with a friend of mine who has a back injury and it is amazing how much he has improved.


There are other gym's in Cuenca that charge $15 to $26 a month but for a guy my age I prefer the selection of equipment at FOX, it is worth a little extra to me!

You can pay $36 a month for unlimited use or $3 a visit.

I choose the $3 a visit because I usually visit FOX only twice a week, sometimes 3 times. Fox is open 6 days a week - closed on Sundays.

Video Club Las Americas:

 Located on Av Las Americas 105 entre las Pencas y subida al Tejar
Its just up the street on the left past Super Maxi.

Juan Pablo is the owner is the store and speaks English. The store is open from 4 pm until 10 pm.

phone: 4073972


You will find Old Classic movies - Video Games - And the latest new movies on DVD! In Ecuador we can get Movies that are still playing in theaters in the US!

Special: 4 DVD for $5!

Computer repair:

Anyone in need of computer repair I just used:


Xavier, Palm Computer Cebter
Honorato Vasquez 1-137

 Phone: (07)284-5771 or 0992-834-406

Xavier speaks English and he does great work! He replaced my hard drive and saved all my data and photos, plus a book I was working on.
His prices are very reasonable!

 

   

And here is another plug for a friend of mine Orlando Siguenza.

Orlando lived in the United States for 16 years and recently moved back to Cuenca with his wife and daughter.

Orlando offers his driving and translating services for $10 an hour. His four door Toyota is very comfortable and Orlando already has many Expat clients here in Cuenca.

If anyone is interested in his services even if you are just coming here on vacation you can reach Orlando at: orlando_siguenza@yahoo.com or his cell phone number is: 085854587.


Two more drivers highly recommended at Walter Parra: cell: 0986592978 and Jhony Para: cell: 0992925912 - They are brothers that both lived in the USA and speak great English. They both have very comfortable Toyota cars and are available for short trips or by the hour. If you need driver translators give one of them a call!

Super Maxi:

Super Maxi is a chain of Grocery Stores in Ecuador offering their own brand name products - imported products from all over the world - plus you will find pretty much everything you need here.

Super Maxi is even more modern that most Stores I have shopped in the US! I do find many products here for less money than at Coral, which by the way is another great place to shop.

ATM machines offer Spanish and English menus

Until next time keep enjoying life!