Apartment in Cuenca, Azuay

Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.

Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.

Photo gallery for Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.

The loft studio 'Guanaco' is located on the second floor balcony, upper right.
Living space with inset lighting, flat-screen TV and sofa couch
Bathrooms are elegant and new.
The bedroom loft, bathed in light.
Adobe, recessed lighting, and elegant design throughout.

Overview of Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.

9.0 out of 10 Wonderful
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 338 sq m

Popular amenities

  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Check out the area

Cuenca, Azuay
  • Popular LocationRío Tomebamba & Calle Larga2 min walk
  • Popular LocationCalderon Park7 min walk
  • Popular LocationAlejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium12 min walk
  • AirportCuenca (CUE-Mariscal Lamar)13 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.

We have reconstructed a traditional rural adobe home in downtown Cuenca. Four large studio apartments surround a garden and interior cobblestone courtyard. This listing describes our loft studio, ‘Guanaco’, located on the second floor corridor, to the right in the lead photo. Its twin, called 'Llama', is next door, at the top of the stairs and to the left. Pumamaqui Accommodations offers serenity and security, with the city just outside your door.
Three features make Pumamaqui Accommodations extraordinary: A beautifully reconstituted adobe building with all new amenities; a quiet central courtyard that feels like an oasis in the bustle of the city; and proximity to all that the two Cuencas--historic and modern--have to offer.
Rentals include broadband WiFi, cable TV, iron and ironing board, washer and dryer, garden with hummingbirds, private courtyard, with all utilities included.
The owners are Stuart White, an ex-academic from the United States and alpaca rancher in Ecuador for 33 years, and his wife Patricia Espadero, a veterinarian and a Cuencana. We are eager for guests to have a memorable experience, and we will be available to help with suggestions about outings, local restaurants and cultural events.
From Pumamaqui Accommodations' location on Honorato Vazquez street, visitors can walk for miles along Cuenca's linear parks, which follow the course of its four rivers. Close-by large city parks, including Parque de la Madre and Parque el Paraiso, are actively used by local residents and visitors for exercise, relaxation and picnics. The main city plaza, Parque Calderón, is 5 blocks away. Leaving from the Parque Calderón are double-decker buses that tour the downtown and stop at Turi Hill, giving a bird's-eye view of the city.

Other attractions of our neighborhood include a great many quality restuarants, among them Moliendo Café (Colombian), HR-Hermanos de la Ruta (Spanish tapas), Bella Cuba, El Mediterráneo and La Viña (Italian), and Los Tiestos and El Monasterio (Ecuadorian and international). Museums include the Banco Central's cultural museum with Inca ruins, a botanical garden and zoo; the Museum of Aboriginal Culture, founded by the historian Juan Cordero Iñiguez; the Sagrario Religious Museum (once Cuenca's original cathedral) on Parque Calderón, dating from 1567; the Museum of Modern Art on San Sebastian park; and a great many private art galleries. Coffee shops, bread stores, bars, bookstores, hat stores and shopping are all available close-by.

Property manager

Stuart White

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Cuenca

Located in Cuenca, this apartment is in the city centre. San Francisco Plaza Market and Civic Plaza are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore El Cajas National Park and Calderon Park. University of Cuenca's Orchid Garden and Cuenca Botanical Garden are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and mountain climbing.

What's nearby

  • Río Tomebamba & Calle Larga - 2 min walk
  • Calderon Park - 7 min walk
  • New Cathedral of Cuenca - 9 min walk
  • Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium - 12 min walk
  • Mall del Rio - 6 min drive

Getting around

  • Luis Cordero (Hermano Miguel) Station - 8 min walk
  • Gaspar Sangurima Tram Station - 12 min walk
  • Cuenca (CUE-Mariscal Lamar) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • Goza - 1 min walk
  • Tiestos - 3 min walk
  • La cigale - 2 min walk
  • Pizza y Focaccia - 4 min walk
  • El Mercado Cuenca - 4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Guanaco! A loft studio to write home about. located?

Located in Downtown Cuenca, this apartment building is steps away from Las Conceptas Museum, Río Tomebamba & Calle Larga and Museum of the Aboriginal Cultures. Museum of the Canari Identity and Inter-American Center of Popular Arts are also within 5 minutes. Luis Cordero (Hermano Miguel) Station is 8 minutes by foot and Gaspar Sangurima Tram Station is 12 minutes.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

10/10

Location

7.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nancy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks here
The apartments and the courtyard were just lovely and in very good shape. The owners were super friendly, responsive, and helpful. Great location. Would definitely go back.
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

brett k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Accommodation
Wonderful property and host. Charming loft apartment in a location close to the center but on a quiet street. Stuart and his wife were charming, helpful and welcoming. I would stay here anytime and highly recommend this property.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

4/10 Poor

Stephanie P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Clean, great location but somethings need improvement.
Stu and Patricia are very charming. The place is super clean and the location is perfect. Things for improvement: - Under amenities it states “parking”. Typically this means that parking is provided by the host. However this was not the case. We felt this to be misleading and disingenuous. Parking is available on the street for an hour at a time for a small costs. Alternatively, there is a garage across the street that costs $1.25 per hour, and after 7:30pm you can park the entire night until 9am for $5.00. Both options were extremely inconvenient for us. The former because if we were out exploring the city we needed to come back every couple of hours to pay for street parking. The latter because if we wanted to get an early start for a day trip outside the city, we needed to wait until the garage opens at 9am. - After a few minutes, there is no hot water in the shower. Also the shower drains extremely slow, which can cause the bathroom to flood. - The internet is painfully slow. - If it rains hard, the patio floods. In short, if you don’t have a car, don’t take long showers, and don’t rely on a fast internet, the place is perfect for you.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sue E.

A friendly, comfortable space in a central location in Cuenca
The apartment has everything you need, and Pumamaqui is a beautifully landscaped and tranquil spot in the middle of the old city of Cuenca. Stuart and Patricia go out of their way to make you feel welcome, and nothing is too much trouble: Stuart was extremely helpful when I arrived on my flight without my suitcase and had to track it down. I would definitely like to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

A wonderful place to stay in Cuenca!
We had a great time in this comfortable apartment. It is conveniently and centrally located, clean and well furnished, and surrounded by a quiet, lovely garden. Best of all, the owner was extremely welcoming and helpful. It will be our go-to accomodation when we return to Cuenca!
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2018

About the host

Hosted by Stuart White

Host profile image
My wife Patricia and I are dedicated to wild habitat conservation, in two ways: Since 2000 we support a dynamic local NGO, Fundacion Cordillera Tropical ( that does environmental research, environmental education, and biodiversity conservation in the Nudo del Azuay region of Ecuador's Cordillera Real; and we own and protect a large conservation area, the Mazar Wildlife Reserve, in Cañar Province, Ecuador. We have three young children who share these enthusiasms. On the reserve's pastures at lower elevation we maintain a herd of 500 alpacas. We recently restored a patrimonial building with four studio apartments in Cuenca's historic district that we hope will generate fond memories for our visitors from all quarters of the world.

Why they chose this property

Cuenca's downtown is vibrant, and part of its energy comes from its architecture of old. We found a house-in-ruin in 2006 and decided to give the building a new lease on life. Once we got started, Pumamaqui took six years to complete--from the initial municipal permits, to a final design based on traditional rural Cuenca homes, and of course the construction itself. We finally finished Pumamaqui in August of 2013. The result since then has given our guests plenty of peace, they say, a sense of place, and fond memories of Cuenca.

What makes this property unique

Many guests have enjoyed staying with us, and one point they very often make is this: "The location is perfect!" Indeed, we are within walking distance of most of the distinguished restaurants, cafés, museums, city parks and river walks, venues for theater and musical presentations, and shopping.
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