Cuenca's Flower Market: Where the Andes Bloom
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Cuenca's Flower Market: Where the Andes Bloom

The Plaza de las Flores in Cuenca — where indigenous Cañari women in traditional dress sell an overwhelming abundance of Andean flowers — is one of South America's most beautiful markets; Ecuador is the world's third-largest flower exporter

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    Ecuador's Flower Export Industry

    Ecuador is one of the world's largest flower exporters — the Andean altitude, equatorial light and cool temperatures create ideal conditions for growing premium roses, carnations and lilies; the flower farms concentrated around Quito supply roses to Europe and the USA

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    Domestic Women's Florist

    The indigenous Cañari women who run Cuenca's flower market wear their traditional attire - the embroidered blouse, pollera skirt and distinctive felt hood; their presence gives the market both cultural depth and a visual beauty that is essentially Andean

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    Andean flower variety

    Cuenca's flower market sells flowers typical of the Andean highlands - roses of extraordinary size and color, anthurium, birds of paradise and native Andean wildflowers rarely seen in markets elsewhere; the variety and freshness reflect the proximity to the growing farms

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    Día de los Difuntos

    Ecuador's Day of the Dead (noviembre 2) is the flower market's busiest day — the elaborate floral arrangements brought to cemeteries are a major Ecuadorian tradition; Cuenca's flower market's Day of the Dead offerings include marigolds, gladioli and the traditional corn drink Colada Morada

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    Mercado 10 de Agosto

    The main food market in Cuenca - behind the flower square - sells products from the Andean highlands; the varieties of potato (hundreds in Ecuador), mote (dried corn), quinua and choclo (fresh corn) reflect the biodiversity of Andean agriculture

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    Cuy (guinea pig) culture

    Cuy – roasted guinea pig – is the most distinctive Andean food tradition and is served in Cuenca's restaurants; The animals are raised in highland homes, roasted whole over charcoal and served with potatoes and ají; the tradition extends from Ecuador to Peru and Bolivia

#culture#local life#food