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Why Cuenca is a Great City for Sustainable Living
Cuenca’s mild mountain climate, compact historic center, and strong tradition of markets and small-scale commerce make it unusually friendly for green living. As an expat, you’ll find it easy to reduce your environmental footprint here through everyday choices: walking or taking the tranvía, buying produce from neighborhood mercados, and tapping into local networks that already prioritize reuse and repair.
Simple Habits to Start Today
Begin with small, practical changes that quickly add up. These habits are low-cost and work in most Cuenca neighborhoods:
- Carry a reusable bag and a small produce bag for buying fruits and vegetables at mercados—many vendors will appreciate the effort.
- Bring a refillable water bottle. While many expats prefer purified jugs, Cuenca’s treated municipal water is generally safe—ask neighbors or your landlord if a filter is needed.
- Use a reusable coffee cup and straw. Cafés in the centro and barrios are increasingly used to customers bringing their own mugs.
- Switch to LED bulbs and unplug chargers when not in use—Cuenca’s cooler climate makes this especially effective because you won’t be running heavy air conditioning.
Shop Local: Markets, Barrio Tiendas and Secondhand Finds
One of Cuenca’s biggest sustainability advantages is its abundance of local markets and mom-and-pop tiendas. Shopping in these places reduces packaging and supports local farmers and artisans.
Where to buy produce
Head to the neighborhood mercados—Mercado 10 de Agosto and smaller community markets in barrios like El Vergel or San Sebastián are great options. You’ll find seasonal produce with less plastic and lower food miles than supermarket imports. If you’re in the Parque Calderón area, the stalls around the center are convenient for quick buys.
Secondhand and repair culture
Cuenca has lively secondhand markets and a culture of repairing items rather than tossing them. Watch for thrift stores and
Adam Elliot Altholtz serves as the Administrator & Patient Coordinator of the “Smilehealth Ecuador Dental Clinic“, along with his fellow Expats’ beloved ‘Dr. No Pain‘, right here in Cuenca, Ecuador, and for purposes of discussing all your Dental needs and questions, is available virtually 24/7 on all 365 days of the year, including holidays. Adam proudly responds to ALL Expat patients from at least 7:00am to 9:00pm Ecuador time, again every single day of the year (and once more even on holidays), when you write to him by email at info@smilehealthecuador.com and also by inquiry submitted on the Dental Clinic’s fully detailed website of www.smilehealthecuador.com for you to visit any time, by day or night. Plus, you can reach Adam directly by WhatsApp at +593 98 392 9606 -or by his US phone number of 1‐(941)‐227‐0114, and the Dental Clinic’s Ecuador phone number for local Expats residing in Cuenca is 07‐410‐8745. ALWAYS, you will receive your full Dental Service in English (NEVER in Spanish), per you as an Expat either living in or desiring to visit Cuenca by your Dental Vacation, plus also to enjoy all of Ecuador’s wonders that are just waiting for you to come arouse and delight your senses.