Bonjour Cuenca

Casa
Ecuador
Cuenca
Bonjour Cuenca

French expat living in Cuenca.

Welcome to a tour of 🎨 artists' studios 🤫 hidden gems 🌸 gardens & courtyards 🧑🏽‍🎨 murals 🖼️ exhibit & art galleries…

Française expatriée à Cuenca, je vous emmène en balade 🧶 artisanat 🏛️ histoire 🥑 food…

28/05/2026

🌺 [JUANA'S ECHANTED GARDEN] 🧚🏽

Let me take you to a world of wonders and fairies, to Juana’s bucolic garden. There, time stands still—a little paradise where you can lose yourself in daydreams, surrounded by hummingbirds, dragonflies, and other treasures.

Juana will tell you about her passion for flowers and gardening, and you can even buy the ones you like. At unbeatable prices!

She will make us some homemade tea using flowers from her garden, along with some homemade cake.

📆 Saturday, June 6.

⏳ 10 am - 12 pm.
The return time is approximate, so please do not make any plans afterward.

📍Meeting point: Address provided at registration.

$20 /person. Includes:
- Round trip by taxi,
- Homemade drink + snack,
- Entrance fee.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

19/05/2026

🎨 [THE MASTERS TOURS - FAUSTO BRAVO] 👨🏼‍🎨

When Fausto Bravo was 12 years old, he went to the Cajas with his family, none of whom were artists. He picked up some clay and thought “I can create something with this.” He molded a bull which by morning had fallen apart. So he went to the universities to find an art teacher who would show him how to preserve the pieces he made.

For many years, Fausto sculpted clay. He was well known for his figures with oversized hands and feet. In recent years, Fausto has devoted himself to wood carving and painting.

We will begin with a tour of Maestro Bravo's public works in the historic center of Cuenca (15 minutes of walking in total).

We will then pay a visit to Fausto’s studio, where you will meet the artist and see his exceptional body of current works.

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration.

$18 /person. Includes a taxi ride to the artist's studio.

☎️ Please contact me to arrange a date that suits you: [email protected]

15/05/2026

👨🏼‍🎨 [THE MASTERS TOURS - EDUARDO SEGOVIA] 🏺

Eduardo Segovia is probably the best known artist in Cuenca and with good reason. He is and has been a mentor to many of the young artists and is a friend to all the artists on my Masters tours.
He is the Grand-father of the Cuenca art scene whose iconic work rescued a beloved neighborhood.

Let’s start our tour in the historic pottery district, where Segovia murals abound. There, you will meet the Maestro and visit his incredible studio which contains his current body of impressive ceramic works and paintings.

Maestro Segovia will tell you that he finds creativity in his dreams, where he draws inspiration from the beings and creatures he’s come across during undersea and interplanetary travels.

In short, you will meet a truly unique person and a truly great artist.

PS. Small group of up to 10 people for better interaction with the Maestro.

📆 Wednesday, June 3
⏳ 10 - 11:30 am.

📍 Meeting point: Address provided at registration.

$18 /person.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

15/05/2026

☀️ [A TRIP TO CHALLUABAMBA] 🌸

During my first year in Ecuador, I lived in the village of Challuabamba. I loved my life there. Let me take you on a tour of my favorite spots.

Let’s start with a visit to the Museo de la Gastronomia, which, as you will see in my video below, is about more than just food. There, you will discover the treasures this place has to offer, such as a huge house-museum dedicated to Ecuador and its customs, a restaurant, a large antique garage, nature, animals…

At the same location, we will visit Maria in her shop, where she sells kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and apple cider vinegar—all made naturally by her. She also sells all kinds of natural bulk foods.

Just a few steps away, we will visit Rocío and Eduardo’s charming home. They are true antique enthusiasts who spend their time hunting down treasures to resell. You can even ask them to find a specific item for you. They also have many plants for sale.

Next, I will take you to Andrés’s bakery, where he and his family bake sourdough bread as well as other treats.

We will wrap up by exploring a newly created area filled with cafés and restaurants (Peruvian, Argentine, Mexican, Italian, etc.). You can have lunch at the restaurant of your choice and end your meal on a sweet note with the incredible pastries from Panasia. Your meal is not included in the tour price.

📆 Thursday, May 28.

⏳ 10 am - 2 pm. The return time is approximate, so please do not make any plans afterward.

$30 /person. Includes:
- Round trip by minivan (25 minute from Cuenca),
- The entrance fee to the museum.

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration. Same drop-off location.

4 spots available.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

12/05/2026

👨🏼‍🎨 [PAINTING CLASS BY MAESTRO JORGE CHALCO] 🎨

When you moved to Cuenca, did you ever imagine you’d have the chance to take part in a painting workshop led by the renowned Maestro Jorge Chalco?

Bonjour Cuenca has put together this experience just for you!
You will enjoy this exclusive moment in the Maestro’s new gallery. Jorge Chalco will introduce you to his works and discuss the evolution of his process and themes over the course of 50 year career.

Then, we will begin the painting lesson. The Maestro will guide you in creating your own work of art.
You may draw inspiration from Chalco's art. You are also welcome to bring photos you like for inspiration and things you would like to paint (this is not required).

All skill levels are welcome.

📆 Thursday, May 21.
⏳ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm. The end time is approximate.

📍Meeting point: Chalco Arte Contemporáneo, Galería de arte. Calle Hermano Miguel y Calle Larga. https://maps.app.goo.gl/pupfT4hdZm3mTWeC6?g_st=ic

$55 /person. Includes:
- All materials: a 19,6 x 15,7" canvas, brushes, acrylic paints.
- 2 glasses of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage.
- Snacks from the Royal bakery.

Payment required in advance to validate your place (no refunds if you cancel).

10 spots available.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

23/04/2026

🎨 [ARTISTS' EXHIBITION TOUR] 🖼️

Let me introduce you to 3 exhibitions by artists I greatly admire, each with a very different style.

Let’s start with Diego Jaramillo’s impressive exhibition. He was invited by the Museo de Arte Moderno to celebrate his 50-year career as an artist.
He is coming especially to give us a guided tour.

Next up is an exhibition featuring Catalina Carrasco, Azucena Vintimilla, and Sebas Carrasco, a family of multidisciplinary artists. We will be exploring their new paintings, collages and works on metal.

Let’s wrap up with a visit to Christian Tigre’s exhibition and his new series of paintings, which introduce us to Andean and Amazonian legends. A fascinating journey to get to know Ecuador better.

P.S. The photos don’t do the works justice. They deserve to be seen in person.

Walking tour. Distance covered during the tour: 0,62 miles / 1 094 yd / 3 281 ft / 1 km.

📆 Thursday, April 30.
⏳ 10 am - 12 pm.

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration.

$18 /person.

6 spots available.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

09/04/2026

🦅 [WILDLIFE CARETAKER FOR A MORNING] 🐵

Bonjour Cuenca has designed a unique experience for you - to be a wildlife caretaker at the Yurak Allpa sanctuary!

You will have the opportunity to join the team of raptor experts. You can participate in their flight training, feed them and enjoy the impressive experience of holding a bird of prey on your arm. This incredible moment will also allow you to learn more about these fascinating predators.

You will get to enter the enclosures of tapirs and parrots with Yurak Allpa staff. You will assist them with their daily tasks, such as feeding the animals, for the tapirs: giving them vitamins, brushing them, petting them, and giving them a massage if they’d like one.

You will also meet and feed the many monkeys, ocelots, coatis, ostriches, deer, and all the wonderful animals that this place cares for.

A small group of up to 10 people to enjoy time with the animals while treating them with respect.

Ps: The terrain is almost entirely flat, with a few small hills. So it is easy to get around.

❤️ By participating in this activity, you are financially supporting this sanctuary, which has been caring for abandoned, abused, and illegally trafficked animals for 26 years.
Your money will fund food, care, and improvements to the animals' enclosures. 🙏

📆 Thursday, June 11.

⏳ 9:30 am - 2 pm. The return time is approximate, so please do not schedule any other plans afterward.

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration. Same drop-off location.

$40 /person. Includes:
- A meal there at the end of the tour (coffee or tea, fruit juice, cheese toast, and scrambled eggs).
- Round trip by minivan (25 minute from Cuenca).

List of things to bring:
- Outdoor shoes (or rain boots if you have them),
- Comfortable clothing,
- Hat,
- Sunscreen,
- Jacket,
- Water bottle.

☎️ Registration: [email protected]

30/03/2026

🎨 [THE MASTERS TOURS - HERNAN ILLESCAS] 👨🏼‍🎨

Maestro Hernán Illescas is a renowned Ecuadorian artist. With a career spanning more than 38 years, he is recognized worldwide and has participated in numerous prestigious events, including the Florence Biennale in 2025.

This tour begins at the airport with his new monumental ceramic mural. Simply stunning!

We will then take a taxi to the Parque Calderón, to discover another of his ceramic murals. Next, just a few steps away, we will visit the Court of Justice, in a section that is not open to the public. There we will discover 8 of his grand paintings.

We will then pay a visit to his studio and gallery, where you will meet the Maestro!

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration.

$20 /person. Includes the whole trip in taxi.

☎️ Please contact me to arrange a date that suits you: [email protected]

27/03/2026

🌷[GARDENS & COURTYARDS TOUR No. 2] 🌸

Cuenca is full of hidden gems. Here is the second installment by Bonjour Cuenca, of the most beautiful gardens and courtyards in the city!

Some are newly created, others are private or well hidden. There's plenty to feast your eyes on!

Among others, we will visit the patrimonial and agroecological garden, cultivated by the sisters of the Todos Santos church.

For those of you who took my first garden tour, all of these places are different from the ones you’ve already visited.

Please note: We will walk approximately 1 km / 0,62 miles. There are approximately 50 steps to climb or descend during the tour.

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address given during registration.

$20 /person. Includes entrance fee in some places.

☎️ Please contact me to arrange a date that suits you: [email protected]

05/03/2026

🎨 [THE MASTERS TOURS - CATALINA CARRASCO & AZUCENA VINTIMILLA] 👩🏽‍🎨

Catalina Carrasco is among the “New Wave” of artists who have embraced new, innovative and multidisciplinary techniques to create their art.

But there is no doubt that Catalina is a Master of her discipline, well known in the Cuenca, Ecuadorian and international art scenes. She is also known for heritage restoration and artistic direction in the performing arts.

There is really nothing that Catalina can’t do and you will learn that when you meet her (if you haven’t already) and see her latest works.

Catalina hails from a legacy of fine art, inherited from her father, renowned artist Edgar Carrasco, and her mother, Azucena Vintimilla, who for the first time ever in this tour, opens her studio for Bonjour Cuenca.

We will be transported to the artists’ compound where Catalina and Azucena make their art. Their property must be seen to be believed. Nestled off the road on a lush green hillside in Tarqui, the place looks and feels magical. It beckons you to explore the treasures within. You may not want to leave!

📍Meeting point: Downtown Cuenca. Address provided during registration.

$25 /person. Includes:
- Round trip by minivan,
- A snack.

☎️ Please contact me to arrange a date that suits you: [email protected]

Dirección

Cuenca

Teléfono

+33771934609

Página web

https://maps.app.goo.gl/76rg5Vep1LDKWkV16?g_st=iw

Notificaciones

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