Carnival Countdown: Here's What's Happening Next Week (Feb 12-14) and How to Get Tickets

We're one week out from Cuenca's biggest party of the year. If you haven't locked in your plans yet, here's a compact guide to the three anchor events of Carnival week—plus how to get tickets before they sell out.

Thursday, February 12 — Jueves de Compadres y Comadres

• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: Parque de la Libertad
• Cost: Free
• What: The traditional kickoff to Carnival week. Live music, food vendors, and the compadrazgo tradition—where friends and neighbors affirm their bonds of mutual support. Think of it as the warm-up act for the weekend.

Expat tip: This is one of the more relaxed Carnival events. Good for first-timers who want to ease into the festivities without getting drenched.

Friday, February 13 — Color Fest 5K

• Time: 5:00 PM (race), 8:00 PM (concert)
• Location: Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar
• What: A 5K run through clouds of colored powder, followed by a concert at the stadium.

What to know: Wear white clothes you don't mind ruining. The powder stains. Leave your good running shoes at home and grab a cheap pair from Feria Libre. Don't wear contacts—colored powder and contact lenses are a miserable combination.

Saturday, February 14 — The Main Event

Three things are happening simultaneously, so plan your day:

10:00 AM — Desfile de los Cuatro Ríos (Four Rivers Parade)

• Route: Calle Bolívar through the Historic Center
• What: Cuenca's signature Carnival parade with elaborate floats, comparsas, dance troupes, and marching bands

Positioning tip: Arrive by 9:00 AM to claim a spot along Bolívar near the Catedral Nueva. The parade gets packed fast, and the best viewing spots disappear early.

12:00 PM — Motepata Festival + Guinness World Record Attempt

• Location: Plaza de San Francisco
• What: Cuenca will attempt to certify the world's largest batch of mote pata, with Guinness World Records officials present. Approximately 9,000 plates will be served free to the public.

Mote pata is a rich pork-and-hominy soup and the definitive Carnival food in Cuenca. If you've never tried it, this is the day.

8:00 PM — Nicky Jam + Trebol Clan Concert

• Location: Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar
• What: The headline concert of the season. Every dollar from ticket sales funds conservation of 250,000-300,000 square meters of páramo in Cajas National Park.

Tickets

Price range: $5 – $35 Where: FARMASOL pharmacy locations across Cuenca (started selling February 5) Payment: Cash preferred at Farmasol; some locations accept cards

Tickets have been moving. If you want stadium seating for the Nicky Jam concert, don't wait until next week.

The Water Warning (Again)

If this is your first Carnival in Cuenca: you will get wet. Water balloons, buckets, hoses—it's tradition and it's unavoidable, especially in residential neighborhoods Saturday through Tuesday.

Essentials:

• Waterproof phone case (non-negotiable)
• Clothes you don't care about
• Zip-lock bags for wallet, keys, documents
• A sense of humor

Pre-Carnival Prep Checklist

• Groceries: Stock up by Thursday, February 12. Supermarkets get mobbed Friday and are closed or limited Monday/Tuesday.
• Cash: Hit ATMs before the weekend. Lines get brutal during the feriado.
• Restaurant reservations: Popular spots in El Centro will be packed. Book now.
• Transportation: Bus schedules will be reduced Monday/Tuesday. Taxis and InDriver surge pricing is real.

Sources: GAD Municipal de Cuenca, El Mercurio, CuencaHighLife