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Remember when we told you they were going to try? They did it. On Valentine's Day, 30 chefs prepared 1,723 kilograms of mote pata at Plaza San Francisco, earning Cuenca an official Guinness World Record and feeding 9,500 people for free.

If you've lived in Cuenca for any amount of time, you've heard of mote pata. If you haven't tried it yet, Carnival week is your moment. Here's what it is, what's in it, and where to get the best bowl in the city — from $3.50 market stalls to top-rated restaurants.

From this morning's Mote Pata workshop to Saturday night's Nicky Jam concert, here's everything happening in Cuenca for Carnival 2026 — plus Tranvía schedule changes, road patrol info, and what to know before you head out.

On Valentine's Day, Plaza de San Francisco will host the world's largest motepata — a traditional Cuencan corn-and-pork stew — with Guinness officials on hand to certify the record. Plates are just $2.

Carnival week kicks off Thursday with Jueves de Compadres, followed by a Color Fest 5K, the Four Rivers parade, free mote pata for 9,000 people, and Nicky Jam at the stadium. Tickets are $5-$35 at Farmasol.

Cuenca's biggest annual celebration has officially launched with approximately 80 events running through the end of February. Concerts, parades, gastronomic festivals, art exhibitions, and more -- here's your guide.

Cuenca's biggest party of the year runs February 12-17 with a packed schedule: the Four Rivers parade, a Color Fest, concerts at Serrano Aguilar stadium, a chiva market tour, and an attempt to certify the world's largest mote pata with Guinness officials on hand.