Just returned from 8 days in and around Quito and spent two days in Cuenca, visiting the Ingapirca Ruins.
Cuenca was such a beautiful town to walk around at night. We ran across the gorgeous central plaza and the nearby church, while trying to find the highly recommended restaurant, Tiesto's Cafe. When we arrived, we did not have reservations, but the Chef/Owner greeted us and told us to sit at the bar while they got a table for us. We assumed that it was because we had two white Americans in our party of 4. He then explained what we should eat and how good his meat was. We ate like kings that night and also had excellent table-side service.
We also did the Ingapirca Ruins and the gold/silver town of Chordeleg. Don't go there unless you like 90s era jewelry, but the Ruins and the drive up there was awesome.
One of our friends grew up in Quito, so he was a our host throughout the trip in and around Quito, Cumbaya, Guayllabamba, Otavallo, Atuntaqui.
We had expectations to do a lot of hiking, but we ended up loving the small towns, central plazas and drank a lot of wine, rum & canelazos.