It is no mystery why Cuenca, Ecuador is one of the most popular destinations for foreign real estate investors and retirees. In 2006, the International Congress of Urban Planners voted Cuenca and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the two “most liveable cities in Latin America.” In early 2008, the German magazine Stern, made Cuenca its top Latin American pick in a survey of best places to live overseas and in 2009, International Living magazine named Cuenca “The World’s Best Retirement Haven.” In addition to its rich culture, the urban planners and Stern cited Cuenca’s “middle class” demographics, low crime rate and spring-like weather for putting it at the top of their lists. With a metropolitan population of 500,000, Cuenca offers big city infrastructure without big city problems.