Walk them Ecuadorians they are lands loaded with
emotions where the visitor will find an interesting fan of possibilities that
you/they will make of her trip something unforgettable. Traveled by colonial
cities, cavalcades in ice creams and endless moors, walks for old and historical
country properties, adventures in National Parks, andinismo in snowy some of
their numerous ones or volcanos and walks for old archaeological places. Walk
them Ecuadorians they have many reasons to catch their traveler heart.
This region is formed by the counties of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha,
Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Cane plantation and Azuay, nine of
the most important counties in the Ecuador. The Ecuadorian population's 44.9%
inhabits this part of the country although this region occupies alone the fifth
part of the whole national territory.
The trips to this area are
possible during the whole year but before programming it he/she keeps in mind
the climate to choose the season that is adjusted better to their plans. The
temperatures average are between the 14 and 20° C, with occasional rains during
the dry season (of June to September and of final of November by the middle of
February). The climate changes drastically in the season of rains (of February
to May and of October to November), during these months the days they have a
lukewarmness abrigadora, the sun shines timidly in the mornings but the rains
become present almost every afternoon.
Accompany us in this virtual
journey for the main attractiveness of each one of the counties that conform the
Ecuadorian serranías.
Azuay is one of the most tourist counties in the
serranías of the Ecuador. Their capital, Cuenca, was he/she declares Cultural
Patrimony of the Humanity for the UNESCO due to the extraordinary colonial
architecture that possesses. Inside the county we also find one of the most
beautiful parks national, as well as good examples in their cultural expression
as crafts and traditional parties. The climate of Azuay is generally temperate
and quite pleasant with temperatures that vary between the 13 and the 20° C.
Cuenca was founded by the Spaniards in 1557, near the Inca town of
Tomebamba. The city presents a fabulous scenario: surrounded of mountains,
valleys, crossed by four rivers (Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Machangara and Tarqui) and
with an architecture that dates of the XVI and XVII centuries. Their churches,
neighborhoods, museums of religious art, large houses with wrought iron
balconies and squares conform this architectural group for which this city has
become an indispensable tourist destination.
Among the attractions that
it should visit in their journey for the historical center they are the Park
Calderón; the two cathedrals, the new of architecture románica and the old one
that possesses colonial beautiful works of art; The Carmen's Monasteries and the
Conceptas; the Municipal Palacio of beautiful marble facade; the Cloister of the
Conceptas; the Museum of Modern Art; the Museum Frizzy Remigio Toral; the Museum
Central Bank; the House of the Culture; the Museum of Popular Arts and the
Museum of the Native Cultures.
Another of the sectors that you/they
highlight for their constructions is the Ravine, a built neighborhood on the
north part of the river Tomebamba and one of the most important historical
places in Cuenca. It leaves of their fame he/she is due to the discoveries that
he/she made the archaeologist Max Uhle in the sector of Pumapungo, where they
were vestiges of the old City of Tomebamba. This city was an important Incan
establishment in the north part of the territory of the Tahuantinsuyo, according
to the chronicles it was destroyed by the Inca Atahualpa like punishment to its
residents for the support that these (the Cañari) they lent to the Inca Huáscar
during the dispute that both siblings sustained for the throne of the Empire.
At the present time he/she will be able to enjoy calm walks under
enormous Sallows while the rumor of the river accompanies its incursion in the
past of this town. Before leaving makes sure of to visit some of the handmade
markets and to acquire some of the beautiful crafts like hats of straw shawl,
ceramic, wool fabrics, delicate jewels of gold and silver or some of the
exquisite wicker baskets.
But the surroundings of Cuenca still hide more
reasons to be in love with this county. The Archaeological Place of Ingapirca is
to some 45 minutes of the capital of the county, this impressive one complex
archaeological he/she had an origin Cañari he/she stops then to open the way to
the Inca constructions, serving like religious, administrative and military
center. In him he/she will be able to visit the Temple of the Sun, the
Ceremonial Square, the external rooms of the temple, the cellar, the shops, the
ritual bathrooms, some streets and the Museum of Place that it has detailed
information of the place.
To about 33 kms to the northeast of Cuenca is
the National Park The Boxes, a reserved area that has 235 lagoons of origin
glacier. The area of the park reaches the 28,808 hectares and it is to a height
of 3,500 msnm. The flora of the area is quite diverse and the fauna is conformed
by Deer of Line Blanca (Odocoileus virginianus), Bears of Glasses (Tremarctos
ornatus), Pumas (Puma concolor), Deer of Moor (Odocoileus peruvianus ustus),
Tapir of Montaña (Tapirus pinchaque), Condors (Vultur Griphus), Caracaras
(Daptrius sp. ), Toucans of you Walk them (Andigena hypoglauca) and Ducks of
Glasses (Ells specularis), among other species.
Inside the area of the
park encuentrará also an important called archaeological place Tambo of Walls
(Molleturo) that was connected with the city of Tomebamba by means of one of the
tracts of the Cápac Ñac (I Walk Inca).
Another of the towns of the
county that will be very interesting to visit is that of Gualacero, recognized
by the quality of their crafts. On Sundays they are carried out popular fairs
where he/she will have the opportunity to admire the best products like shawls
of fine wool and beautiful factory, multicolored ponchos, chompas, belts, shoes
made to hands, leather articles, ceramic and an infinity of other products that
you/they will catch their attention per hours.
If it is interested in
buying some jewels of gold or silver gives a turn for the town of Chordeleg,
there it will appreciate the most beautiful goldwork works and to the best
prices in the county.
Chimborazo is one of the favorite destinations of
the lovers of the mountaineering. For the characteristics of their relief it
presents important challenges for these sportsmen, as the Chimborazo (6,310
msnm), the snowy one more high of the Ecuador. This county also possesses a
great natural wealth and paisajística, besides many adventure options and
tourism.
The capital of the county is Riobamba, a snowed surrounded city
of magnificent colonial style of imposing mountain of summits. In the old helmet
beautiful architecture examples can be observed while you travels their narrow
and paved streets. The forced visits are the Park Pedro Vicente Maldonado, the
Didactic Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of Religious Art of the
Concepción's Convent, The Museum of the Central Bank, the Cathedral, San
Antonio's Church and the Basilica.
In Chimborazo we find important
handmade centers, one of the main ones is that of the Town of Guano, specialists
in the production of carpets and wool fabrics. Not very far Guamote is,
producing of crafts in wool and cabuya.
For those who you/they like of
the sport fishing the best place it is in the Lagoon of Ozogoche, located in the
Town of Alausí; and it stops who practice the sport hunt, one of the best places
in the country is in the surroundings of the Town of Chunchi, where the hunt
fauna is plentiful.
To single 30 minutes of Riobamba he/she is the
Cemetery of Punin, a place that became famous also for the discovery of
fossilized remains of animals that you/they date of the Pleistoceno, human
remains some 10 thousand years old they were found in the Gulch of Chalán. In
this area he/she will be able to visit a place museum where he/she will receive
more information about the discoveries.
In this county it is also the
Reservation of Production Faunística of Chimborazo (that shares territories with
the Counties of Bolivar and Tungurahua). Inside this protected area he/she is
the beautiful volcano Chimborazo, and the snowy Carihuairazo, hard challenges
for the spirit of adventure of those fond of the mountaineering. The main
objective of this reservation is the preservation of animal species as the
vicuña, the German nickel and the flame.
The journey for the County of
Chimborazo won't be finished until it has experienced the emotion of a trip in
the railroad that unites the route Riobamba-Durán. This famous journey,
according to experienced travelers, is since full with strong emotions the train
it advances and it descends for roads built in zig-zag and it crosses the
well-known narrow pass as the Devil's Nose", adding him even more emotion to the
trip. The landscape of the mountain range, moors, mountains and Andean forests
that are observed during the whole journey are an entire gift for the view.
Tungurahua is another of the important counties
of the serranías of the Ecuador, famous for its carnival parties, its production
of flowers and fruits, its admirable works in leather and to be the entrance
door to the amazonía through the Town of Bathrooms.
The climate is
mainly temperate and I dry off and the temperature average varies between the 14
and 17° C. The season of rains, between the months of September and November, it
is taken advantage of for the cultivation of fruit-bearing.
The capital
of the county is the city of Ambato, main producer of flowers and fruits of the
country and one of the most commercial cities in the Ecuador. Also, their
handmade production of leather articles is recognized national and
internationally. But Ambato also takes places of great tourist attractiveness as
Montalvo's House (museum, library and mausoleum), the Museum of Natural Sciences
(etnográfico and archaeological) and the Museum of Painting Luis A. Martínez,
located in the municipal building.
The religious architecture has its
best examples in The Cathedral, San Francisco's Church, Sacred Domingo's Church,
The church of The Grace, the Church of the Miraculous Medal and the Church of
the Parents Josefinos.
One of the most important celebrations in the
capital of the county is the carnivals, for those days they get ready
bullfights, parades of allegorical cars, you trade of foods typical and varied
shows of dances and traditional music.
Bathrooms are another of the
important towns of the county and starting point for most of trips that go into
in the Ecuadorian forest. From there they take the routes that lead to Puyo;
Misahuallí; the Cascades of Agoyáan, of Inés María and the Devil's Pailón and
toward the summit of the volcano Tungurahua, the same one that gives the name to
the county.
Due to their proximity with the east the ecological tourism
and of adventure they prevail. Dozens of desirous travelers of to undertake
adventures and to practice kayak, mountain cycling, trekking or andinismo arrive
to this town to begin the adventure.
Pelileo are among the towns that he
will like to know in this region, inhabited by a community of Indian Salasacas,
expert weavers of wool tapestries and cabuya. The town is known in general by
its active textile industry. Also we have other towns that highlight for their
agricultural production as Patate, Quero, Blunt and Tisaleo, a visit to each one
of them allows an approach to the simple life of field. Finally Píllaro,
entrance door toward the National Park is Llanganates, famous for its production
of potatoes and different types of fruits.
The National Park Llanganates
is an Andean forest of more than 219 thousand hectares of extension, located
among the counties of Cotopaxi, Napo and Pastaza. This park has like one of its
main attractiveness the Solid one Mountainous of Llanganates, where according to
an old legend it is hidden the treasure of the rescue of the Inca Atahualpa.
As well as this solid one mountainous the county has some other blinding
summits that offer a great challenge for the lovers of the andinismo, among them
we find the volcano (I activate) Tungurahua (5,087 msnm), the Carihuairazo
(5.020 msnm), Beautiful Hill (4.571 msnm) and the Sagatoa (4.153 msnm), each one
of them even presents a true challenge for the trained sportsmen.
Before
concluding the journey for this county he/she remembers to make a visit to the
National Park Sangay whose limits extend from the Andean heights until the
forest plains. The park embraces an area of 520 thousand hectares that
territories of the Counties of Chimborazo, Morona and Santiago share. Inside
this area they are the mountains Sangay, the Altar and the Tungurahua. This
geographical diversity, with altitudes that go from the 800 to the 5,400 msnm,
produces a microclimas series in turn, this group of factors allows the hábitat
a great flora diversity and fauna.
Cotopaxi is the county of the adventure, with
beautiful landscapes, mountains of snowy summits, historical places, lakes and
the extraordinary Volcano Cotopaxi. This county offers its visitors a pleasant
climate that oscillates between the 12 and 17° C and a numberless of activities
like the practice of adventure sports, walks, traveled by historical places or
you buy in nice handmade markets.
During the visit to Cotopaxi a time
should be dedicated to travel its main cities, Latacunga is the capital of the
county and he/she offers a colonial architecture with paved streets and small
houses with roofs of red tiles. One of the buildings that more flame the
attention is the Municipality for its built facade with pumice stone.
To
the north of the capital Saquisilí, a charmer famous town for the enormous Fair
of Thursdays is. This fair is one of the most traditional of the country, it is
carried out in eight big squares and it is marketed from agrarian products until
livestock. Another of the towns that you/they get the attention is Pujilí,
recognized by their agricultural production, cattleman and handmade. Finally we
have Tilipulo, a place that harbored an important monastery, country property
and obraje, a true jewel of colonial architecture during the colonial time. The
group is formed by patios, gardens and terraces that give a white he/she devises
of how the life lapsed in this small town.
This county also harbors to
the National Park Cotopaxi, one of the most important of the country. Travelers
from all over the world go until this icy moor with the hope of crowning the
summit of the volcano that gives name to the park and the whole county. Among
the fauna of the area we find species like the Rabbit of Moor (Sylvilagus
brasiliensis meridensis), the Deer of Moor (Odocoileus peruvianus ustus) and
Andean gulls (Larus serranus), among others. The vegetation is formed by
Chuquiraguas (Chuquiraga jussieui), Gentians (Gentiana lutea) and Pajonales. In
the Area of Recreation the Bowling (located inside the park) the predominant
vegetation is the Pine (Pinus Sylvestris), which has formed a forest where they
can be carried out calm walks through the established paths. To conclude their
visit to the park he/she doesn't forget to go for a walk around the beautiful
lagoon of Limpiopungo.
Another scenario that will get its attention
powerfully, for its unusual beauty, is the Lagoon of Quilotoa, seated in the
crater of the volcano of the same name. For the high level of minerals of the
waters the fauna is scarce however this lack is compensated with the
extraordinary landscapes that surround it. The volcano of Quilotoa is part of
the Mountain range of Chugchillán and the area is surrounded of mountains and
plains of great scenic beauty.
The journey for the county won't be
complete if he/she doesn't enjoy the most famous party in the county. During the
month of November the in the middle of population gets ready to surrender him
honors to she Suckles her Quarter note", deity that represents to the fertility
and the productivity of the earth. With this reason they get ready dance
festivals and typical music that fill with happiness each corner of the County
of Cotopaxi.
The County of Pichincha is one of the favorite
destinations of the Ecuador for the numerous attractiveness that he/she offers
to the visitors. It is divided in two very marked regions: a coastal region of
climates warm and fertile lands, and a surrounded Andean region of volcanos and
snowy of great height and with a temperate and welcoming climate.
I
remove, the capital of the country, it is located in the Andean region, it is a
beautiful city that Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity was declared by the
UNESCO due to its beautiful and well preserved colonial helmet. The imposing
presence of the Volcano Pichincha guards this city of privileged architecture,
the walks for paved streets take to the visitors toward temples, convents and
large houses built during the colonial time.
Among the main monuments
they are the Church and Convent of San Francisco, the Chapel of Cantuña, the
Church of Jesus' Company, the Convent and Church of Sacred Domingo, the
Cathedral, the Basilica of The Grace, the Cloister and Church of San Agustín,
the Convent and Church of Tiling, the Cloister and Church of San Diego, the Old
Carmen's Churches and the Carmen Under, the Sanctuary of Guápulo and the Church
of the Sacrarium. The museums of some of these religious centers conserve
valuable works of art of the school quiteña.
One of the places more
converged by the visitors that arrive to I Remove it is the city Half of the
World", a careful reproduction of a typical colonial town and the exact place
for where it crosses the line equinoccial that divides to the planet in two
hemispheres. The avenue for which you consents to the main monument is weakened
by the scientists' commemorative busts that arrived to the Real Audience of I
Remove in 1736 and that they were part of the French geodesic mission, in charge
of measuring a quadrant of the terrestrial meridian. Inside the monument he/she
is a museum etnográfico, which allows the visitors to know something more
envelope the different indigenous communities that you/they inhabit the
Ecuadorian territory.
"The Roll is another of the points of interest in
the surroundings of I Remove. This hill harbored in the antiquity a temple of
adoration in the sun, but after the arrival of the Spaniards it was destroyed.
Already in modern times it was placed in their summit the Winged Virgin's
beautiful and enormous replica that is in San Francisco's Church. From this
point natural mirador one has a complete view of everything I Remove.
Going away a little more than the capital, about 40 minutes for the road
Calacalí, will arrive to the Reservation Geobotánica of Pululahua, a quite
particular scenario since the " Pululahua " is the only volcano in the world
that harbors a plain cultivated in its crater.
Protective forest
Pasochoa is also relatively near I Remove (one hour approximately), in this
natural area they will find a great diversity of birds and a beautiful forest
formed by Alisos (glutinous Alnus) and Pumamaquis (Oreopanax sp. ), where he/she
will be able to go into following some of the paths that will lead him to the
heart of this natural refuge.
If their adventurous spirit has wakened up
with the previous trips, then don't lose the opportunity to also know the
biggest Natural Reservation of birds in the country. The Protective Forest
Mindo-Nambillo harbors around 500 species of birds that furrow the skies of
Humid Forests, semitropicales and primary. Inside this reserved area they are
some rivers and cascades that will complete this encounter with the nature.
In the proximities of the capital he/she will find, also, two important
archaeological centers, the Complex of Cochasquí and that of Pucará of
Rumicucho. Cochasquí is formed by several pyramidal buildings and tolas (funeral
mounds), testimonies of the architectural advance of the cultures preíncas of
Pichincha. The place counts, also, with place museum, two museums etnográficos,
a garden etnobotánico and a didactic museum of musical instruments and you arm.
In Pucará of Rumicucho on the other hand will appreciate a built
military strength during the period of Incan dominance. The building was lifted
on a natural hill: the surface was modified to build a pyramidal structure with
the help of terraces, being that of the center the highest.
Near I
Remove (to about 80 kms to the west) he/she is the town of Sacred Domingo from
the Colorado, home of the ethnos of the Tsáchilas (Indian Colorado"). This name
is due to a particular habit of the males of the tribe who you/they like of
tinting its hair with an obtained reddish tint of the seeds of the achiote. The
area is surrounded of tropical forests, rivers, cascades and a great variety of
wild animals. The experience offers to the visitors a close friend encounter
with the natural life of Pichincha.
As final point in the journey for
this county can make a visit to the Reservation Ecological Cayambe-coca, an
extensive natural place (400 thousand hectares) guarded by the cavalier presence
of the Snowy Cayambe (5,790 msnm), of perpetual snow and ideal for the practice
of the andinismo. In this place they are some lagoons and forests that you/they
will offer him a good opportunity for the walks and the excursionismo.