Most
visitors use
Latacunga
as a base
from which
to explore
the region,
spending little
time in the
town. Those
that do tend
to congregate
around Parque
Vicente Leon,
the tourist
area of the
city. The
main municipal
buildings
are found
here, as is
the city's
cathedral,
most recently
restored in
1973.
A lively,
sprawling
market
spreads over
several blocks
east of Rio
Cutuchi, the
big day being
Saturday.
If you suffer
from cultural
withdrawal
symptoms while
in Latacunga
your best
bet is to
visit the
Molinos
de Monserrat
Museum
of ethnography
and art, on
Vela near
Maldonado,
open Tuesday
to Saturday
on an erratic
basis.
Festivals
An
unusual characteristic
of the usually
macho male
Latacunganos
is their love
of dressing
up as black
women. This
they do at
the Fiesta
de la Mama
Negra,
a raucous
occasion of
street dancing,
heavy drinking,
Andean music
and fireworks,
held each
year on September 23
and 24.
Another parade
in honour
of the Black
Mama takes
place two
weeks later.
On November 11
Latacunga
celebrates
its anniversary
of independence
with bullfighting
and yet more
exuberance.
Around
Latacunga
Several remote
Andean villages
are hidden
in the mountains
above Latacunga.
The circuit
known as the
'Latacunga
Loop'
takes in several
of these villages
and the emerald-blue
crater lake
of Quilotoa.
It's one of
the most beautiful
trips in Ecuador.
It's an adventurous
journey: roads
are rough,
directions
confusing
and there
are reports
of many beggars
in the lake
area. It's
probably best
to go by car
with a guide,
but you can
also take
a bus as many
of the villages
are connected
with Latacunga.
Check return
times carefully
before you
leave, and
seek advice
from hoteliers
in Latacunga.
About 14 km
[nine
miles]
north of Zumbahua
you come to
Laguna
Quilotoa.
The road is
badly signed,
so if you
are driving
you will need
to ask for
directions.
The lake isn't
visible from
the road and
you have to
climb up to
the crater
rim before
you can look
down onto
the emerald
waters surrounded
by steep volcanic
slopes. A
precipitous
path goes
down to the
water's edge
and it takes
five or six
hours to walk
around the
lake. Near
the crater
rim is the
small community
of Ponce-Quilotoa.
Tigua
paintings,
carved masks
and other
artifacts
are on sale.
Warm clothes
are needed
because it
gets chilly
at night here.
The daily
bus from Latacunga
to Chugchilan
passes through
the community.
Continuing
north around
the Latacunga
Loop, you
come to the
village Sigchos.
Don't bother
to stay unless
you plan to
hike in the
Toachi
Valley.
Going westwards,
the road continues
through Toacazo
and then turns
south back
towards Latacunga.
On the way
you can stop
off in Saquisili,
a small town
with a big
reputation
for its Thursday
market, one
of the best-known
and most commercially-important
in Ecuador.
Though interesting
textiles are
on sale, the
market is
more a living,
working Andean
emporium and
a central
hub for the
web of communities
of indigenas
in the
surrounding
mountains
who come to
town to do
their trade
and meet friends.
Visitors are
attracted
by the colourful
costumes of
the local
people, the
main theme
being red
ponchos and
felt pork-pie
shaped hats.
South of Latacunga,
14 km [nearly
nine miles]
on the road
to Ambato,
you pass through
the town of
San
Miguel de
Salcedo.
It's an unremarkable
place, except
for fans of
ice-cream
who say the
town produces
some of the
best in the
country.
Last
updated 19th
July 2006
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
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