Cotopaxi: Volcanic Landscapes, Canyons and Cultural Heritage

Cotopaxi brings together a wide variety of travel experiences: the active Cotopaxi volcano, a volcanic lake with a high crater rim, the deep Cañón del Toachi gorge, and Latacunga’s historic center with its cultural heritage and regional cuisine. Nature experiences and cultural discoveries offer different points of focus. If you’re traveling with children, thinking about whether they’re most interested in landscapes, history or food can help you choose destinations and where to stay.

Volcanic Landscapes, Canyons and Water

The active Cotopaxi volcano is located in Parque Nacional Cotopaxi and is one of the highest volcanoes in the world. The national park offers opportunities for hiking, camping and observing nature. Southeast of the volcano lies Laguna Quilindaña, considered a natural attraction of the Ecuadorian Andes. The park and the lagoon represent different aspects of Cotopaxi’s natural landscape, from volcanoes to the Andes.

Another striking landscape is Laguna del Quilotoa in Chugchilán, in Sigchos canton. The volcanic lake is about 3 km across; there is a difference in elevation of 440 m between its water level and the upper crater rim. Cañón del Toachi is also in Sigchos canton. Pyroclastic flows from eruptions of the Quilotoa volcano formed the deep gorge through which the Río Toachi flows.

Licamancha Waterfall plunges 102 m freely into the Río Toachi. It lies in a wooded mountain landscape at Cañón de Agüilla, surrounded by high mountains and cliffs, and can be viewed from a suspension bridge. These distinctive landscape features set it apart from the volcanic and canyon scenery around Quilotoa.

Bosque Protector Sarapullo is also part of the province’s natural landscape. It was designated a protected forest on June 26, 1986, and published in the official gazette on July 30, 1986. The area preserves remnants of original forests as well as remarkable natural and scenic resources.

Discover History and Cultural Heritage

Churo de Amanta is in Chugchilán, in Sigchos canton. A cultural site, its mountain is traditionally believed to have been a pre-Hispanic Inca fortress. Features include stone ruins, channels or ditches, and footpaths in some sections. Malqui y Machay, also in Chugchilán, is a separate site: these archaeological ruins are in the late Inca style and include dressed and polished stone structures, several rectangular rooms and a trapezoidal plaza.

Latacunga’s historic center was declared Ecuador’s sixth “Rincón Mágico” under the “Herencia Patrimonial” initiative. There are 21 tourist attractions within the designated center. The Ruta de la Fiesta Patrimonial passes through streets and footpaths in the northern part of the center. It visits heritage-listed buildings, offering a way to learn about the history and traditions of Latacunga canton. La Mama Negra is considered an outstanding expression of Latacunga’s intangible cultural heritage.

Regional Cuisine and Special Experiences

In Latacunga, at “Harika, la hora del chapo,” you can roast, grind, prepare and taste traditional máchica yourself. Other culinary highlights include traditional haciendas where Queso de hoja is made, as well as local markets. There, you can sample Ecuadorian dishes such as Chugchucaras and allullas with Queso de hoja.

Latacunga’s tourism board also promotes paragliding from Cerro Putzalahua, whose launch area is at an elevation of 738 meters and offers panoramic views. Along with the Ruta de la Fiesta Patrimonial and culinary experiences, this gives you a different perspective on Latacunga than the nature destinations in Sigchos canton.

When choosing a vacation rental or holiday home, it can therefore help to decide on your destinations first: are volcanic landscapes and nature your priority, or the historic center, traditions and regional cuisine? Choose where to stay based on the places you actually want to explore.

Places in Cotopaxi

The direct subpages for Cotopaxi include Latacunga, Pujilí, Huagrahuasi, Sigchos, Tanicuchi, La Maná and Carmela.

For the broader travel overview: Ecuador.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Imbabura.