Chordeleg - Azuay - Ecuador

Chordeleg is a canton in the province of Azuay, in Ecuador.
The date of cantonization is April 15, 1992. It is famous for its crafts, such as ceramics, hand embroidery and jewelry, has dozens of jewelry in which highlights the wonderful works of goldsmithing of its inhabitants.

It is a recognized canton around the world for its wonderful cultural content that is unique for the great quality of its works in handicrafts, be they in clay, straw shawl or noble metals. In the cantonal center there are more than a hundred jewelers, where you can find countless masterpieces in gold, silver, white gold and other metals used for thousands of years by the inhabitants of these latitudes.

Economic development of the Chordeleg Canton

The ceramics, the jewelery, the shoe store, the fabrics and the toquilla straw, has made Chordeleg a craft center of great importance at a national and international level. Nowadays, the artisans of the sector have developed their initiatives and have established policies of attention to production and artisanal productivity, linked to a tourism development plan.

Places to visit in Chordeleg

Archaeological vestiges of LLaber

Llaber is one of the archaeological vestiges, belonging to the Cañarí culture, most important in the entire austral region.
Most of this archaeological complex, is constituted by a series of walls and terraces. The monumentality of the walls of up to 7 meters. of height by 140 of length, and its strategic situation allows to suppose that the site could have conformed a ceremonial place or sacred of the Cañarí Culture.

municipal Museum

Created in 1983, formerly known as the Chordeleg Community Museum, today the Municipal Interpretation Center, it shows in summary form part of the cultural wealth of Chordeleg, from the aboriginal or pre-Hispanic times to the current manifestations of popular culture, especially evidences in the craft work.
Thousands of archaeological pieces, mostly gold objects, disappeared from the moment they were found (late nineteenth century) either because they were melted by the huaqueros to turn them into physical gold ingots, or because many collections left Chordeleg to enrich the Heritage of some museums of the country and especially Museums of Europe and the United States.

The largest Candonga in the world

This beautiful work is exhibited in the Municipal Museum and has become a symbol that identifies Chordeleg as an eminently artisanal town, measuring approximately 1.80 high by 1.00 wide, in its confection, 18,000 thousand grams of pure silver (AG) were used and its elaboration and completion took an approximate time of two months.
This earring was designed in Filigree, has a pyramidal shape, consists of a trefoil upper part followed by two half moons with hanging handles of blades whose ends are joined to the clover, in the middle it has a beautiful and delicate weave of fine threads of silver with which it is giving shape to an elegant embroidery.

Pungohuayco

Beautiful natural park located 10 minutes from the cantonal center, access can be done by vehicle or walking. It is characterized by the existence of a huge stone in the shape of a top next to the banks of the river of the same name, of which some legends are told. Ideal place to enjoy together with the family its majesty and beauty.
Legend has it that years ago, in the sector of Shabalula (near the Sígsig) lived some very naughty devils and near there, on the hill of Chocar, there was a huge stone, in the shape of a spinning top, place of worship of the indigenous people of area.

El Chorro del Tasqui

Located 45 minutes from the parish center of San Martín de Puzhio.
The water, forest and soil resources make the Tasqui one of the main sources of water supply for Chordeleg and several communities. During the tour you will appreciate the beauty of the landscape, flora and fauna that are still preserved in their purest state.

The three lagoons

Located 25km from Chordeleg next to the mythical Cerro Fasayñan. Access is by vehicle to the Parish Center and a 7Km section is continued walking.
From the rocks of the mountains a cascade originates, as if it were silver threads; suddenly the water descends and seems suspended in the air to inexorably rest in the first lagoon. This ceremony forms a charming triad of three water mirrors of scenic beauty and landscape.
Ideal natural environment for a trip of several days, for its flora, fauna, primary forest, mountains and streams that surround it.

Fasayñan Volcano

The majestic and unique witness of the Cañari culture, where myths, legends, stories and mysticism are kept, pride reflected in his gallant posture accompanied by a sunset with the blue sky or a moonlit night accompanied by the stars. The highest peak is at 3907msm, covered with volcanic rock that dominates all the landscapes of the area. Considered as the guardian of the people who have lived at their feet for centuries, from the small nomadic tribes to the warmth of their current inhabitants. Reach the summit through a 6-hour tour, and it will be compensated with a panoramic view for the four cardinal points never seen before, an experience that can become the wish of many people you count on.

 Filigree jewelery

Chordeleg is famous for craftsmanship in jewelry, which is demonstrated in its large number of craft shops; where you will be able to find infinity of gold and silver jewels, elaborated with very complex techniques by our skilled artisans. Chordeleg is also well known for making handicrafts in ceramics, wood, embroidery and fabrics, also famous are their hats and toquilla straw articles, made by hand by local craftsmen.

The Mission Cross and The Master Plan

A Cross that was placed about 100 years ago, on a rock that springs from the mountain, on the hill closest to Principal. 10 years ago she was replaced by a priest of the Catholic Church and a group of young people. It is a short and good excursion to see an excellent view of this natural beauty. While walking the foothills of the mountain you will find archaeological remains, lagoons, animals and exotic and native birds.

The Two Encounters

Los Dos Encuentros, very close to Principal located almost at the foot of the Fasayñan Volcano. The meeting of two natural friends that together form one; the Río Burra Beach and the Río Blanco joined together forming the river called Río Zhío. This place is excellent for putting into practice your relaxation and meditation exercises, accompanied by the sound of the waters and the singing of the birds.

Typical food of Chordeleg

Then, the preparation of dishes that have traditionally been consumed by the population and respond to a form of food based on what produces the land and animals that can be raised in the area: well, the pig, the guinea pig, the trout ( it is last in the high zones) the corn and the infinity of plates that prepare with this one, the beans, beans, peas, barley, oats, etc. the routes like the apple, the peach tree, the capulí, the queen claudia, the saxuma, the sixalon, the pear, among many others that the earth produces.
Then, we can usually taste dishes like:

1. Baked in a wood oven, accompanied by the "llapingachos" the "cascaritas" the pork stew, accompanied by mote, salad and aji.
2. The guinea pig with potatoes and peeled mote.
3. The beans with cheese.
4. The sweet "morocho" with corn, wheat or "corn" tortillas.
5. The trout fried with peeled mote and salad.
6. The preserves and infinity of sweets prepared with fruits.
7. The "mote pata"
8. The sweet of figs and peaches in carnival.
9. The "fanesca" in Easter.