Cotacachi - Imbabura - Ecuador

It is a municipality of the Province of Imbabura, it is also considered the Musical Capital of Ecuador

The city and the canton are named after the majestic Cotacachi volcano. In the colonial era Fray Pedro de la Peña, plans the creation of a new canton, this attack materializes in 1824 year in which territory of Cotacachi is elevated to the status of canton by Simón Bolívar, and finally on July 6, 2023 the cantonization is achieved, thus initiating its administrative political life with the name of Santa Ana de Cotacachi.

It is the largest canton of the Province of Imbabura, synthetically this place summarizes the value of the indigenous people who live there, product of the settlement of nomadic tribes that arrived hundreds or thousands of years before the Spanish conquest. Peaceful village of fertile lands, meadows and countryside, settled on the slopes of the Cotacachi, charming city that Fray Pedro de la Peña had chosen to found it. Considered the Musical Capital of Ecuador for the love expressed by its people for music; etymologically referred to as Castillo de Luz, due to the fusion of natural, cultural and, above all, traditional elements.

Climate of the Cotacachi Canton

In this valley, a temperate climate predominates, with temperatures ranging from 10 ºC to 25 ºC.

Flora of the Cotacachi Canton

The climate that predominates in the area favors the production of species typical of low and jungle regions, such as sugar cane that involves the production of brandy and panela; the cabuyo and the pita, the banana, the cereals, tubers, the peanut, rice of Castile and an abundant production of fruit trees.

Fauna of the Cotacachi Canton

The fauna species that are observed in the area are the jaguar, spectacled bear, deer, rabbits, guanta, guatusa, tigrillos, otters, tutamono, boas and birds as curiquingues and pigs.

Tourism in the Cotacachi Canton

Cotacachi offers community tourism, which has been strengthened allowing the creation of tourism ventures distributed in each of its parishes: Apuela, Plaza Gutierrez, Vacas Galindo, Peñaherrera, Cuellaje, García Moreno, Imantag and Quiroga. Several of them offer lodging, hikes, visits to waterfalls and lagoons, local gastronomy, crafts and music.

Churches in the Cotacachi Canton

The city has many catholic temples, has a wide religious tradition, The most traditional and worth visiting are:

Catedral La Matriz: located in the center of the city, it is the central one of the diocese, built after the first Church of Cotacachi, it has several works of the art school of Quito, basic of the Baroque and Rococo, with altars of Gold bread and is made up of 6 chapels. This church preserves a neoclassical style, it combines Greek and Roman architecture, in its interior there are works of art of the eighteenth century and has several works of art school in Quito, with gold leaf altars. It is located in Bolivar street between Modesto Peñaherrera and García Moreno, in this church the elements and images of San Marcos have been preserved, they are in charge of the parish, which like the church have maintained their style dating from the beginning of the twentieth century.

La Dolorosa Cathedral: This modernist church preserves several paintings, sculptures and prints with beautiful stained glass windows, its altar is covered with gold leaf and rich decoration inside.

Episcopal Chapel: It is located on the left side of the mother church. It is ready to serve the public and is the residence of the parish priest of Cotacachi.

Niño Jesús, It is located in the El Ejido neighborhood in the detour in front of the "El Coco" park on the Quiroga-Cuicocha-Intag road. Cotacachi City 10 minutes from the historic center next to the Ambi River Bridge.

Other parish churches: Seis de Julio de Cuellaje, Plaza Gutiérrez, Peñaherrera, Vacas Galindo, García Moreno

Chapels: The oldest are: San José, Pilchibuela, and also most of the communities have one.

Parks and squares in the Cotacachi Canton

Abdón Calderón Park: It is the main park of the city. It is surrounded by the Church of the Matriz, Development Bank, Casa "El Portal" and the Municipal Palace. It is located in the historic center of Cotacachi. In its center is the statue of Santa Ana, patron saint of Cotacachi.

Plaza de la Interculturalidad: Here was located after the previous Mercado de Cotacachi, then it was the scene of the projects: "Parque Ornamental" and "Centro Artesanal Loma de Plata" which were canceled, but it was left with this provisional first name being the parking lot of the Municipal Commissariat and Theater: City for Peace, until finally it was given its own name: Plaza de la Interculturalidad.

Mural The scream of the excluded: In 2004 the work of Pavel Egüez was placed in the Walls of the Theater: "The cry of the Excluded, in this Square there have been several events, festivals, Cotacacheñidad celebrations, nowadays it is a representative historical site.

Parque Olmedo: Located in front of the Church of La Dolorosa, it is part of the urban regeneration project. According to historical data, this square was formed at the time of the construction of the aforementioned church, was used to make a kind of weekly fair of handicrafts: wood, silverware, tapestry, music, etc. to this day. It is currently restored and inside it is a statue in honor of Santa Cecilia patron of music and in its corner two more: Musician and Saddler.

Plaza del Sol: It is located between Avenida Modesto Peñaherrera and Avenida del Sol is next to the ring of the two Avenues and is the most modern square that has an urban city where on a circular stage is a monument of ten feet in iron representing a temple of the sun, with the chakana or Andean cross.

Playgrounds in the Cotacachi Canton

• "Santa Rosa de Diablocalle"
• "The coconut"
• "The band"
• "El Coco" (Del Barrio El Ejido).

Theaters in the Cotacachi Canton

• Municipal Theater: "City for Peace"
• Higher Institute "Luis Ulpiano de la Torre"
• "Educational Unit Santa Ana de Cotacachi"
• "Modesto Peñaherrera School"
• "Manuela Cañizares School"
• "School Santísimo Sacramento"
• "Las Lomas School"
• Civic Centers
• San José Neighborhood
• Pilchibuela
• El Ejido neighborhood
• Humid neighborhood