Pedro Moncayo - Pichincha - Ecuador

It is a canton of the Province of Pichincha, Ecuador. Its cantonal head is the city of Tabacundo.

It is one of the most important attractions of this sector, where are the lagoons of Mojanda, which surrounded by pajonales constitute a typical landscape of the Andean páramo. The old bridle path between Tabacundo and Otavalo and La Laguna de Yanacocha is also located in this junction, where you can find ducks, rabbits, herons, partridges and hummingbirds. The banks of the Pisque river, "el Cucho", the Anafo stream, the Cananvalle hill, and the Picalquí and Granobles haciendas constitute other tourist centers.

Clima Cantón Pedro Moncayo

There is a diversity of climates associated to the different ecological levels, finding temperatures that oscillate between 18 ° C in the valleys of Jerusalem and Tanda, up to the ° C in the summits of the Fuya-Fuya. The population centers enjoy an average temperature of 13 ° C.3

Flora Cantón Pedro Moncayo

It has an exclusive flora like giant carob trees where plants and flowers known as epiphytes are developed, which are covered with mosses and bromeliads or huaycundos, which differentiates them from other trees.

Fauna Cantón Pedro Moncayo

It is the refuge of 34 species of animals between terrestrial and aerial: bats, mice, snakes, toads, hawks, owls, chilicos, turtledoves and cuturpillas.

Economic development Cantón Pedro Moncayo

Agriculture is one of the main sources of income of the canton, the majority of the inhabitants cultivate wheat, barley, potatoes, lentils and corn, production destined for the national market. In addition, the production of Pedro Moncayo roses represents 25% of the national total that is exported to several countries, receiving multiple awards, prizes for quality and variety of Ecuadorian roses and flowers, which have cataloged this canton as the World Capital of the Rose .

Cultures and traditions Cantón Pedro Moncayo

Also important are the fiesta of La Niña María, in Tocachi, on September 8; and the celebration of the Virgen del Rosario in La Esperanza from 9 to 11 October, with entrance of chamizas, popular bulls, fireworks and the festival of the confraternidad. The festival of San Pedro covers a six-week season from June 21, at the time of the summer solstice, to the last octave of the aruchicos. The big day of San Pedro (June 29) all the communities take the square of Tabacundo, representing the cultural and popular resistance. In the party participate comparsas of devil-humas, women with the typical dress of the natives of the zone, aruchicos (personages who adorn their festive clothes with handkerchiefs, hats, masks of mesh and dark glasses).

Typical Foods Cantón Pedro Moncayo

La Colada de Cuy.- Dish made of Uchujacu flour (composed of seven grains: corn, beans, barley, wheat, peas, lentils, and chickpeas). It is served in a clay dish accompanied by potatoes, eggs, cheese, mote and roasted guinea pig.

El Ají de Cuy.- A dish made up of potatoes with a zambo sauce, served in a wooden bowl, accompanied by lettuce, avocado and roasted guinea pig.

After the main course comes the black penco champagne, better known as the guarango; or in turn also drink chicha de jora (made from corn prepared in jurapango leaves)

Tourism Cantón Pedro Moncayo

In Mojanda-Cajas, there are the lagoons of Mojanda, which surrounded by pajonal constitute a typical landscape of the Andean páramo. The old bridle path between tabacundo and Otavalo. The Yanacocha lagoon, where you can find ducks, rabbits, herons, partridges and hummingbirds.

They are tourist places, also, the banks of the Pisque river, "the Cucho" and the gulch of Anafo, to 3 kilometers of the cantonal head. The hill of Cananvalle, and the Picalquí and Granobles estates. Some kilometers to the south of Malchinguí is the Protected Forest of Jerusalem, (in charge of the Provincial Council of Pichincha) with 1,110 hectares; which includes four areas: recreational (horseback riding, sport fishing, trails, sports courts, swimming pool), agriculture (crops of lemons, oranges and avocados), fish farming (red, African and carp tilapia are raised), and the area of dry forest (carob, chalanes, quishuar, toctes or walnuts, black and white cabuyo).

In historical terms stand out the pyramids of Cochasqui, a pre-Inca archaeological complex that has not yet been studied exhaustively. It has about 84 hectares, its height is 3,100 meters above sea level and the latitude marks O degrees, 3 ', 35. The Provincial Council took on the task of preserving its 15 pyramids and 21 funerary tolas.The complex houses pyramids with steps of cangahua they correspond to the period between 500 BC and 1500 AD The site has a site museum and is staffed by local guides.