Small-town Catamayo
is known as
the original
area where
Loja
was initially
founded in 1546.
It houses the
largest collection
of indigenous
plants for processing
sugar.
Places
to visit
Approximately
42km west
of Catamayo
is an interesting
religious
site set high
in the mountain
range called
El
Cisne.
The village
below of the
same name
is home to
a gothic French-style
church and
a small museum
containing
religious
art and sequined
clothing that
adorns the
statue of
the "Virgen
del Cisne".
The Cisne
Virgin makes
an annual
70km pilgrimage
from Catamayo
to Loja, carried
on the shoulders
of pilgrims,
many of whom
walk the pilgrimage
without shoes.
When the Virgin
reaches its
final destination,
the cathedral
of Loja, it
is officially
welcomed and
celebrated
during a religious
festival on
the 20th of
August.
South
from Catamayo
If you have
a 4x4 vehicle
and the roads
aren't flooded,
you can travel
to Macara
via Cariamanga.
Along the
way you'll
pass through
Gonzanama,
famous for
its soft cheeses
and alforjas
- rounded
saddlebags
which may
be purchased
through local
weavers. This
small town
is a quiet
stopping-off
point, good
for breaking
up a long
journey.
From
Gonzanama,
head down
to Malacatos
and pass through
Purunuma,
taking in
the scenic
views along
the way. The
road continues
to Cariamanga
a village
with a few
hotels, restaurants
and even banks.
As you travel
Southeast
down into
the country's
most obscure
areas, you'll
find Lucero,
Amaluza
and Jimbura.
In Amaluza
there are
a couple of
hotels and
also daily
buses to Quito.
The long and
bumpy journey
back up to
Quito will
take you around
15 hours.
A second road
towards Macara
heads west
towards Colaisaca,
Utuana
and onto Sozoranga,
some 35km
south from
Macara.
North of Sozoranga
lies Nueva
Fatima,
a route rich
in birdlife
with almost
200 species.
Last
updated 11th July
2006
