Located
in a fertile
valley an
hour south
of Quito,
Machachi is
surrounded
by Andes Peaks
including
Cotopaxi,
Illiniza,
Sincholagua,
Pasachoa,
and Corazon.
The small
town is famous
for its mineral
water, springs
and swimming
pools. Guitig,
a nationally
bottled water,
is produced
here.
Things
to see
Machachi
is home to
the Chagra,
Ecuador’s
version of
the cowboy.
These proud
men who dress
in chaps and
boots have
extraordinary
horse handling
skills. The
town’s annual
celebration
on July 24th
hosts a series
of competitions
for the Chagra,
the local
version of
a rodeo. It
lasts for
several days
with parades
and roundups.
As in many
of the small
towns the
celebration
includes the
local version
of a bullfight,
although the
bull in question
is more of
a cow than
the fierce
bull than
one might
imagine. Town
members are
welcome to
jump in the
ring and test
their skills.
As the day
wears on the
fighting becomes
more outrageous
as the matadors
appear in
drag. This
is family
fun and no
animals are
killed.
General
information
Internet:
prices
around US$1.20*
per hour
Getting
there
Frequent
bus
service available
from Av. Amazonas
in Quito.
Local buses
"Ejecutivos"
go to the
bus station
[Terminal
Terrestre].
Journey to
Quito
is about 1
hour, tickets
are around
US$0.65*.
To El
Chaupi,
US$0.40*.
To Latacunga,
1 hour, USS$0.60*.
*Prices
are approximate
Last
updated 19th
July 2006
