Latacunga

Also known as San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga

thumb|Monument to Vicente León on the main square of Latacunga Latacunga (; Quechua: Latakunga) is a plateau city of Ecuador, capital of the Cotopaxi Province, south of Quito, near the confluence of the Alaquez and Cutuchi rivers to form the Patate, the headstream of the Pastaza. At the time of census 2022 Latacunga had a population of 77,267 largely mestizo and indigenous.

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Place details

Locality: Latacunga
Region: Cotopaxi
Country: Ecuador
Population: 205,624
Timezone: America/Guayaquil

via OpenStreetMap · GeoNames

Key facts

Settlement.name: Latacunga
Settlement.official_name: San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga
Settlement.settlement_type: City
Settlement.total_type: City
Settlement.nickname: Mashca City (Ciudad Mashca)
Settlement.pushpin_map: Ecuador
Settlement.pushpin_map_caption: Latacunga's location in Ecuador
Settlement.pushpin_label_position: top
Settlement.image_flag: BanderaLatacunga.svg
Settlement.image_skyline: Collage Latacunga.png
Settlement.image_caption: From top, left to right: Central Park Vicente León, Saint Joseph Cathedral, City hall of Latacunga, the House of the Marquises, Chile Square, Vicente León High School, Our Lady of Mercy Church, Cotopaxi Technical University and Salcedo Street.
Settlement.subdivision_type: Country
Settlement.subdivision_type1: Province
Settlement.subdivision_type2: Canton
Settlement.subdivision_name2: Latacunga
Settlement.established_title: Founded
Settlement.established_date: April 12, 1557
Settlement.founder: Antonio de Clavijo

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official name: San Vicente Mártir de Latacunga
Demonym: Latacungueño/a
Population: 77267
Area: 34.16
Elevation: 2770
Official website: www.latacunga.gob.ec
Image: Collage Latacunga.png
Dialing code: 593 3

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Latacunga
Commons gallery: Latacunga
Human Development Index: 0.774
inception: 1584-10-27
postal code: EC050150
P8168: Hellmuth Hirth
P12749: Freguesia de Pocariça

Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

Travel guide

Get around

Latacunga center is a small and it is an easy 10-minute walk to the bus terminal. The center is compact and best explored on foot.

Do

Ideally located near the Cotopaxi, Latacunga allows the organization of mountaineering. Most of the agencies to organized guided climbs are on Guayaquil street. They offer tours to Chimborazo and Quilotoa as well. In addition, the prices for expeditions are cheaper compared to the one organized from Quito.

Buy

You may find almost anything as long as it’s made of plastic, including warm clothes for trekking. However don’t expect to find other outdoor stuff: shoes are mostly expensive fakes ($50-90), there are no walking sticks (unless you go to The Mall, apparently).

Eat

The most famous and unhealthy dish from Latacunga is call the Chugchucaras is made of deep fried pork, boiled hominy, potatoes, fried plantains, sweet empanadas, popcorn, and pork rinds. It is accompanied by aji, a spicy sauce made with hot peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. If you are hungry you can order one for yourself but it can be easily shared. Most of the restaurant which served the Chugchucaras are located on Quijando y Ordoñez street. You may also easily find cebichochos (vegetarian chick peas ceviche) on the street.