Pichincha: an amazing tourist destination full of colors

What color palette defines Pichincha province?

In the province of Pichincha you will discover magic destinations full of colors and nuances as a result of the natural wealth and cultural heritage of its towns.

“Destino de Colores campaign” is designed to invite national and international tourists to visit this unique province located in the middle of the equinoctial line. 

Let's know the color of each beautiful destination:

1. In  Mindo  located in the Northwest of Pichincha, the iridescent colors of the hummingbirds' wings, the designs of the butterflies' wings are the perfect prelude to the green of its cloud forest.
2. In Machachi , South of Quito, the brown tones of the saddles, the red ponchos, and the white of dairy production evoke the chacarera tradition of the capital of the land of the 9 volcanoes.
3. In  Pedro Vicente Maldonado  to the Northwest of Pichincha, it is represented by the green color because of its exuberant nature and large magic trees. Moreover by blue waters present in its waterfalls and rivers.
4. In Calderón  to the North of Quito, the blue of the sky joins its people and the yellow of the sun lights up its streets welcoming tourists. 
5. In Aloasí , to the South of Quito, shades of yellow and green paint the slopes of the El Corazón volcano. The wind paints waves of the golden paramo that descend into the deep green of its cultivated fields.
6. In  Calacalí,  located at zero latitude, in summer, the sky acquires shades of blue going to purple and orange sunsets that contrast with the shape of the Chocó Andino hills.
7. In La Merced, to the Southeast of Quito, the waters of its hot springs play with green and ocher tones distinctive of  the healing properties of the minerals in its famous pools.
8. In Lloa, the sky confuses the gaze of the tourists who, among the white tones of the cloud forest, perceive the basaltic blues of the Guagua and the Ruco Pichincha.
9. In Pacto, to the Northwest of Pichincha, a potpourri of green tones of the Chocó Andino, are reflected in the warm and beautiful waters of its waterfalls and rivers.
10. In  Pintag , Southeast of Quito, the white and imposing snows of the Antisana volcano impose their brilliance over the fields and lagoons of this fertile land.
11. In Pomasqui, North of Quito, orange sunsets and blue sunrises provide the perfect prelude for tourists exploring Pichincha looking for the Middle of the World.
12. In El Quinche, tourists perceive violets, yellows and golds. All these colors flood its incomparable sunsets.

12 colorful destinations

• In 2022, the Prefectura de Pichincha declared the official destination list of Destino de Colores , a select group of rural destinations of Pichincha province that offer to tourists a variety of tourism experiences oriented to contact with nature and culture; as well as sustainable and community tourism experiences.
• Aloasí,  Calacalí,  Calderón,  La Merced,  Lloa,  Mindo,  Machachi,  Pacto,  Pedro Vicente Maldonado,  Pintag,  Pomasqui  and El Quinche are part of the first group of Destino de Colores of Pichincha .
• Prefectura de Pichincha, through the Destino de Colores campaign, promotes the entrepreneurial spirit of Pichincha people. They, full of determination, effort and perseverance have built a system of first-class tourist services ready to receive national and international tourists.

Mindo

• Mindo belongs to the  San Miguel de Los Bancos canton,  in the  province of Pichincha , it is located about 80 km northwest of  Quito,  the capital of  Ecuador.
• The best season to visit  Mindo in Ecuador  is probably between May and December when the weather is drier.
• No matter when you are in Ecuador, Mindo is a must-see.
• The Mindo Nambillo Protected Forest  is located in a valley of 19,000 protected hectares, called the  Mindo Nambillo Protected Forest; in this ecosystem inhabit about 500 varieties of birds and 90 species of butterflies. Likewise, in the Mindo reserve park, more than 170 species of orchids have been identified as well as bromeliads, heliconias, ferns, vines, mosses and lichens. 
• Mindo has  butterfly farms,  the most known is about 2 miles from midtown, you can get there by taxi for just $ 3 dollars per way.
• The best orchidarium ( orchid  collection) is the Orchid Garden next to the corner of the sports field. Owners are passionate about orchids and offer a guided tour with all kinds of interesting details for around 1.50 dollars.
• In the  Ecoruta del Quinde  you can enjoy magical landscapes such as the  cloud forest  and the  Ruins of Tulipe..
• Mindo has a wide range of accommodation for all budgets, from the most economical and cheerful through comfortable and rustic to luxury accommodation.
• Regarding gastronomy, the most requested dishes are: caldo de gallina criolla (chicken soup), lomo a la piedra, fritada (fried pork meat) , ceviche de palmito, trucha (river fish), maito (fish cooked in leaves) and fried tilapia (fried fish).

Machachi

• Machachi is in a valley located near to the San Pedro river at the south of   Pichincha province at 2,949 meters above sea level.
• Machachi is a meeting place and starting point for tourist activities. There you can also taste  local and typical Ecuadorian cuisine. Tourists can enjoy cultural events, artisanal markets and especially the friendliness of its people.
• One of the entrances to the  Cotopaxi Volcano  is located in Machachi. It is possible to appreciate its scenic beauty from the surroundings without climbing, as well as enjoying activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping.
• From Machachi it is possible to enter to the protected area of ​​the Cotopaxi National Park , going to the Santa Ana neighborhood of El Pedregal, going through haciendas and enjoying the rural landscape for approx. 14 km.
• The  Sincholagua Volcano  , currently extinguished and eroded, is at 4,919 meters above sea level. This represents a refuge for deer and a dwelling place for condors, as well as hosting a segment of  the Inca Trail.
• The  Rumiñahui Volcano  is a privileged balcony to observe other elevations: Cotopaxi, Illinizas, Pasochoa, Sincholagua, among others.
• The San Miguel del Pedregal Waterfall  presents an impressive waterfall in a remnant of Andean forest where yaguales, pumamaquis, quishuares, among others, also a variety of birds predominate.
• The Chagra Culture  represented by huarmis and caris chagras, are a symbol of the miscegenation of our ancestors with Spanish culture; with customs and traditions that have prevailed for hundreds of years.
• At the  Sunday Fair  healthy vegetables, varieties of tubers, colorful grains and fruits from different parts of the country, form a rainbow at the  Machachi Sunday Fair  located in the center of the city.
• At the Barros Fair,  little clay pots with a wooden spoon add the traditional seasoning in the preparation of traditional Ecuadorian food. 

Pedro Vicente Maldonado 

• It is a place where you can find and enjoy several ecotourism sites where water sports such as rafting and kayaking are common .
• The area is a paradise to scientific research, especially by national and foreign biologists.
• Most of the population of Pedro Vicente Maldonado is of Lojano origin, that is why many names reflect this heritage: Célica, El Cisne among others.
• Pedro Vicente Maldonado, is known  by its diversity of waterfalls: Salto del Tigre waterfall, Achotillo River waterfall, Blue waterfall, Tatalá waterfall , Hidden waterfall , Green waterfalls. Also it is known by its rivers: Jordan river, Pitzara river, San Dimas river, Cabuyal river, Las Tinas river, Pachijal river, Silanche river, Achiote river, among others.
• Pedro Vicente Mcdonalds has rich cultivation fields because of its natural and weather conditions. The production of coffee, rice, and a wide variety of fruit are recognized all over the country.
• Pedro Vicnete Maldonado has valuable raw materials highly appreciated by the industry: cabuya, African palm, rubber, sugar cane, bamboo, hearts of palm, peanuts, etc.
• Today, Pedro Vicente Maldonado grows quickly thanks to the dedication and hard work of its community.

Calderon

• Calderón is a rural town part of Quito,  the capital of Pichincha province.
• In the Guangüiltagua plateau are located Calderón and  Llano Chico; many people have chosen this place to live thanks to its weather conditions. The dry climate is propitious for the convalescence of diseases that are acquired in humid places.
• There are  main cultural heritages that remain in Calderón: the celebration of the Day of the Dead on November 2nd, the elaboration of  marzipan handicrafts  and the  carving of wooden furniture  that have transcended despite the years and the growth of the population.
• In 1930 with the construction of the  Panamericana Norte Highway divided the town of Calderón in two. Today this highway is the main access route to  Calderón.
• Calderón is also connected to the  center of Quito  by the  Simón Bolívar  Highway.
• To access Calderon from Quito you take 10 de Agosto avenue to the North, later this avenue takes the name of Galo Plaza avenue,  go until  the  Carcelén interchange road , there you take  Panamericana Norte  go until the entrance bridge to Calderón.
• Calderón's colors reflect the brown tones of the wood used in its crafts and all the colors of the rainbow that delight the gaze of tourists who contemplate the creativity of the marzipan figures.

El Quinche 

• El Quinche belongs to Quito, the capital of Pichincha province.
• El Quinche is one hour from Quito and it is known as  a site of the  pilgrimage to the Virgin of Quinche.
• Every year there are pilgrims who go by foot from Quito to Quinche.
• This is a pilgrimage famous for being the most miraculous in the northern highlands of Ecuador.
• This population has hotel infrastructure for tourists who wish to stay for several days.
• Baños de cajón (individual sauna wooden boxes) in La Victoria, the train line and its tunnels are places for relaxation and healing; as well as for hiking and biking.
• The word Quinche originates from the Mayan language ¨Cakchiquel¨, whose meaning is made up of two words; Quin means Sun and Chi means Mountain, as a result it is the sun mountain.
• El Quinche can be reached by two different routes: by Pifo  or by  Guayllabamba  (passing through the Quito zoo).
• The route through Pifo is shorter and takes an hour and a half, the buses leave from the north station of the Ecovía in Quito.
• El Quinche colors reflect the gold of the crown and the light blue of the cape of its patron saint, the Virgen del Quinche.

Aloasi 

• Aloasi is one of the 12 colorful destinations of Pichincha province. It is located in Mejía, in the South of Quito. Its population is one of the oldest in the Andean region and its ancestry dates back to pre-Inca times.
• Aloasi is at the foot of the Corazón volcano, 2.5 km west of  Machachi, one kilometer South of " The railway station " and 35 kilometers from  Quito.
• The  Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores  , of high patrimonial value, is the center of religious celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary in September and Holy Week.
• The Ernesto Albuja Cultural Center exhibits the traditions and culture of this town characterized by a railway spirit.
• The Aloasí train station is the faithful witness of the railway tradition. All the tourism industry of this beautiful small town is developed around it. 
• At the Miraflores Alto agroecological farm, agritourism experiences are offered to the tourists. They can take food, "from the bush, to the pot
• In the Cumbitero de Umbría Protected Forest, a magnificent forest, camping area, trails and viewpoints await lovers of observing Andean flora and fauna.
• El Corazón Volcano  dominates the view of the visitors of Aloasí, through the trails that lead to its summit. Hikers will be able to admire the valley of the 9 volcanoes of Mejía. 
• At Hostería La Estación, a colonial farmhouse, tourists can stay in the midst of impressive artistic works by Caspicara himself, the famous Legarda and Vélez, which together with works by unknown authors, create an environment of exceptional beauty and profound culture.
• In the Luz de Umbría restaurant , the famous “fritada de cordero” (fried lamb) is the delight of lovers of Andean gastronomy.
• At La Avanzada Ice Cream Shop, the colors and flavors of Pichincha's fruits explode on the palates of tourists who explore Pichincha's Colorful Destinations.

Calacali 

• Calacalí represents the diversity of Pichincha, it is located near the legendary and inactive Pululahua and shares the clouds with the Yunguilla protected forest in the middle of the Chocó Andino, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2018.
• Located 17 km  north of Quito , near to the Mitad del Mundo, it is the entrance to the northwest of the province of Pichincha.
• In the Chocó Andino Biosphere Reserve , cloud forests are home to 270 types of mammals, 30% of all birds and 15% of the country's plant species; spectacled bears, collided toucans, roosters of the rock, ocelots, olingos, black-breasted and an infinity of amphibians, insects, and reptiles.
• In the  Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve , trails and recreational areas, perfect for walking with the family while enjoying a spectacular view of the crater of the Pululahua Volcano. Trekking, cycling, horseback riding, camping, picnicking and other adventure activities await you at Pululahua.
• In the  Yunguilla Cloud Forest Reserve , community, sustainable, ecological and conservation tourism experiences allow tourists to enjoy the exuberant cloud forest mountains to the northwest of the Metropolitan District of Quito. 
• The original monument of the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo), was the first to be installed in this region; this is preserved as a reminder of being at the true center of the Earth.
• At the  Carlota Jaramillo House Museum , tourists will be able to move into the life of the "Queen of National Song" walking through the corridors of her house, where records, guitars, costumes and a thousand and one memories witness to the love that Carlota cultivated through the years.
• In the Church of Santa María Magdalena de Calacalí , in the Sucre park, in its central pool and even in the stone cross in its cemetery, tourists will be able to admire the architectural techniques that have been developed in this town since colonial times.
• The gastronomy of Calacalí offers to tourists the traditional desserts of espumilla, arepas de dulce  and biscuits from Calacalí.  

La Merced 

• Entrance to the Ilaló volcano, inactive and highly eroded, located in the Guayllabamba river basin, 8 km East of Quito, a famous tourist destination for sports and relaxation lovers.
• In the Ilaló Tourist Spa, mountain biking is rewarded with the landscapes of its hills and the relaxation offered by its thermal waters.
• At the La Merced Thermal Waters Spa, the medicinal properties of the thermal waters offer healing and relaxing experiences in the midst of a beautiful landscape. 
• In the La Cocha tourist complex , the Casacay river forms a mirror of water that creates the ideal place for a spa with sand and stones.
• At the  El Aliso Agroecological Farm , recreational fishing for red and black trouts; and the harvest of fruit trees await you with a memorable agrotourism experience.
• The Ilaló Viewpoint offers hiking experiences, well rewarded with spectacular landscapes that include the remains of volcanic lava flows and cinder cones.
• The gastronomy of La Merced offers hornado (baked pork meat), cuy (cooked guinea pigs), sopa de gallina criolla (chicken soup), corn, potatoes and the famous mashcasango.

Lloa 

• Lloa is a land of natural medicines from the paramo and the cloud forest, it was part of the only road that linked the Coast with the Sierra region in the 20th century. It is part of the Andean Chocó.
• Lloa is located 30 minutes from Quito, between 1,800 and 4,675 meters above sea level. Huayrapungo ("door to the wind") is the entrance to Lloa.
• In the  Sanctuary of Cinto , the pilgrimage to the sanctuary takes place every Sunday in September; hundreds of believers come to the site to venerate the Virgin Mary painted on the stone.
• The  Guagua Pichincha volcano is the main attraction of Lloa, its refuge is 40 minutes from the town if you go by 4x4 vehicle, and from it, 3 hours of hiking will allow you to crown the peaks of the Pichinchas.
• The  thermal waters of Urauco and its seven waterfalls offer community tourism experiences that are ideal for admiring the primary forests and enjoying thermal water pools.
• If you want to experience its popular festivals , visit Lloa during the pilgrimage with the Virgen del Volcán in the second week of August or at Easter , when a representation of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ is staged.
• The Virgen del Cinto, an association of Merchant Producers, has been promoted for 12 years by a group of women who produce fresh agricultural products.

Pacto

• Pacto is located in the Northwest of Pichincha. It is part of the Chocó Andino biosphere reserve, with altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,800 meters above sea level.
• In the  Mariposas and Guañas Reserves,  the Al-Shamal Reserve,  the Mashpi Reserve, the  Amagusa Reserve and the  Pambiliño Reserve, community tourism experiences give tourists the opportunity to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Andean Chocó.
• In Pacto, spectacular waterfalls offer ideal places for hiking, canyoning, swimming, flora and fauna observation. The waterfalls of El Gallito de la Peña,  el Duende, El Rosario,  El Progreso,  Mariposa Azul, Sardinas,  3 Marías,  Garganta del Encantador stand out. In the months of June, July and August in the Pachijal river a set of water tubs, naturally formed in the middle of large rocks, where you can enjoy relaxing baths.
• This incredible set of waterfalls and rivers are part of the Pacto water system. The most important are: ChirapiI,  Pishashi, Pachijal  and Mashpi river.
• In the El Paraíso panela production cooperative, panela derivatives are produced; they have been exported to Europe for a decade: organic panela, granulated and in sachets, as well as honey, brandy, rum, among others.
• Guayabilla jams take advantage of salak (known as Andean gum), mangosteen, borojó, arsá and achotillo for the production of delicious jams.
• Pacto wines have been producing borojó wine for 10 years, a very technical and robust wine.

Pintag 

• Píntag is known for its incomparable sunsets that fill the sky with whimsical nuances. This beautiful destination is located only 35 km from Quito. 
• The  Antisana volcano  dominates the landscape of Píntag, a complex of lagoons turns the area – it is 30 minutes South of Quito – into a fascinating amalgamation of habitats. Its name pays tribute to the Quito chief who used it as a resistance base during the Inca invasion and who is celebrated in September with horseback riding, horse races, lasso contests, herded and bullfights.
• In Yanasacha , hawks, condors, rabbits, curiquingues and vultures can be seen in this Andean wasteland.
• The Sincholagua volcano is a rocky elevation surrounded by grasslands, it is ideal for trekking and spotting deer, pumas, wolves and the chuquiragua or "flower of mountaineering", while in the Secas lagoon, at 3,245 meters above sea level, you can fish trouts.
• The  Muertepungo  ("gate of death") and La Mica lagoons are a mandatory stop for hikers exploring the Píntag moors.
• In the Tipo-Pugro lagoon,  boat rides are available as well as visits to the  Sanctuary of the Andean condor and hummingbird  and the  Antisana Ecological Reserve , of 120,000 hectares.
• The central park and the church of Píntag are also points of interest. You will find paintings and sculptures, such as the image of St. Jeronimo, the saint of earthquakes.

Pomasqui 

• Located at 2,350 meters above sea level, Pomasqui rises between the slopes of the Pacpo and Casitahua hills, North of Quito. Its name is related to the presence of pumas in the sector.
• Paseo Bolívar is the main street of Pomasqui, this begins at the Franciscan convent and ends at the central park or Yerovi park . You will see traditional constructions, a stone sundial and a mural that stage life in the 20s. In addition, you can enjoy the paila ice cream made by the Franciscan nuns.
• The Mother Church of Pomasqui , is the symbol of the town; its neoclassical construction dates from the 16th century, however, the earthquakes that struck the area almost completely destroyed it, so it had to be rebuilt several times, the most important being in 1924.
• In the Antonio Negrete Museum , the sculptures of the Pomasqueño artist Antonio Negrete, a specialist in the elaboration of busts of great historical figures, are exhibited.
• The Señor del Árbol Sanctuary , located next to the church, houses the famous sculpture of the Señor del Árbol de Pomasqui, whose body is the trunk of a kishwar (native tree) and its head was carved by the indigenous sculptor, Manuel Chili “Caspicara”. 
• From the Mirador de la Rosa Mística , you can admire volcanoes such as  Cotopaxi  and  Cayambe , as well as a panoramic view of the  Calderón  and Tumbaco valleys, located North of Quito. In this place stands the chapel of the  Virgin of the Mystic Rose , protector of Pomasqui.
• Pomasquinde, is the first urban bird watching site, embedded in the side of the Pomasquí ravine, in this place tourists can literally interact with 23 types of birds of impressive beauty. Pomasquinde is a must see.
• In the Agave House , a tour of more than 27 kinds of agaves allow us to understand the production of food, beverages, fiber and raw material for the construction of instruments. At Casa Agave the tourist can also learn about the history of the Mishqueros, who knew all the techniques to take advantage of the benefits of this plant.