Carchi Province

Carchi is the northest province in Ecuador, just next to the border line with Colombia, its beauty is incredible but it is not well promoted, that´s why we decided to go to 2 places in this province:

La Gruta de la Paz.- (La Paz cavern) From Quito take the Panamericana Norte (Pananorte) toIbarra (2260m N 00°20.448´ W 78°08.704´), pass by the Chota valley, el Juncal, Bolívar (2638m N 00°30.523´ W 77°54.386´) until Paz in aproximately one and a half hour. La Paz is a little town with 3000 inhabitants that basically are farmers

There are two ways to get the cavern, one is from San Gabriel and the other one is from La Paz, being the last one shorter and in better conditions than the first one. Inthe central park in the village there is a sign showing the way to the cavern, from this point it is about 4 km of stoned path, it is ver narrow so you better take care.You pay to enter to the cavern only if you´ll use the spring waters.

The legend says tat local people found the statue inside the cavern and its figure seemed like the virgin, they just painted and put clothes on, so it was no made by men.

Inside the cavern there is the virgin statue over a platform at the bottom of a chapel, next to it there is a riverthat comes from inside the cavern, there are also pipes with hot water to the spring waters. The devotion of the people is reflected in all the plaques thanking for miracles, even some people have left their crutches showing that thye had been blessed with a miracle. Like an any cavern there are bats ans stalactites. We recomned you to buy "amasado" cheese in La Paz town, they are delicious!

El Salado lagoon.- (2777m N 00°34.932´ W 77° 47.323´) Going by the Pananorte to San Gabriel take the way to the right next to a gas station (just at he entrance of the town), there are no sign so you better ask locals how to get the lagoon. Once you arrive there you will enjoy the beauty of nature, trees, wild ducks, herons and fish. There is a space to camp at the end of the lagoon.

There are more destinations in Carchi province such as El Angel moorland, lots of lakes and lagoons, waterfalls, spring waters, etc.

It is a good idea to get all the information you need such as brochures and maps at I-Tur office in Atuntaqui (3001m N 00°19.900´ W 78° 12.633´)

More pics from these destinations in our gallery.