Aug 30, 2009 - Latacunga

We arrived in Latacunga after a short 2hr bus ride from Banos. ... Latacunga itself is a bit of a non touristy small city, but has a nice downtown area with narrow streets and colourful buildings. ... We were in Latacunga to travel the Quilotoa Loop and see the Quilotoa Lake, which is located in an extinct volcano. ... We spent a day exploring Latacunga, and tried their famous dish, the chugchucara. ... The next day we had to get up at 2:30am to catch the only bus to get us back to Latacunga. ...

Mar 8, 2009 - Latacunga 01/09

Latacunga is much bigger than I was expecting, but it has that Sunday afternoon deserted look to it. ... Tuesday Afternoon I checked out of the hotel in Latacunga, wandered through the market for a bit, I then caught a bus for the tiny village of Zumbahua. ... com/photos/96271493@N00/sets/72157614453633722/" target="_blank">Latacunga I just added a link for Machachi on the previous entry as well. ...

Nov 5, 2008 - Latacunga

The good: breathtaking views, fantastic adventurous activities and friendly people The bad: a stolen camera and sunglasses (i´m over it!) The ugly: a sprained ankle The stupid: hiking on said sprained ankle for 3 days and cyclying 65km The stinky: wearing the same clothes for 3 days in Quito b/c I put all my clothes (except what was on my back) into the ONLY local laundromat that closed for 2 days over a holiday. The latest:Completed a fantastic 3-day loop (via bus, truck and on foot) from Latacunga through 2 small villages in the highlands. ... Returned to Latacunga specifically to participate in the annual Mama Negra Festival, which attracts 100,000 people every year. ... Unfortunately a pre-event fireworks accident killed a boy and injured several others, so they postponed the event and everyone in town was out of luck.The good: breathtaking views, fantastic adventurous activities and friendly people The bad: a stolen camera and sunglasses (i´m over it!) The ugly: a sprained ankle The stupid: hiking on said sprained ankle for 3 days and cyclying 65km The stinky: wearing the same clothes for 3 days in Quito b/c I put all my clothes (except what was on my back) into the ONLY local laundromat that closed for 2 days over a holiday. The latest:Completed a fantastic 3-day loop (via bus, truck and on foot) from Latacunga through 2 small villages in the highlands. ... Returned to Latacunga specifically to participate in the annual Mama Negra Festival, which attracts 100,000 people every year. ... Unfortunately a pre-event fireworks accident killed a boy and injured several others, so they postponed the event and everyone in town was out of luck....

May 25, 2008 - Quad Motorbiking in Banos and arriving in Latacunga, Ecuador

QUAD MOTORBIKING We got up at 6AM to go to our favorite hotspring for the last time before leaving today. The town of Latacunga is medium size and except for the historical center, the town is unattractive and sometimes feels unsafe at night. ... We found a hostel, Residencial Amazonas next to the food market in Latacunga (USD 12 for 3 beds with private bathroom) to stay for the night before leaving for the Crater Lake Qilotoa the next day. ... The room is inexpensive but it was one of the worst we stayed in as there was no window and everything looked run down.QUAD MOTORBIKING We got up at 6AM to go to our favorite hotspring for the last time before leaving today. The town of Latacunga is medium size and except for the historical center, the town is unattractive and sometimes feels unsafe at night. ... We found a hostel, Residencial Amazonas next to the food market in Latacunga (USD 12 for 3 beds with private bathroom) to stay for the night before leaving for the Crater Lake Qilotoa the next day. ... The room is inexpensive but it was one of the worst we stayed in as there was no window and everything looked run down....

May 26, 2007 - Back to Quilatoa

I decided to head back to the Quilatoa area before meeting up with the family in Columbia.I decided to head back to the Quilatoa area before meeting up with the family in Columbia....

Aug 31, 2006 - Ecuador: Latacunga

Hotel: Estambul. The city of Latacunga is really quite nice with some pretty old architecture and a nice town square. ... I ate a a great little chicken rotisserie place.Hotel: Estambul. The city of Latacunga is really quite nice with some pretty old architecture and a nice town square. ... I ate a a great little chicken rotisserie place....

Aug 6, 2006 - Andes Hiking and Cotopoxi Volcano

We and our Inn friends piled into the back of a pickup truck a dusty, bumpy hour long ride to Quiltoa for our first big hike in the Andes (does anyone want to enter the road-paving business in Ecuador? Please??). After a, you guessed it, bumpy, dust choking 4:00 am wake-up bus ride from the Inn, complete with LOUD, BLARING music, lights on for safety and locals on their way to market with their piles and piles of goods, mostly 50 pound bags of flour, we arrived in Latacunga to meet our guide Nestor for a day trip to Cotopoxi, Ecudaor's highest active volcano. ... After a quick breakfast at Nestor's house, we three headed for more dusty, bumpy, unpaved roads for the back entrance to the Cotopaxi national park.We and our Inn friends piled into the back of a pickup truck a dusty, bumpy hour long ride to Quiltoa for our first big hike in the Andes (does anyone want to enter the road-paving business in Ecuador? Please??). After a, you guessed it, bumpy, dust choking 4:00 am wake-up bus ride from the Inn, complete with LOUD, BLARING music, lights on for safety and locals on their way to market with their piles and piles of goods, mostly 50 pound bags of flour, we arrived in Latacunga to meet our guide Nestor for a day trip to Cotopoxi, Ecudaor's highest active volcano. ... After a quick breakfast at Nestor's house, we three headed for more dusty, bumpy, unpaved roads for the back entrance to the Cotopaxi national park....

May 17, 2006 - Latacunga, Ecuador

On Wednesday the 17th I took the 8 hour ride north from Cuenca to Latacunga, back along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". ... By the time I got to Latacunga I had a better idea of what I wanted to do, but still no definite plans for my time after Latacunga. ... One of the main factors pushing me to get into Latacunga at this time was so I could visit the large local market at Saquisili on Thursday morning. ... Though it was really not by choice, since the guidebooks offer very little about what to do in Latacunga. ... Anyway, walking around Latacunga I heard about a nice park called Parque de la Laguna, so I wanted to check it out. ...

Jun 14, 2005 - Volcanoville (Mitad del Mundo and Latacunga)

) After that it was back to the Quito bus terminal to head to Latacunga the gateway to the major mountains. ... Then her pack fell on some guys head half way to Latacunga, and then when we got there and tried to get off the bus, they started driving away on her and she nearly had to jump. ... The town of Latacunga is truly a mountaineering paradise. ...

May 27, 2005 - Ecuador - Latacunga

This is the capital of the Cotopaxi province and was built largely from the local light grey pumice and the colonial character of the town has been well preserved. Latacunga is a thoroughly authentic highland town. ... It was impressive to see the glacier stretch up to the top of the volcano, and to also be standing at this height !!! We then had the walk down (which was a bit easier) before getting back into the 4x4 to take us back to Latacunga. ...

May 5, 2005 - Saquisili Markets

05.

May 3, 2005 - Latacunga and Quilotoa

We caught a bus south to Latacunga which is the main town in the Central Sierra region of Ecuador. ... The trip to Latacunga was interesting. ... Latacunga is a very interesting little city. ... We were expecting to have a number a bus options to return to Latacunga later in the day, but found out that the only direct service was at 1:30pm. ... Once we returned to Latacunga we again walked around the night market and enjoyed watching a game of volleyball in the main square. ...