When you arrive to Loja, you’ll find a city full of diversity, where tradition and culture mix with a prodigious nature and colonial style streets, houses, museums, parks and churches. The city is a wonderful place that has inspired poets, writers and musicians. This is the starting point for an unforgettable trip, in which the amazing natural scenery traps you with color and music, permanently showing you new fascinating things.

The tour starts heading south, after a ten minute car ride to the entrance of the Podocarpus National Park. A colorful mural shows the biodiversity of the place and opens its doors to visitors. The path that takes to the shelter is on this first section, continuously giving you clues that you are entering into a fabulous place. While ascending, you may enjoy a panoramic view of Loja and the nearest valleys, its green countryside and the singing birds. Read more…

Next in our tour, 35 km from Loja, you find the Valley of Malacatos. Land of sugarcane and coffee beans, the place still keeps its tranquil and colonial atmosphere from old days. Their traditions have been kept intact until today allowing you to enjoy, on Sundays and holidays, cultural events or traditional bands playing in the main square. By this park you can find the "Diocesano Del Señor de la Caridad" Sanctuary, build in 1942. This building – which architecture is a mix between traditional and modern styles- store important religious art pieces. Read more…

Finally, the enchanted valley!…10 km. from Malacatos, you can find this “hidden paradise”, where nature and tradition are combined to create a perfect scenery for long walks, horse back riding or bicking to enjoy every corner of Vilcabamba.

The Valley has different natural sites appreciated by tourist, such as the Sacred Mandango Mountain, the Podocarpus National Park, Guaranga Hill, Las Palmas, Los Estoraques or Suro Cathedral, between others. Read more…