Loja is a beautiful city in southern Ecuador, located in the Andes Mountains. It is known for its colonial architecture, its vibrant culture, and its proximity to several natural attractions, including Podocarpus National Park and the Vilcabamba Valley. Loja is a great place to visit if you are looking for a city with a rich history and culture, stunning scenery, and plenty of outdoor activities.
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
What to do in Loja
Here are some of the things you can do in Loja:
- Visit the Cathedral of Loja, a beautiful church that was built in the 17th century.
- Explore the Parque Central, a large park in the heart of the city.
- Take a walk along the Malecón, a waterfront promenade with stunning views of the mountains.
- Visit the Pumapungo Museum, an archaeological museum that exhibits artifacts from the Inca and pre-Inca cultures.
- Go hiking or trekking in Podocarpus National Park, a protected area that encompasses a variety of ecosystems, including cloud forests, waterfalls, and Andean grasslands.
- Visit the Vilcabamba Valley, a region known for its healthy climate and its residents’ longevity.
- Enjoy the local cuisine, which includes dishes such as llapingachos, a dish of fried mashed potatoes with cheese, and cuy, a dish of roasted guinea pig.
Tips for your visit
Here are some tips for planning your trip to Loja:
- The best time to visit Loja is during the dry season, which runs from June to September.
- The average temperature in Loja is 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Loja is a relatively safe city, but it is always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against petty theft.
- Be sure to bargain when shopping at the local markets.
- Tipping is not expected in Loja, but it is appreciated.
- If you plan hiking or trekking, be sure to bring the appropriate gear, such as hiking boots, sunscreen, and a hat.
Like this:
Like Loading...