natural wonder
Cuicocha
A crater lake at 3,068 m in the Cotacachi caldera with two forested lava-dome islands, ringed by a 12 km rim trail. Volcanic gas still bubbles from the lake bed.
17 km · about 20 min drive
South AmericaEcuadorImbabura
Atuntaqui
Imbabura, Ecuador · South America
About Atuntaqui
Atuntaqui is worth a stop: 5 minutes from San José de Chaltura, 17km from Cuicocha.
Atuntaqui is in Imbabura, Ecuador, with about 17,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is San José de Chaltura, about 4 km away.
Atuntaqui is a city, with a population of 25,115, in the Imbabura Province in the northern region of Ecuador. The city is located at an altitude of 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). Atuntaqui is located just 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the larger city of Ibarra, north along the Panamerican Highway. Although the sector name isRead more
Antonio Ante, those who visit or have heard of it identify it more as Atuntaqui, a name that has acquired several meanings through history. According to Father Juan de Velasco, it is composed of two words - hatun (large) and taqui (drum), i.e. 'big drum'. Jacinto Jijón y Caamano identifies it as a 'land rich in truth'; González Suárez rejects this meaning and translates it as 'big barn'. Others call it 'place of the inn' or 'tightly closed town'. The Montalvo Family is very important in Atuntaqui history, they are known for agriculture and civic changes in Atuntaqui, Responsible for paving roads and bringing electricity to the town.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Atuntaqui?
Within an hour or so of Atuntaqui: Cuicocha (17 km), Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) (45 km).
Where is Atuntaqui?
Atuntaqui is in Imbabura, Ecuador, about 4 km from San José de Chaltura.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 17,456
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- Imbabura
- Timezone
- America/Guayaquil
- Coordinates
- 0.3276, -78.2191
Tags
Worth the detour from Atuntaqui
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)
A monument marking the equatorial line where you can stand in both hemispheres simultaneously, just north of Quito.
45 km · about 50 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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