Ecuador’s southern Andes is made up of the interesting provinces of Cañar, Azuay and Loja. The area is located to the south of the country and part of the region borders with Peru. An easy way to cross the border here is by taking a bus from Loja to Piura in Peru.
Cañar
The Cañar province is the furthest north of the three provinces and Azogues serves as its capital. Cañar is a small province that is around four square kilometers in size. This province also has the smallest population of the three. Cañar is where Ecuador’s most important Inca ruin, Ingapirca is located. Ecuador’s Inca Trail can be hiked, to reach this ruin, or alternatively it is possible to take a day trip from Cuenca, further south.
The city of Azogues is well known for its panama hat production. The Panama Hat (a straw hat) famously comes from Ecuador. Ecuador is the largest producer of Panama Hats. The hats here are mainly made for the export business, though some make their way to the hands of visitors.
Azuay
Moving further south, the Azuay province has Ecuador’s third largest city, Cuenca as its capital. The province covers around 8,639 square kilometers of Ecuador. Of the three southern Andes provinces, this one has the largest population. Azuay is easily accessible to both Quito and Guayaquil via flights to Cuenca and good bus routes along the Pan-American Highway, on which Cuenca is situated. Cuenca itself is a quiet town with many homes owned by Ecuadorians who live overseas in the United States or Spain.
Ecuador’s southern Andes is made up of the interesting provinces of Cañar, Azuay and Loja......
In addition to the city of Cuenca with its colonial churches, indigenous markets, panama hats and UNESCO heritage, Azuay houses the Cajas National Park, a traveler favorite in Ecuador. Around Cuenca it is possible to find Giron, Gualaceo and Chordeleg, where the visitor can enjoy shopping at local markets and taking in a waterfall. Much of Ecuador’s power is sourced from its largest hydroelectric plant, which is located in this province.
Loja
The Loja province unsurprisingly has Loja city as its capital. The Loja province is rather large, spanning more than 11,000 square kilometers. Loja is Ecuador’s southernmost major city. Due to its border with Peru, the Loja province has occasionally been a source of dispute for Ecuador and Peru. Loja itself has interesting historical buildings and colonial architecture. The Loja province has the Podocarpus National Park within its boundaries, and this is easily accessible from either Loja or Vilcabamba.
Vilcabamba, one of the “Gringo” hot spots of the country is known for the youthfulness of the people who live in this tiny, tranquil village. The valley in which it is situated is known as the “Valley of Longevity”. It is easy to see why when visiting—life is very laid back here. This has for many years been a spot where expats choose to retire and real estate business is big here.
