thumb|Monument to Vicente León on the main square of Latacunga

Latacunga (; Quechua: Latakunga) is a plateau city of Ecuador, capital of the Cotopaxi Province, south of Quito, near the confluence of the Alaquez and Cutuchi rivers to form the Patate, the headstream of the Pastaza. At the time of census 2022 Latacunga had a population of 77,267

Latacunga is an hour and half south from Quito on the Pan-American Highway. It was previously also on the old road from Quito to Guayaquil, and has a railway station between those cities. It is 9, 383. 2  ft (2,860 m). above sea level. Its climate is cold and windy, due to the neighboring snowclad heights, and the barren, pumice-covered tableland on which it stands. The active volcano Cotopaxi is only away, and the town has suffered repeatedly from eruptions. Founded in 1534, it was four times destroyed by earthquakes between 1698 and 1798. The neighboring ruins of an older native town are said to date from the Inca Empire. It takes place twice a year, and originates from a mixture of indigenous, Spanish and African influences. The first one was organized in September by the people from the markets "La Merced y Del Salto" in honor of the Virgin of Mercy, Virgen de la Merced. The Virgin is venerated because she allegedly stopped the Cotopaxi Volcano eruption in 1742. Inhabitants of Latacunga call her Abogada y patrona del volcan, meaning "advocate and patron of the volcano".

The second celebration is a party which Latacunga's inhabitants celebrate every year on Ecuador's Independence Day. It is a parade with the participation of well-known people, the army, clergy and others.

Both of these fiestas include a lengthy parade of various cultural characters, all dressed-up in various colors. The 'mama negra' is the last person to pass through, which is the culmination of each parade. It is a person with their face painted in black, riding a horse, and spraying the crowd with milk. Homemade strong alcoholic drinks are freely passed between one another along the parade route, which can be quite chaotic, closing the road at times and making the route impassable.

Historic downtown

Latacunga's historic downtown extends about 30 squares. Prominent buildings to visit are:

  • Saint Francis's church, the first church built in the city.
  • The municipal palace; it was built with pumice stone in a neoclassical style.
  • The Main Square in which stands a statue of Dr. Vicente Leon.

Climate

Latacunga features an Oceanic climate (Cfb) under Köppen climate classification.

Universities

  • Cotopaxi Technical University.
  • ESPE University of the Military Forces.

Sports

  • Club Deportivo Universidad Tecnica de Cotopaxi, is a soccer team of Latacunga City.
  • Sociedad Deportiva Flamengo is the city's football (soccer) club. They play their home games at Estadio La Cocha.

Transport

  • Cotopaxi International Airport

Notes

References

  • www.codeso.com Map of the Cotopaxi Province
  • Latacunga Travel Info