It is said that its name comes from two words quichuas "Hatun and Taqui" which are translated as a great drum. Its population is formed by mestizos and indigenous people, in this population have been mainly dedicated to the manufacture of textile products, reason why it has been classified as "center of the textile Industry of Ecuador"
Every Sunday the weekly fair is held; The Big Textile Fair is held twice a year during the Carnival season and in August.
The fries of Atuntaqui, are of fame, the most known are the fried Amazon that are in the outskirts of the population by the Panamericana.
By car or public transport from the city of Ibarra to 22 min of journey by the Panamerican Highway north.