Loja (200K people, 2060 masl) is the capital city in the extreme south of the country. A city characterized by its cleanliness and its devotion to the Virgin of the Swan "La churona". With some colonial style, its main squares, the cathedral and its churches are a good stop for people of culture.
Loja is perfect for base and go to Podocarpus National Park, Vilcabamba, Santurio de la Virgen del Cisne and Zamora. When you are at the southern end, you can cross to Peru (Piura). If necessary, you can apply for a visa ($ 30) at the Peruvian consulate.
Loja has a well-known gastronomic fame. The "cecina" consists of a thin fillet of pork seasoned and dried in the sun, served with yucca, onion salad with tomato and rice. Additionally, the famous "Tamal Lojano" with ajpa de pepa is a mass of grilled morocho stuffed with shredded chicken, all wrapped in an achira leaf. The tamale is served with a spicy sauce made from squash / pumpkin seeds. The "Repe Lojano" is a hot soup of banana, cheese and cilantro. Also the "Cuy" is very typical on Sundays in the surroundings of Jipiro Park.
The celebration in honor of the "Virgen del Cisne" consists of a massive pilgrimage from the sanctuary of the Virgin in the community El Cisne (70 km from Loja) to the city of Loja on August 15. Pilgrims carry the statue of the Virgin on their shoulders arriving in Loja on August 20. There they install her in the Cathedral to be worshiped until November 1 when the same pilgrimage begins in the opposite direction from Loja to El Cisne.
BY PLANE
Loja has a national airport that connects with direct flights to Quito and Guayaquil. The airline TAME has two daily roundtrip flights from Quito ($ 70 one way, 120 round trip, 1 hour), on Saturdays a single flight. Towards Guayaquil there are one or two daily flights roundtrip from Monday to Friday ($ 70 one way, 120 round trip, 1 hour). The shared taxi from the airport to the city costs $ 5 and leaves you at the address.
IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Loja is connected with bus service to the main cities of the country. The Terminal Terrestrial reigns of the Swan is in Av. Isidro Ayora and Av. 8 of December.
From Quito (Terminal Quitumbe) $ 15, 14 hours.
From Guayaquil $ 10, 8 hours.
From Ambato $ 12, 12 hours.
From Cuenca $ 7, 5 hours.
From Macará $ 6, 5 hours.
From Zumba $ 7.5, 6 hours.
From Huaquillas $ 10, 7 hours.
From Zamora $ 2.5, 2 hours.
From Catamayo (Airport) $ 1, 45 minutes.
From El Santuario el Cisne $ 2, 1.25 hours.
From Vilcabamba $ 1.3, 1 hour. Vilcabambaturis company
From Malacatos $ 1, 45 minutes.
TOWARDS PERU
Loja has direct buses to the three main border crossings Macará, Huaquillas and Zumba. The only direct service from Loja to Peru is from the company Loja Internacional to Piura ($ 12, 9 hours) and to Macará at the border post until the passengers register and continue to Piura. There are four schedules 7am, 1pm, 10:30 pm 11pm and it is advisable to buy tickets with days in advance.
For the borders of Huaquillas ($ 10, 7 hours) or Zumba ($ 7.5, 6 hours) you have to take a bus to these cities and cross the border on foot or by taxi and take another bus to the other side, this is tedious, more expensive (you have to pay in soles in Peru) and complicated. There are many scammers and baggage thieves on the border with fake money and high commissions for the exchange of currency.
AROUND THE CITY
Urban bus costs $ 0.25. The Green line travels from North to South and vice versa. The Red Line from East to West and vice versa.
Taxis have a meter and your minimum rate is $ 1.25 during the day and $ 1.40 during the night. Going anywhere in the city does not cost more than two dollars.
El Florecimiento de los Guayacanes Saturday 22 February 2025
Tourism
