# Cotacachi Canton, Imbabura Province – Parishes, Villages & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/

Canton · Imbabura Province 

# Cotacachi Canton

Cotacachi Canton is a canton of Ecuador in Imbabura Province. It covers **1,865.0 km²**. Its main town is Cotacachi. It is divided into 9 parishes. 173 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 238 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,865km²
- 9parishes
- 238mapped services

## Where is Cotacachi Canton?

Cotacachi Canton lies in [Imbabura Province](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/), [Ecuador](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/). It borders 9 other cantons: [Antonio Ante Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/antonio-ante/), [Distrito Metropolitano de Quito Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/pichincha/distrito-metropolitano-de-quito/), [Eloy Alfaro Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/esmeraldas/eloy-alfaro/), [Otavalo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/otavalo/), [Pedro Vicente Maldonado Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/pichincha/pedro-vicente-maldonado/), [Puerto Quito Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/pichincha/puerto-quito/), [Quinindé Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/esmeraldas/quininde/), [San Lorenzo Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/esmeraldas/san-lorenzo/) and [San Miguel de Urcuquí Canton](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/san-miguel-de-urcuqui/). By area it is the 33rd largest of 221 cantons in Ecuador. It covers 38.9% of [Imbabura Province](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/). The centre of Cotacachi Canton is about 70 km in a straight line from Quito, the capital. It is about 37 km from Ibarra, the main town of Imbabura Province. The centre point is at 0.3956° N, 78.4515° W.

Source: [INEC - Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-ecu).

## Things to see in and around Cotacachi Canton

OpenStreetMap lists 37 named sights in Cotacachi Canton: 17 attractions; 9 viewpoints; 3 museums; 2 nature reserves; 2 waterfalls; 1 memorial; 1 hot spring; 1 archaeological site; 1 volcano.

- Centro Arqueologico Gualiman · museum
- Museo Ecologica Cotachi Cayapas · museum
- Museo de las Culturas · museum
- Tola · archaeological site
- Antigua Cascada · waterfall
- Balsapamba Waterfall · waterfall
- Bosque Protector Siempre Verde · nature reserve
- Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas · nature reserve
- El Arrayan · viewpoint
- El corazón · viewpoint
- La Compañía · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador Cotacachi · viewpoint
- Vladi mirador · viewpoint
- Bano Ritual · attraction
- Calendario Lunar · attraction
- Calendario Solar · attraction
- Campo Colibri · attraction
- Canope Zipline · attraction
- Casa del árbol "Intag" · attraction
- Cascada El Chorro · attraction
- Cuicocha Crater Lake · attraction
- End of trail around Cuicocha Lake · attraction
- Free entrance to Laguna Cuicocha (you need to cross under fance) · attraction
- Intag · attraction
- Intag Cloud Forest Reserve · attraction
- La Mega Intag · attraction

…and 7 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Cotacachi Canton

- Time zoneUTC−5, no daylight saving · America/Guayaquil
- CurrencyDollar (USD)
- Country calling code+593
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType A, B · 120 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format6 digits (######)

### Nearest airports

- Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) · Quito59 km
- Lieutenant Colonel Luis A. Mantilla International Airport (TUA) · Tulcán95 km

### Nearest railway station

Estación Andrade Marín (Atuntaqui), about 28 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.1 hours, sunrise around 06:09) and shortest in Dec (about 12.1 hours, sunrise around 06:05, sunset around 18:11).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Parishes of Cotacachi Canton

Parish Area km² Localities Services 

[Apuela](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/apuela/) 202 12 14 

[Cotacachi](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/cotacachi/) 66 34 124 

[García Moreno](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/garcia-moreno/) 887 54 42 

[Imantag](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/imantag/) 229 14 4 

[Peñaherrera](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/penaherrera/) 123 26 20 

[Plaza Gutiérrez](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/plaza-gutierrez/) 76 8 6 

[Quiroga](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/quiroga/) 46 16 25 

[Seis de Julio de Cuellaje](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/seis-de-julio-de-cuellaje/) 182 9 3 

[Vacas Galindo](https://wherepedia.org/ecuador/imbabura/cotacachi/vacas-galindo/) 55 4 0 

Source: [INEC - Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-ecu); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Cotacachi Canton

Open gazetteers list **173 villages, towns and localities** in Cotacachi Canton. The largest with a recorded population: Cotacachi (8,238). Settlements here lie between about 174 m and 3,148 m above sea level (median 2,209 m).

- Aguagrun
- Alambuela
- Anraby
- Apuela
- Arrayanes
- Azabí del Mortiñal
- Azaya
- Baratillo
- Barcelona
- Brillasol
- Cazarpamba
- Cercado
- Cerro Pelado
- Chalguayacu
- Chalguayacu Alto
- Chalguayacu Bajo
- Chilcapamba
- Chinipamba
- Chontal Alto
- Chontal Bajo
- Cielo Verde
- Colimbuela
- Cooperativa Independiente
- Cotacachi
- Cristopamba
- Cuaravi Alto
- Cuaravi Bajo
- Cuchilla Marin
- Cuellaje
- Cuicocha Centro
- Cumbas Conde
- Cushcagua
- Domingo Sabio
- El Baratillo
- El Cercado
- El Corazon
- El Corazón
- El Cristal
- El Limón
- El Morlan
- El Palmal
- El Paraiso
- El Pelado
- El Progreso
- El Quinde Talacos
- El Rosal
- El Rosario
- El Tambo
- El Triunfo
- Galápagos
- Garcia Moreno
- Gualimán
- Guamirla
- Guananin
- HDA. Nangulvi
- Hacienda Cuicocha
- Hacienda El Molino
- Hacienda El Rosario
- Hacienda Iltaquí
- Hacienda Iltaquí Chico
- Hacienda La Compañía
- Hacienda Ocampo
- Hacienda Peribuela
- Hacienda Piaba
- Hacienda Quitumbe
- Hacienda Quitumbita
- Hacienda San Martín
- Hacienda San Martín de Loza
- Hacienda San Martín de Villota
- Hacienda San Nicolás
- Hacienda Santa Rita
- Hacienda Talchigacho
- Hacienda Yanayacu
- Iguachupta
- Imantag
- Irubi
- Junin
- Junín
- La Armenia
- La Banda
- La Bodega
- La Calera
- La Delicia
- La Esperanza
- La Loma
- La Magnolia
- La Perla de Guayllabamba
- La Plata
- La Playa
- La Unión
- Las Golondrinas
- Limones
- Llurimaguas
- Los Bunques
- Los Corrales
- Magdalena Alto
- Magdalena Bajo
- Magdelena
- Magnolia
- Mirador de las Palmas
- Monopamba
- Morochos
- Nangulví Alto
- Nangulví Bajo
- Napoles
- Naranjito
- Nueva Fe
- Palma Real
- Palo Bobal
- Palo Seco
- Perafán
- Peribuela
- Peñaherrera
- Piava Chupa
- Piava San Pedro
- Piñán
- Playa Rica
- Plaza Gutiérrez
- Pucalpa
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Pueblo Unido
- Pueblo Viejo
- Puranqui
- Quiroga
- Quitugo
- Quitugo Chiquito
- Quitugo Grande
- Quitumba
- Rio Verde
- Rumiñahui
- Salto del Tigre
- San Agustin
- San Agustín
- San Alberto
- San Alberto de la Colonia
- San Antonio
- San Antonio de Pucara
- San Antonio de Punge
- San Bartolo de Cuicocha
- San Carlos
- San Fernando
- San Francisco
- San Guillermo
- San Ignacio
- San Jaoquin
- San Jorge de Iltaqui
- San Jose de Punge
- San Juan de las Palmas
- San Lorenzo
- San Martin Alto
- San Nicolas de Cuicocha
- San Pedro
- San Pedro Alto
- San Roque de Cajamarca
- Santa Alicia
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Isabel
- Santa Rita
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Rosa de Manduriacu
- Santa Rosa del Naranjal
- Siempre Unidos
- Tabla Chupa
- Talchigacho
- Tollo Intag
- Topo Grande
- Tortugo
- Tunibamba
- Turucu
- Ugshapungo
- Vacas Galindo
- Villadora
- Villaflora

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Cotacachi Canton

Named natural and historic features inside Cotacachi Canton, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

29 rivers and streams; 3 lakes.

- Lago Donoso
- Laguna de Cristococha
- Laguna de Cuicocha
- Quebrada Alambi
- Quebrada Chuinabi
- Quebrada Pichambichi
- Quebrada Pichaví
- Quebrada Quitubi
- Quebrada San Andrés
- Quebrada San José
- Quebrada Santa Rosa
- Quebrada Yanayacu
- Quebrada de Ilumán
- Río Aguagrún
- Río Aguas Claras
- Río Apuela
- Río Azabí
- Río Azabí Chico
- Río Bolaniguas
- Río Cariyacu
- Río Chalgua Yacu
- Río Chontal
- Río Cristo Pamba
- Río Intag

…and 8 more.

### Hills and mountains

2 mountains.

- Yana-urcu de Piñán · 4,377 m
- Güitig Alto · 2,849 m

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve.

- Reserva Biologica Los Cedros

### Estates

1 estate.

- Sr Rios, Las Golondrinas

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Cotacachi Canton and the best time to visit

In Cotacachi Canton, the warmest month is Sep (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jan (20 °C). About 1,125 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Apr (169 mm) and the driest Aug (23 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **May to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 20 132 

Feb 20 131 

Mar 20 161 

Apr 21 169 

May 21 120 

Jun 20 61 

Jul 20 34 

Aug 21 23 

Sep 21 36 

Oct 20 73 

Nov 20 88 

Dec 20 98 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Cotacachi Canton

Places mapped inside Cotacachi Canton in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals7
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels54
- Shopping malls1
- Schools53
- Colleges and universities8
- Pharmacies8
- Restaurants93
- Police stations3
- Dental clinics5

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Cotacachi Canton?In Imbabura Province, Ecuador
- What borders Cotacachi Canton?Antonio Ante Canton, Distrito Metropolitano de Quito Canton, Eloy Alfaro Canton, Otavalo Canton, Pedro Vicente Maldonado Canton, Puerto Quito Canton, Quinindé Canton, San Lorenzo Canton and San Miguel de Urcuquí Canton
- What is there to see in Cotacachi Canton?Aguas Termales de Nangulví, Antigua Cascada, Balsapamba Waterfall, Bano Ritual
- What time zone is Cotacachi Canton in?UTC−5
- What currency is used in Cotacachi Canton?Dollar (USD)
- What language is spoken in Cotacachi Canton?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Cotacachi Canton?173 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Cotacachi Canton?Settlements lie between 174 m and 3,148 m
- What is the highest point in Cotacachi Canton?Yana-urcu de Piñán (4,377 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Cotacachi Canton?May to December
- How many hospitals are in Cotacachi Canton?7 mapped
- How many banks are in Cotacachi Canton?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Cotacachi Canton?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Cotacachi Canton?EC1003 (OCHA common operational dataset)