natural wonder
Chimborazo
Ecuador's 6,263 m ice-capped giant: the farthest point from Earth's centre. A wild vicuña-lined road climbs its flanks to the Carrel refuge at 4,850 m.
19 km · about 20 min drive
Chimborazo Province, Ecuador · South America
San Juan is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Calpi, 19km from Chimborazo.
San Juan is a town located in Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. With a population of 0, it is an important destination in South America.
On a road trip, San Juan sits in Ecuador, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Guayaquil time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add San Juan to your route.
Cajabamba (Villa la Unión) is a location in the Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. It is the seat of the Colta Canton.
The village of Cajabamba (Kichwa: Kashapampa, "thorn plain") is situated in a fertile arable valley in Colta Canton, Chimborazo Province (Chimborazo = "snows on the other side"). It is unknown when theRead more
valley was first inhabited but it is known to have been settled in pre-Incan times as the city of Liribamba, the capital of the ancient Puruhá people. As the Incan empire expanded, the region became an area of conquest and was fully under the control of the Inca by the time of Wayna Qhapaq. After the capture and subsequent murder of his son and successor Atahualpa in Cajamarca, resistance to the conquista centered on the Incan general Rumiñawi, who withdrew his troops to the region. After a drawn-out series of engagements with the conquistadors, who allied with the Cañari (recently conquered Incan subjects), Rumiñawi, faced with the prospect of near-certain defeat, ordered the city of Liribamba burned and the treasures of the Incas hidden or destroyed.
Within the month (August 1534), Spanish conquistador Diego de Almagro founded a new city on the ashes of Liribamba which he named Santiago de Quito, the first city founded by the Spanish. By the end of the year, Incan resistance had collapsed, culminating in a battle at the volcanic mountain Chimborazo, and Rumiñahui was captured. Soon after, the city of Quito was moved to its current location. The city in the valley was renamed by its founders Villa de Riobamba, which means "plain on the journey" (possibly referring to its centrality).
The village was destroyed in a massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake in 1797 and moved to its current location 20 km away. (An important cavalry battle known as the Combate de Tapi was fought here in 1822 during the Independence War). The small populations remaining at the sites lived in the parishes known as Cajabamba and Sicalpa (also Cicalpa). In 1884, the parishes broke from the metropolitan umbrella of Riobamba and joined together to form Villa La Unión, which is the formal name of the village today known as Cajabamba.
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San Juan offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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San Juan is located in Chimborazo Province, Ecuador, South America. The coordinates are -1.6338 latitude, -78.7826 longitude.
San Juan has a population of approximately 0 people, making it a town in Ecuador.
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3 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Ecuador's 6,263 m ice-capped giant: the farthest point from Earth's centre. A wild vicuña-lined road climbs its flanks to the Carrel refuge at 4,850 m.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
An adventure town at the base of the active Tungurahua volcano, famous for the Swing at the End of the World and the Route of Waterfalls.
48 km · about 55 min drive
waterfall
A thrilling bike ride or bus route past dozens of waterfalls including the 80-meter Pailón del Diablo, descending through cloud forest to the Amazon basin.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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