National Park in Loja

Bolivar mural

By Christopher Minster

Most visitors to the city of Loja are just passing through on their way to peaceful Vilcabamba, which is a pity: Loja is a charming city in its own right, with lots to see and do. The hotels in Loja are affordable and pleasant, and the restaurants in Loja are quite good.  If you’re passing through, you should consider spending a day or two checking out what Loja has to offer.

The most recognizable landmark in the city is certainly the Entrada a la Ciudad, a towering structure designed like a medieval gatehouse, complete with towers, crenellated walls and a portcullis. It houses an art museum and is a good place to explore, especially for kids.

Jipiro Park is located to the north of the city. It is a city park hugely popular with Lojano families, especially on weekends. It’s low-cost entertainment at its friendly best: check out an ultra-cheesy planetarium show for twenty-five cents, rent a paddleboat for a dollar or watch the locals play soccer for free. The park is full of small replicas of famous buildings: St. Basil’s Cathedral has slides for kids, an Arabic mosque hosts the planetarium, and the bathrooms are in the Polynesian Tiki House.

There are several other parks surrounding the city, including Parque Universitario la Arquelia and the Reinaldo Espinoza Botanical Garden.

Loja’s historic downtown, while not as nice as Cuenca’s, is still worth a visit. There are several cathedrals and city squares and a number of interesting museums, including the Music Museum and the Central Bank Museum.