Latacunga

A plateau city in Ecuador's Central Andean highlands, Latacunga sits near the confluence of the Alaquez and Cutuchi rivers with the active volcano Cotopaxi just 25 kilometres away. Founded in 1534 and destroyed four times by earthquakes between 1698 and 1798, it serves today as a base for trips to Cotopaxi and the Quilotoa Loop, with a walkable centre offering cafés and restaurants. The city is known locally for chugchucaras, empanadas, and tostado, and the surrounding volcanic landscape produces natural sparkling water bottled under the San Felipe brand.

• Population205,624
• Nearest water0.2 km
• Nearest mountain12.9 km