Cotacachi (city)
Cotacachi is a town that is the seat of Cotacachi Canton, Imbabura Province, Ecuador, in South America. Cotacachi is located at an altitude of 2,418 metres (7,933 ft) and had a population of 8,848 in 2010.
Cotacachi | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Calle Bolívar in Cotacachi | |
Cotacachi Location in Ecuador | |
| Coordinates: 0.29998°N 78.26424°W | |
| Country | Ecuador |
| Province | Imbabura |
| Canton | Cotacachi Canton |
| Area | |
| • Town | 5.45 km2 (2.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2022 census) | |
| • Town | 10,526 |
| • Density | 1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi) |
Cotacachi is an artisan city that is famous for its leather goods and handicrafts. Cotacachi residents are also well known for their carne colorada (filet of pork cooked in red achiote sauce), and queso de hoja (soft cheese wrapped in a plant leaf).
The city of Cotacachi holds a UNESCO medal for being free of illiteracy. In 2000 the entire canton was declared the first ecological county of South America.
Cotacachi was designated a Pueblo Mágico (magical town) by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) in 2019. It is one of the country's five original Pueblos Mágicos.