Things to do in Loja
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Parque Central
Loja's main plaza is the lively Parque Central, where hordes of people - office workers, cab drivers, newspaper vendors - gather to start the day. Walk over to the east side of the plaza and check out the ornate interior of the cathedral (Parque Central). On the south side of the plaza, the Museo del Banco Central has a small exhibit of local archaeology, ethnography and art. On Sunday nights from 20:00 to 21:00, in the Parque Central, the local military marching band rips into what are likely the liveliest drum-and-brass tunes you'll ever hear.
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Parque Recreacional Jipiro
North of town, Parque Recreacional Jipiro can induce the feeling you’ve been shrunk down and tossed into a miniature-golf course. Kids scramble all over little bridges, a giant chess board, a skate park, a Chinese pagoda, a pint-size Kremlin, small animal enclosures, and a paddleboat pond. Green buses ($0.25) go there from the southeast corner of Eguiguren and Peña.
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Parque La Banda/Orillas de Zamora
From Parque Jipiro it is about a half-hour walk to Parque La Banda/Orillas de Zamora, where a small outdoor zoo shelters monkeys, ostriches and a pair of spectacled bears. The beautifully designed Orquideario maintains over 200 species of orchids from southern Ecuador.
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Puerta de la Ciudad
North of downtown, the Puerta de la Ciudad is a giant castle with an arched doorway spanning Sucre, a street entering downtown. Inside the castle are two floors of art galleries and several lookouts.
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Salon Lolita
North of downtown, this is the place for traditional food from Loja. The cecina (salty fried pork served with yuca) is classic, and roasted cuy (guinea pig) comes in $8, $10 or $12 sizes.
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El Tamal Lojano
The almuerzos (set lunches) are good, but the real reason to come is for the delicious quimbolitos, humitas, empanadas de verde and tamales lojanos. Try them all!
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Plaza de la Independencia
Along Bolivar, the Plaza de la Independencia is hemmed in by the Church of San Sebastián and colonial-era buildings with pillared overhangs and shuttered wooden balconies.
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A lo Mero Mero
The Mexican menu here has bulging burritos (great for vegetarians) and hearty enchiladas served in a friendly and colorful dining room. The guacamole is good, but the salsa is 100% Ecuadorian (not spicy).
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Museo del Monasterio de Monjas Concepcionistas
One block east of Parque Central, the recently renovated Museo del Monasterio de Monjas Concepcionistas has three public rooms housing religious treasures from the 16th to 18th centuries.
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Pavi Pollo
There are numerous grilled-chicken joints along Alonso de Mercadillo, west of Bolívar, where you can pick up a quarter-chicken with soup and fries for about around US$2. Pavi Pollo is a good one.
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Short Walk
For a short but pleasant walk, head east from the center on Rocafuerte and cross Río Zamora. From there, climb the small hill to the statue of the Virgin of Loja, which offers lovely city views.
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Museo de la Música
The Museo de la Música, located in an old school one block south of the monastery, explores the lives of famous musicians that hailed from Loja. Many old instruments are on display.
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Mar y Cuba
Despite its name, this local chain serves excellent Ecuadorian seafood and superclean Peruvian ceviche, which unlike most ceviche, is actually raw (kind of like South American sushi).
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Museo del Banco Central
On the south side of Parque Central, a republican-era building houses the Museo del Banco Central and its small exhibit of local archaeology, ethnography and art.
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Parque de El Valle
Just north of downtown, Parque de El Valle is the heart of the neighborhood of El Valle. It's worth a visit to see the old church and the wooden buildings surrounding the plaza.
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Alivinatu
Health-food nuts and vegetarians will find the juice bar and soy-meat sandwiches with greens a breath of fresh air. It also sells unusual teas and nutritious snacks to go.
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Orquideario
The highlight of Parque La Banda/Orillas de Zamora (8 de Diciembre) is the beautifully designed Orquideario, which has over 200 species of orchids from southern Ecuador.
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Diego's
Formal waiters, faded wallpaper and a casual clientele make this Loja classic a rather surreal place. Plates include garlic chicken, pastas, lasagna and filet mignon.
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Jardín Botánico Reynaldo Espinosa
Across the road from the Parque Universitario La Argelia, the Jardín Botánico Reynaldo Espinosa is a botanical garden with nearly 900 plant species.
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Church of Santo Domingo
Two blocks south of Parque Central, on the Plaza Santo Domingo, the interior of the Church of Santo Domingo is adorned with religious paintings.
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Plaza San Francisco
Two blocks north of the Parque Central, Plaza San Francisco is crowned by a statue of the city’s founder astride his horse.
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El Jugo Natural
Pure, all-natural juices, yogurt shakes, and fruit salads make up the menu at this small café. It’s been in the juice business for 30 years.
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Biotours
Biotours offers day trips to Parque Nacional Podocarpus from $35 per person plus park fee (minimum two, including lunch).
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Forno di Fango
This spic-and-span pizzería serves tasty pizzas pulled from an adobe oven smack in the middle of the dining room. Lasagna too.
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Parque Universitario La Argelia
Almost 5km south of the center, the 90-hectare reserve, Parque Universitario La Argelia, has excellent trails.
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