Loja district, Ecuador

Places to visit near Macará

Macará is a town in Loja district, Ecuador, home to about 13,035 people. Within 50 km by road there are 75 places to visit — 50 hill stations & viewpoints, 9 churches, 2 wildlife, forests & gardens and 6 parks. The must-see places are Tumbes National Reserve (76 km), Cerros de Amotape National Park (90 km) and Parque Nacional Yacuri (95 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Macará on the map

Macará, Ecuador
Macará, Loja district, Ecuador. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Macará at a glance

Location
Loja district, Ecuador
Population
about 13,035
Coordinates
4.3818° S, 79.9437° W
Places within 50 km
75
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Macará

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Macará: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Macará

Things to see near Macará, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Macará

122 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Cerro de la Mina (9 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Churches near Macará

9 churches within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Casa de Avivamiento Macará (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Macará

7 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Reserva Jocotoco - Jorupe (6 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Macará

6 parks within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Parque Mercado (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Forts & heritage near Macará

5 forts & heritage within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Altar Patrio (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Waterfalls near Macará

5 waterfalls within 100 km of Macará. The closest is Cascada Del Lobo (43 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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A one-day trip from Macará

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 44 km on the road.

  1. Start in Macará
  2. 1 km Altar Patrio · heritage site, Loja
  3. 8 km Cerro de la Mina · viewpoint, Loja
  4. 3 km Cerro Chuqui · viewpoint, Loja
  5. 2 km Cordillera de Numbiaranga · viewpoint, Loja
  6. 15 km Cordillera Cordoncillo · viewpoint, Loja
  7. 15 km Back to Macará

Plan a longer trip from Macará — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Macará

No traveller has reported from around Macará yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Macará

    All places near Macará by distance

    Within 15 km of Macará

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Macará by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints50122Cerro de la Mina (9 km)
    Churches99Casa de Avivamiento Macará (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens27Reserva Jocotoco - Jorupe (6 km)
    Parks66Parque Mercado (1 km)
    Forts & heritage25Altar Patrio (1 km)
    Waterfalls15Cascada Del Lobo (43 km)
    Caves14Gruta San Vicente (47 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs03Represa San Lorenzo (54 km)
    Other attractions22Unidad Educativa Santa Mariana de Jesus (1 km)
    Beaches & coast22La Bocana BEACH (16 km)

    Macará: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Macará?

    Altar Patrio (heritage site, about 1 km), Cerro de la Mina (viewpoint, about 9 km), Cerro Chuqui (viewpoint, about 11 km), Cordillera de Numbiaranga (viewpoint, about 12 km), Cordillera Cordoncillo (viewpoint, about 15 km), Cerro Collona (viewpoint, about 17 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Macará?

    75 places on Spotwander: 50 hill stations & viewpoints, 9 churches, 2 wildlife, forests & gardens, 6 parks, 2 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Macará?

    Cerro de la Mina, about 9 km by road; Hoya del Macará (10 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Macará?

    Casa de Avivamiento Macará, about 1 km by road; Iglesia Bautista Semilla de Mostaza (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Macará?

    Reserva Jocotoco - Jorupe, about 6 km by road; Bosque Protector Jatumpamba-Jorupe (16 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Macará?

    Start in Macará, visit Altar Patrio, then Cerro de la Mina, then Cerro Chuqui, then Cordillera de Numbiaranga, then Cordillera Cordoncillo, and drive back — about 44 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Macará?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Macará

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Macará’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Macará on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.