Carchi Province

Carchi is a province in northern Ecuador near the border with Colombia. The capital Tulcán sits in a highland region that spreads across six cantons and features mountain landscapes.

The region became a separate province in 1880 and developed into an important border area between the two countries. The Rumichaca Bridge has since connected Ecuadorian and Colombian trade routes.

The population of 172,828 residents includes Mestizo, Indigenous, and Afro-Ecuadorian communities, each maintaining their traditions through regional festivals and customs.

The province sits at high elevation, so visitors should allow time to adjust to the thinner air. Warm clothing is recommended because of cool temperatures in the mountains.

The El Ángel Reserve is home to large stands of frailejones, plants with thick rosettes of leaves that grow at this elevation. This vegetation creates an unusual landscape found in few other places in the Andes.

Location: Ecuador

Inception: November 19, 1880

Capital city: Tulcán

Elevation above the sea: 3,790 m

Shares border with: Esmeraldas Province, Imbabura Province, Sucumbíos Province, Nariño Department

Website: https://carchi.gob.ec

GPS coordinates: 0.75000,-78.08333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:01