El Oro · Ecuador

Zaruma

Mining town of wooden houses in the high part of El Oro, with a wooden sanctuary, a visitable gold mine, high-altitude coffee and tigrillo.

Highlands (Andes)

In the photo: Wooden houses in Zaruma’s historic center

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Zaruma is located in the high part of El Oro province, in southern Ecuador, about 1,200 meters above sea level, on steep streets that climb and descend the slopes. The town grew from gold mining in the 16th century and was elevated to a village in 1595.

The historic center, with about two hundred wooden houses and balconies from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was declared a Cultural Heritage of Ecuador in 1990 and is on the UNESCO tentative list. In 2019, the Ministry of Tourism included the town in the Pueblos Mágicos program.

At the top of Plaza de la Independencia stands the Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen, a wooden church built between 1912 and 1930. Near the center, the El Sexmo mine lets you enter a 500-meter tunnel and learn about the region’s gold history, and the municipal museum houses pieces from the peoples who lived there before the Spaniards.

Zaruma is also known for its high-altitude coffee and for tigrillo, a dish of mashed green plantain with egg and cheese, served at breakfast.

This destination brings together 1 city: Zaruma.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Zaruma is

Outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Zaruma

✈ Aeropuerto Regional de Santa Rosa (ETR), in Santa Rosa · 78 km to Zaruma

Zaruma is about 106 km from Machala, the provincial capital, by mountain road. There are buses from Machala and other southern cities. The nearest airport with flights is Santa Rosa (ETR), in El Oro. Confirm schedules before traveling.

El Oro · Zaruma

Zaruma

Mining town in the high part of El Oro province, about 1,200 meters up, with a historic center of wooden houses declared a Cultural Heritage of Ecuador in 1990. It has the Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen, a wooden church built from 1912 to 1930, the El Sexmo mine, open for visits, and the municipal museum. It is the town of tigrillo, a dish of green plantain, egg and cheese, served with the region’s high-altitude coffee.

The local experience

Things to do in Zaruma

Zaruma · El Oro · Church

Sanctuary of the Virgin of Carmen

Wooden church built between 1912 and 1930 on Plaza de la Independencia, the highest point of Zaruma’s center. It has a painted interior, a carved altar and oils by Servio Gallardo.

Zaruma · El Oro · Mine

El Sexmo Mine

Old gold mine adapted for visits, near Zaruma’s center. Wearing a helmet and boots, visitors walk through a 500-meter tunnel and learn about the region’s mining history.

Zaruma · El Oro · Museum

Zaruma Municipal Museum

Museum established in 1974 with pieces from Zaruma’s history, from the peoples preceding the Spanish to the colonial and early republican periods: stone axes, photographs of petroglyphs, and mining objects.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

The dry season runs from May to October. From November to April there is more rain. The Virgen del Carmen festivities and the National Coffee Festival take place in July.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days allow you to visit the historic center, the sanctuary, the El Sexmo mine, the museum and the El Calvario viewpoint without rushing.

Which city to stay in

In the historic center, near Plaza de la Independencia, so you can do everything on foot. The streets are steep; people with mobility difficulties should prefer lodging in the flatter parts of the center.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Zaruma

How to get to Zaruma?

By road from Machala, about 106 km, with regular buses. The nearest airport with flights is Santa Rosa, in El Oro.

How many days to stay in Zaruma?

Two days are enough for the historic center, the sanctuary, the El Sexmo mine and the municipal museum.

What's the best time to go?

From May to October, the dry season. In July there are the Virgen del Carmen festivities and the National Coffee Festival.

Do you need a car in Zaruma?

No. The center is walked on foot, and the El Sexmo mine is a short walk or taxi ride away.

What to eat in Zaruma?

Tigrillo, made of mashed green plantain with egg and cheese, for breakfast, accompanied by the region’s high-altitude coffee.

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Zaruma

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.