Geography & Climate

Catacocha is the capital of the Andean canton Paltas which is located in the center of  Ecuador’s southernmost province, Loja.  Catacocha is at an elevation of 1850 meters above sea level.  The temperature is normally about 18 degrees Celsius.  The rainy season is from January until May and the dry season lasts from June to December.  Within Paltas, one is able to experience a variety of climates ranging from subtropical to desert to much cooler Andean climes, all of which are no more than 20 minutes from each other by car.     

 

Population

Paltas:  24703

Catacocha: 5369

 

A Little History

The canton of Paltas is one of the oldest in Ecuador.  It was established June 25, 1824 before the creation of the Republic of Ecuador in 1830. 

 

The name Paltas refers to the regions original indigenous inhabitants.  As a way of distinguishing themselves from neighboring tribes, they had the odd custom of deforming the heads of their children with wooden clamps.  To the Spanish conquistadors their head resembled the palta fruit (or avocato).

 

The name Catacocha comes from two words from the Palta language: catay (here) and cocha (lake). 

  

In the 16^th century, when the Spanards arrived to conquer the region they discovered that the Paltas were fierce soldiers and were forced to retreat.  Later, the Spanish returned with gifts in the name of friendship and were allowed by the Paltas to settle in the area.  Of course, this show of  amity was only a trick and the Spanards soon dominated the region.  They brought Catholism and the Spanish language.  They also introduced European methods of agriculture and cattle.

 

Sadly, the Paltas' culture has been utterly lost.  They were enslaved by the Spanish and forced to accept the culture and religion of the Spanish as their own.  The Spanish destroyed their sun temples and stole all the gold and silver decorations which they contained.

 

There were numerous uprisings against the conquistadors until a compromise was finally reached between the Spanish and Paltas.  Overtime, the two peoples interbred and became as single racial group.   

 

(Below)  The Calle Loja in one of the older sections of Catacocha.