Vilcabamba

 
Overview

A relatively small town outside of Loja, Vilcabamba enjoys the same rich variety of nearby activities, including national parks and indigenous villages.

Description

The area’s beautiful scenery, mild weather and laid-back vibe attract waves of visitors: backpackers as well as North American and European retirees. Hiking, horseback riding and meditation are popular activities. The hills are dotted with big new houses, and the town plaza with expat-owned businesses. Gringo-ization has created tension about the cost of land and living, but the flip side is that jobs in tourism and construction are more plentiful than ever, and Vilcabamba is the rare Ecuadorian pueblo where young people have little ambition to leave for the big city.