Tarqui, Cuenca Canton
n. m.; Climate: Average annual temperatures of 12 °C to 20 °C; Watercourse: Tarqui River; Population (2010): 12,490 inhabitants, Density: 92.52 inhabitants/km²; Time Zone: ECT (UTC-5); Postal Code EC010168.
Likewise, according to historical archives that rest in the parish, the name of this town has its origin in a wind musical instrument called Tarquies in Cañari voice.
According to documents by the Cuenca writer Octavio Cordero Palacios, the instrument was played by the Inca Atahualpa in a confrontation with the Spanish, at the time of the Conquest.
Another important event was the Battle of Tarqui, where the place served as a means to stop the Peruvian military forces and their attempt to invade the city.
Thus, on August 6, 1915, the inhabitants asked the council to civilly consider this place as a parish, and on October 18, in the session of the Cuencano Cabildo governed by Dr. Octavio Cordero Palacios, by decree No.
Currently, the parish of Tarqui is a place that has been modernized over time, it has basic services, works and infrastructure, in addition to having great natural beauty which makes peace and tranquility characteristic of this area.
Thus, the economically active population that migrates are mostly men between 15 and 35 years old; they constitute an important source of income at both the parish, cantonal and national levels.
On large farms with the improvement of pastures, sanitary management and the implementation of machinery, you can reach up to 15 and 20 liters of milk per day.
Despite not having a tax registry, it is known that in the parish there are 14 pants and textile clothing factories, some craft stores and until 2015 an embroidery workshop in the community of Tañiloma.
The species Monactis holwayae according to the IUCN is considered in danger of extinction, however in this parish it has been possible to observe several populations that are found on the edges of mature forest, intervened sites and river banks.
The total area of protected forests represents 26.32% of the entire parish of Tarqui, which means that those communities that are in this territory must make sustainable use of the resources.
It is also defined that education must respond to the public interest and establishes that “universal access, permanence, mobility and graduation will be guaranteed without any discrimination and mandatory at the initial, basic and high school level or its equivalent.” (Art.
You can enjoy a walk while observing animals such as tapir, ocelots, deer and a wide variety of birds such as eagles and parrots, as well as woolly monkeys, capuchins, squirrels, turkeys, toucans, among others.
The Frances Urco mountain, named after the French Geodetic Mission, which carried out research on triangulations, to demonstrate through measurements the theory that the Earth is flattened between the poles and not equinoctial.
The Frances Urco hill is located in the Tarqui Parish Km 12 Panamericana Sur, from there you can see the beauty of the Tarqui valleys, to get to the site you must walk 640 wooden and cement steps, the hill is at 2,800 meters above sea level, in the surroundings there are delicate native flowers and large pine trees.
This rural tourism association offers a tour to observe the Andean landscapes and explore what lies here as medicinal plants, gazebos, etc.
Visitors have the option of participating in the daily activities of the community's families: agricultural work, sheep shearing, wool spinning, preparation of typical foods and drinks.
They also have the option of visiting the “Nukanchik Kawsay” cheese factory to learn about its production techniques and participate in a traditional lunch known as “pampamesa”.
According to the belief of the indigenous peoples of Azuay and Cañar, a week before Carnival this character emerges from the interior of the mountains to joyfully experience this time of fertility, reciprocity and gratitude for the harvests.
It usually begins with a parade where all the communities and neighborhoods of this parish participate, then various activities are carried out such as masses, comparsas, the Mote Pata y Dulces Festival, the carnival guinea pig and breeding guinea pig contest, the pitima rooster game in where the bird is buried with its head exposed so that a ring can be strung on it, whoever achieves the goal gets the rooster and finally the celebration closes with several artistic presentations.
