Urcusiqui: Fiesta de San Juan and Cycling Tours

Two travel experiences with different character come together in Urcusiqui: Fiesta de San Juan and cycling tours. When looking for a hotel in Urcusiqui, the first decision is whether your stay will be shaped by the festival or by a cycling route. The tours differ in the role the community plays in their itineraries.

Cycling tours with different itineraries

The two-day “Intag en bicicleta” cycling tour goes to the community of Urcusiqui, at an altitude of 3,400 meters. There, a three- to four-hour descent by bicycle begins, covering approximately 1,800 meters of elevation; short climbs are included. The three to four hours refer to the descent and should not be confused with the two-day tour as a whole. The 3,400 meters indicate Urcusiqui’s altitude on this tour; the approximately 1,800 meters of elevation, by contrast, describe the elevation difference on the descent. The two-day timeframe and the multi-hour descent are therefore two different time references.

With “Sierra Norte en bicicleta,” by contrast, Urcusiqui is the starting point: the tour begins in the community near Laguna Cuicocha and continues by bicycle through several Indigenous communities. Its itinerary therefore differs significantly from that of “Intag en bicicleta”: the two-day tour goes to Urcusiqui, where the described descent begins; “Sierra Norte en bicicleta” starts in Urcusiqui and continues through several communities. When choosing, it helps to keep in mind the difference between a destination followed by a descent and a starting point for a ride through several communities.

Conditions and availability for “Intag en bicicleta” may change. Before planning “Sierra Norte en bicicleta,” check its current availability with the provider.

Fiesta de San Juan in Urcusiqui

Fiesta de San Juan is another reason to travel, independent of the cycling tours. The celebrations include religious ceremonies, traditional dances and games, as well as community gatherings; everyone is welcome. The festival thus brings together religious and communal elements: alongside the ceremonies and performances, gathering together is also part of the celebrations described. If you are interested in Urcusiqui because of this celebration, the focus is different from that of a trip planned primarily around a cycling tour.

Match your travel plans and hotel search

For practical planning, you can first decide what brings you there and then coordinate your travel dates accordingly. If you want to travel for Fiesta de San Juan, check the specific festival date before arranging your days around it. For a cycling tour, take its itinerary into account; for “Intag en bicicleta,” conditions and availability may also change. This makes it possible to plan a festival trip and a cycling tour as separate experiences.

Discover more destinations: Guadual, Peñaherrera, Cotacachi, Urcuqui, Ibarra, Iluman, Cahuasquí, Plaza Gutierrez

For the broader travel overview: Imbabura.