Zaruma
A gold-mining town of painted wooden houses built on a steep ridge in El Oro province.
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Zaruma was founded in 1595 on gold, and the ore has been worked continuously since, which is why the town clings to a steep ridge at 1,200 metres in a shape dictated by the terrain: narrow streets on different levels, a wooden architecture of balconies, carved eaves and painted timber facades that has been proposed for World Heritage listing, and a wooden church at the top. Old tunnels run under and around it, some open for tours. The surrounding hills grow coffee, and Zaruma coffee has a following. The mining is also its problem: unregulated tunnelling beneath the town has caused sinkholes and building collapses in recent years, and parts of the centre have been closed off.
What you actually see
- Painted timber architecture - balconies and carved eaves on the ridge.
- The ridge-top wooden church - the town's highest point.
- Old gold tunnels - the mine workings open for tours.
- Zaruma coffee - the crop from the surrounding hills.
When to go
Year round; the climate is mild. A day. Mine tours run on demand from the town. Streets are steep at every turn.
Honest expectations
Subsidence from illegal mining has caused collapses, and some streets and buildings are fenced off; the situation changes. The road up from Machala is winding and slow. The town is very steep for anyone with limited mobility.
Nearby
Portovelo mining town is adjacent; Machala lies west.
What to pack for Zaruma
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
