Urcusiqui combines a cultural festival with a range of cycling tours. The Fiesta de San Juan in Urcusiqui includes religious ceremonies, traditional dances, games, and social gatherings. The tours have different focuses: one describes a descent lasting several hours, with elevation details, while the other describes a ride through several Indigenous communities. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether the community festival or cycling will be the main focus of your stay.

Cycling tours with different focuses

The two-day “Intag en bicicleta” cycling tour goes to the community of Urcusiqui, at an elevation of 3,400 meters. A three- to four-hour bicycle descent begins there, covering approximately 1,800 meters of elevation; short climbs are included. The time estimates refer to different parts of the offering: two days describe the tour, while three to four hours refers to the descent section in Urcusiqui. This lets you consider the section a multi-hour part of a two-day tour. The elevation figure is approximate. Before making plans, ask the operator about current availability, as conditions and offerings may change.

The “Sierra Norte en bicicleta” cycling tour starts in the community of Urcusiqui, near Laguna Cuicocha, and continues by bicycle through several Indigenous communities. Its described route therefore has a different focus from the multi-hour descent on the “Intag en bicicleta” tour: here, the starting point and ride through several communities take center stage. Check current availability with the operator before making plans for this tour as well.

Urcusiqui also plays a different role in each tour: “Intag en bicicleta” goes to the community, where the descent begins; “Sierra Norte en bicicleta” starts there and passes through several Indigenous communities. The descriptions therefore offer different points to consider when planning—one focuses on the duration and elevation of a section, the other on the starting point and route.

Fiesta de San Juan in Urcusiqui

At the Fiesta de San Juan, religious ceremonies, traditional dances, and games come together with social gatherings. The festival thus combines religious and communal elements rather than focusing on just one activity. Everyone is welcome. For travelers interested in local culture, the celebration offers a different focus from the cycling tours described above.

If you are planning to travel to Urcusiqui for the Fiesta de San Juan, check the event date in advance. This lets you plan your travel dates around the festival that is the reason for your visit, rather than assuming when it takes place.

Plan your travel dates and accommodation

You can plan around the reason for your trip: for the festival, the event date is key; for the cycling tours, you need confirmation of current availability from the operator. For “Intag en bicicleta,” you can take the stated duration of two days into account and consider the three- to four-hour descent as part of the tour. Once these details are settled, you can search for a hotel in Urcusiqui for your intended travel dates. This way, your accommodation plans start with a specific focus and a timeframe that suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Peñaherrera, Parroquia de Tumbabiro, Llurimaguas, Ibarra, Otavalo, Urcuqui, Guadual, Cahuasquí

For the broader travel overview: Imbabura.