Mira Tourism

Mira, Carchi

Mira is known as the “Balcony of the Andes", currently, it is one of the six cantons that of the province of Carchi, it has a nice climate and is the viewpoint of the Chota valley and the majesty of the Cayambe Volcano.

Mira Canton Limits

It is located in the western sector of the province and limits:

• To the north and northwest with the Canton Tulcán
•  At the northeast with the Espejo Canton
• South and southwest with the Province of Imbabura
• To the south and southeast with the Bolívar Canton

Mira has progressed significantly in urban aspects, the population is engaged in agriculture of tropical dry climate products such as: tomato, cucumbers, pickles, ovos, pepper and many others.

Mira popular festivities

• February 2: Feast of the Blessed Virgin of Charity -Novillo de Bombas, where Afro-Ecuadorian folklore predominates such as dancing from the bottle to the sound of the bomba (music of African background) with picaresque couplets where the Infallible drink is the tardón mireño.
• August 18 Cantonization Bomb - Novillo de Bombas

Mira tourist attractions

The canton Mira has both natural and  cultural tourist attractions, located geographically in a privileged sector, has varieties of climates, which is the reason why it is highly visited by national and foreign tourists. The main tourist attractions are:

• Mira's native forests: Both in the Andean and subtropical zones, house an extraordinary biological, water, scenic and tourist richness.
• Waterfall of the Santiaguillo River:  Its waterfall jumps in the middle of a gigantic rock and provides a great contrast with the greens thickets of vegetation.
• Natural Viewpoint: Provides a panoramic view of the Valley of Chota.
• Mira Church: The main church is the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Caridad, located in the city of Mira. A building with colonial style, on the high altar  the image of the Virgin of the Charity stands out.
• Uyama Eco Touristic Complex - The Mountain Echo

It is recommended when visiting the Mira Canton, bring fresh clothes,  comfortable shoesvand a camera.

Mira history

I dedicate this historical review with love to the current generations of Mira, so that they know what happened on July 5, 1949.

Mira background

• The population of Mira, from colonial times, remained surrounded of large estates. This circumstance kept its inhabitants in a deplorable economic situation that was sharpening until the forties, which forced the population to react in search of a change of life.
• The economic situation was very serious since the only sources of possible work was to collect firewood, take out cabuya and work in the haciendas as pawns, the agricultural property of the locals was minimum (reduced to a few hectares) so, for stock (with many difficulties) neighboring farms were used to obtain the necessary products for food. These circumstances forced the population get organized in order to find their social and economic improvement, the alternatives were: expropriation of irrigation water from the farms of Pisquer and Huaquer and partition of the Saint Nicholas of Mira hacienda.
• On July 5, 1949, the agreement was signed by means of which expropriated the Hacienda San Nicolás, a fact that can be qualified as the First Economic-Social Independence.
• Galo Plaza Lasso was President, Dr. Franklin Tello Market was Minister of Social Security.
• A commission of locals moved, at the end of 1948, to the Presidency of the Republic in order to request the collaboration of the government to for recovering the money lost in the first attempt of parcelling. Don Galo Plaza Lasso, after listening to our request told us to “Organize the Improvement Board again and according to the amount of money they collect I willl give them the decree. ”
•  With renewed spirit we return to Mira and in a large public assembly, We report this wonderful offer from the Presidency.
• The new Improvement Board was appointed on February 21, 1949, which was integrated as follows: President Don Ricardo Ruales Garrido (deceased), first vice president, Mr. Pedro Rafael Benítez (F); second vice president, Prof. Leopoldo Padilla V (f); treasurer, Mr. Miguel Tobar (f); secretary, Mr. Luis Pazos (f); prosecutor, Prof. Celio Medina; Procurador Slíndico, Mr. Luis E. Muñoz (f); Main Members: Mr. Ulpiano Palacios (f), Mr. Carlos Ramírez, (F); Don Gonzalo León (f), Father José Córdova, Pastor of Mira; Y Prof. Ulpiano Caicedo; Substitute Members: Mr. Abdón León (f), Tomás Palacios (f), Don Delio Ruiz (f), Don Rodrigo Ruales (f) and Don Miguel Mafla (f).
• I assumed all the administrative management of the Board in my capacity as Second Vice President because the President resided in Julio Andrade, and the first Vice President resided in Quito.
• The loyalty, union and support of the partners during the difficult efforts that were made until the decree was achieved. The more complicated was to raise the money to pay the owner of the lands, don Francisco Galárraga, because this town was very poor.
• This situation forced us to resort to strangers to Mira, who wished to acquire land paying cash one hundred percent of value, with which the payment of the expropriated lands was fulfilled, the same that was done in two installments, the first of S / .500,000 and the second of something more than S / .500,000.