Zaruma

Zaruma
Town
Villa Real De San Antonio del Cerro de Oro de Zaruma
Flag of Zaruma
Official seal of Zaruma
Nickname: 
Sultana de El Oro
Zaruma is located in Ecuador
Zaruma
Zaruma
Location of Zaruma within Ecuador
Coordinates: 03°41′00″S 79°36′00″W / 3.68333°S 79.60000°W / -3.68333; -79.60000
CountryEcuador
ProvinceEl Oro Province
CantonZaruma Canton
FoundationDecember 8, 1595
Founded byDamian Meneses
Named forzara and huma
Government
 • TypeMayor and council
 • MayorCarlos Aguilar
Area
 • Town
2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Elevation
1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Town
10,005
 • Density3,800/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
DemonymZarumeño(-a)
Time zoneUTC-5 (ECT)
Postal code
EC071150 (new format)
Area code(s)(0)72972, (0)72973
Websitehttp://www.zaruma.gob.ec

Zaruma, officially Villa Real de San Antonio del Cerro de Oro de Zaruma is a town in the south of Ecuador, El Oro Province. It is located in the south-east of this province, at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level, on an inter-Andes route where the Vizcaya mountain range branches off from the Chilla mountain range. It is the seat of Zaruma Canton, one of the oldest cantons in the province.

Zaruma is known for its republic-era architecture, gold mines, culture and traditions, art and coffee and for having been founded by Spanish explorer Alonso de Mercadillo. These attributes have led to its receiving various titles celebrating both its tangible and intangible aspects, and in 1998 the Ecuadorian Institute for Cultural Heritage submitted it as a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zaruma was named a Pueblo Mágico (magical town) by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) in 2019. It is one of five communities across the country that inaugurated the programme that year.[2]

View of Zaruma
  1. ^ Citypopulation.de
  2. ^ "Zaruma declarada Pueblo Mágico de Ecuador – Ministerio de Turismo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-04-02.