Guaranda

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Guaranda is a city in central Ecuador. It is the capital of Bolívar, a province located in the Andes mountains. The city has road connection with Babahoyo and Ambato.

Guaranda is a market town located in an "hoyo" - a deep valley in the high Andes, serving a vast hinterland of agricultural settlements ("comunidades") peopled by Quechua Indians. Its climate is subtropical, with a long (May - October) dry season ("estio"). Its population is mestizo, with a nucleus of Spanish people. It is generally known that the area was first colonized by Jewish Conversos fleeing from Lima's Inquisition. This nucleus has been intermarrying for now almost five centuries, forming a compact population linked by family connections. Since the '90s, the indigenous majority has seized political power and most of the local elected officers are of Quechua origin.

The city has 25,000 inhabitants (2005) and is growing. It suffers severe problems of electricity and water supply. Water is drawn from high surface sources, mostly from the Chimborazo glacier, and is of good drinking quality. The city is known for its week-long Carnaval and for its "Pajaro Azul" alcoholic drink.