Mirador Gold Mine

The Mirador Mine in the Zamora-Chinchipe province is Ecuador's first large-scale industrial open-pit mining operation, representing a milestone in the country's developing mining sector. Managed by the consortium Ecuacorriente S.A. (ECSA) with Chinese investment, the mine primarily targets copper extraction, while gold and silver are significant secondary byproducts. Located in the Cordillera del Cóndor mountain range, the site includes an expansive open-pit mine and a sophisticated processing plant where ore is crushed and concentrated before being transported for export to China. The Mirador project is a major economic engine, generating substantial tax and royalty revenues for the Ecuadorian government and providing hundreds of direct jobs in a historically underdeveloped region. Despite its economic contributions, the mine faces ongoing scrutiny from environmental organizations regarding its impact on deforestation and local water systems. In response, the operator has implemented compensation programs and utilized advanced tailings management technologies to mitigate environmental risks. The surrounding infrastructure has seen significant improvements, including the development of roads and bridges essential for mining logistics.

Nearby cities

Zamora

The center of mining and nature tourism on the edge of the southern Amazon.

Gualaquiza

Gualaquiza is a charming Amazonian town known for its lush rainforests, rivers, and gold mining history.

Azogues

A colonial city in the Andes known for its majestic Franciscan church.

Riobamba

Often called the Sultana of the Andes, surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes.

Latacunga

A colonial town near the Cotopaxi volcano, known for the Mama Negra festival.

Macas

The Emerald City of the East, an Amazonian settlement that was isolated for a long time.

Saquisilí

Saquisilí is an authentic Andean town famous for hosting one of the most vibrant and expansive indigenous markets in Ecuador every Thursday.

Guaranda

The city of seven hills, nestled in the steep valleys of the Ecuadorian Andes.

History & landmarks

Chordeleg

Chordeleg is an artisan town near Cuenca, famous for its exquisite silver and gold filigree jewelry, ceramics, and shoemaking.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Dew

A spectacular church built directly into the steep cliffs above the small town of Biblián.

Alausí

Alausí is a charming heritage town in the Andes, globally famous as the starting point for the dramatic "Nariz del Diablo" train journey.

The Treehouse

A famous wooden observation deck with a swing dangling over a deep canyon near the Tungurahua volcano.

Cañar

Cañar is an Andean town renowned for its vibrant indigenous culture and its proximity to Ingapirca, Ecuador's most important Inca ruins.

Pujilí

Pujilí is a picturesque town in the Cotopaxi province, renowned for its indigenous markets and vibrant Corpus Christi celebrations.

Nature

Quilotoa Crater Lake

Quilotoa is a water-filled caldera and the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes, famous for its emerald green water.

More places

Cordillera del Cóndor

A remote mountain range on the Peruvian border famous for its extremely high biodiversity.

Cerro Plateado

A remote biological reserve in the southern Andes known for its pristine ecosystems and high level of endemism.

Ingapirca

The largest and best-preserved Inca archaeological site in Ecuador, famous for its Temple of the Sun.

Baños del Inca en Coyoctor

Rock-carved ruins that served as sacred baths and ceremonial sites for Inca rulers.

Amaru Biopark Cuenca

An interactive animal park dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Ecuadorian wildlife.

Iglesia de la Balbanera

The oldest Catholic church in Ecuador, built from volcanic rock to mark the first Spanish village in the country.

El Altar

El Altar is an extinct volcano whose collapsed caldera forms nine sharp peaks that enclose a stunning lagoon.

Pumapungo

A significant Inca ruin in the heart of Cuenca that once served as a religious and administrative center.