GIRÓN

Its real name: San Juan de Girón. This green area is crossed by the Girón river which joins the waters of two beautiful waterfalls (one of them is 70 m high). To get there, you have to take a pick-up in Girón (8 US$) or walk from the village. The pleasant walk takes about 1 hour. On February 27, 1829, the battle of Portete de Tarqui took place in this place, which opposed the troops of Great Colombia, led by Marshal Sucre, to the Peruvian army, commanded by the Cuencano general José Domingo Lamar. This battle, won by Gran Colombia despite heavy losses that led to the stabilization of the front, allowed the delimitation of the borders of the Republic of Ecuador, validated in 1830. The day after the battle, the Peruvian representatives (Gamarra and Orbegoso) and those of Gran Colombia (Flores and O'Leary) signed the agreement of Girón (February 28). In Girón, you can visit the Museo - Casa de los Tratados ("House of Treaties"), where the Girón agreement was signed, attesting to the surrender of the Peruvian army. The museum (located at the intersection of Avenida Bolivar and Avenida Cordova) is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and displays various weapons used during the battle (arquebuses, ammunition, bayonets, sabers, pistols, spears, cannons) as well as the original Girón Peace Treaty. You can also see the letters written by Marshal Sucre to Simón Bolívar, as well as the furniture used to sign the treaty.