Tulcán is the capital of the province of Carchi in Ecuador. The population of Tulcán is approximately 53,000. It is a chilly town set in the highlands, known for its hot springs and a topiary garden cemetery, created by José Franco. People also come here for another reason, it is one of the most used access points into Colombia. The town is very simple, with shops arranged in grids, the city planning was done well. You can get everything you want here; from Internet access to a post office.

Tourist Offices
There is a tourist information office at Cotopaxi, by the entrance to the cemetery. It's open from 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Around and closeby
Catch a bus to the local hot springs of La Paz, although they are more like tepid springs. There are some very smelly springs a bit further on that are much hotter and have a high sulphur content. They are easily reachable by bus. The same bus travels to La Paz hot springs and then on to Aguas Hediondas, the set of high sulphur baths.

Sightseeing
The cemetery is a big attraction here for everyone, not just the bereaved but also young couples. The up-keep of the gardens is taken care of by the son of the original artist and the bushes are all trimmed into shapes of animals and Pre-Colombian totems. During the weekends, locals play an Ecuadorian paddle ball game called pelota de guante here.

Getting there
There are frequent flights from Quito but they fill up fast so make sure you book early. If you want to cross the border then there are regular minibuses from Tulcán that will take you to the bridge. You then cross the bridge on foot and deal with the formalities, which are pretty straightforward, on the other side. There are regular buses from there to the closest town.

Getting around
The city can be covered on foot and the tourist attractions can be reached by bus. Also, you can take both buses and taxis to downtown or to the Colombian border. The road systems are well planned, so you shouldn't get confused.