Was it truly the center of the cross? The name Chaupicruz comes from the Kichwa word “chaupi”, meaning center. In Spanish, Chaupicruz would then mean “The center of the cross”.
Chaupicruz is now an urban parish of Quito. But its history stretches back much further.
Imagine this area over 1500 years ago. Archaeological finds in the Florida project reveal human occupation dating back to the Formative period. This “Chaupicruz” culture belonged to the Anansayas people. Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño called them “El camino de la Sal” or the road of salt. By the fifth century, this culture reached its peak. Recent excavations suggest a complex social structure existed long before the Spanish arrived.
The Camino Real, now Avenida de la Prensa, ran through Chaupicruz. This was one of Quito’s five main routes heading north. Important indigenous groups lived here. Since colonial times, haciendas sprung up. These estates supplied essential products. Dairy farms, sheep herds, bee hives and eucalyptus nurseries thrived. This continued until about 30 years ago.
The Inca and Spanish also left their mark. Spanish artisans settled along the Camino Real. They intermarried and created an artisan network. This network stretched to Cotocollao. They supplied Quito with goods like pottery and tools. The artisans also offered specialized services. These services included bricklaying and plumbing.
Chaupicruz was a crucial point for trade. It connected the coast and the Amazon. Multiple local chiefdoms and colonies settled here.
The parish used to be home to Quito’s only airport, the Antiguo Mariscal Sucre. It closed in 2013 and moved to Tababela. Bicentenario Park now occupies the old airport grounds. In its time, Chaupicruz also had Ecuador’s largest shopping center, the Centro Comercial El Bosque.
Chaupicruz once included neighborhoods such as Pinar Bajo. Also Pinar Alto, Colinas del Pichincha and El Bosque were part of it. Today, the area of Chaupicruz is occupied by Cochapamba. Also La Concepcion and the northern part of Rumipamba.
So, as we stand here in Chaupicruz, remember its layered past. From ancient cultures to colonial influence, it all contributed to the identity of this place.