Tulcán is a city located in northern Ecuador within the Andes Mountains. It serves as the capital of the Carchi province and the seat of the Tulcán Canton. Situated at an elevation of 2,950 meters (9,680 feet) above sea level, it is recognized as the highest city in Ecuador. The urban center is positioned just 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the border between Ecuador and Colombia.
The city has a recorded population of 56,719 according to the 2022 census. Tulcán is notable for its natural hot springs and deep wells. It also features a three-acre topiary garden cemetery containing what is considered the most elaborate topiary in the New World; these structures were created by José Maria Azael Franco in 1936 using Cupressus sempervirens.