{"id":14086,"date":"2019-10-08T22:47:28","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T22:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuadorhop\/?page_id=14086"},"modified":"2020-12-22T14:03:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T14:03:51","slug":"riobamba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/riobamba\/","title":{"rendered":"Riobamba Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Riobamba, fun facts:
\nIt\u2019s called \u201cSultana of the Andes\u201d or \u201cEcuador\u2019s Heartland\u201d
\nIt\u2019s surrounded by four volcanoes.
\nThe volcano \u201cChimborazo\u201d is the furthest spot apart from the center of the Earth
\nThe city was completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1797
\nRiobamba Guide Contents:
\nHow to Get to Riobamba \u2013 Compare transportation options.
\nSightseeing & Tours In Riobamba \u2013 Most popular activities for travelers.
\nMust See In Riobamba \u2013 The sights you cannot miss.
\nArts & Culture \u2013 Best museums and areas with art & culture to see.
\nNightlife In Riobamba \u2013 Good places to go for a drink.
\nRiobamba Safety Tips \u2013 Safety issues to be aware of.
\nWhere To Stay In Riobamba \u2013 A few of the best options in Riobamba.<\/p>\n

How to Get to Riobamba<\/h2>\n

The best way to get to Riobamba is by bus. The closest airports are the Cuenca airport located 140 km away, the Guayaquil airport (147.4 km), or the Quito airport (179.9 km). Therefore, the best option to get to Riobamba is by riding a bus from any of these cities.<\/p>\n

Also, Riobamba is 2764 meters (9068 feet) above sea level, so a bus ride can alleviate the effects of altitude sickness (or soroche as it\u2019s known in the Andes).<\/p>\n

If you travel from Quito to Riobamba with Ecuador Hop you will be able to see incredible places like Cotopaxi, the Quilotoa Lagoon, and the town of Ba\u00f1os.<\/p>\n

Ecuador Hop is a unique Hop On\/Hop Off service that allows travelers to explore the hidden treasures of this country with total itinerary flexibility and safety.<\/p>\n

Check out all of our available passes here.<\/p>\n

Tours in Riobamba<\/h2>\n

Colta City<\/h3>\n

Very close to Riobamba you\u2019ll find the city of Colta, the first city in Ecuador founded by the Spanish. One of its main attractions is the vivid Church of Balbanera, the first catholic church built in the entire country–a beautiful building that preserves its colonial charm untouched. You can also visit the traditional market on Sundays.<\/p>\n

Sangay National Park<\/h3>\n

This park is one of the most important areas of the country and, thanks to its variety of species and ecological zones, was named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1983.<\/p>\n

The park is divided into two areas: the high zone and the low zone. In the high zone you\u2019ll find snowy volcanoes, meadows and rivers that flow into the p\u00e1ramo (a type of high-altitude grassland ecosystem native to the Andes).<\/p>\n

In the low zone, the landscape loses altitude and transforms itself into a wet tropical forest where you can appreciate species like tapirs, ocelots, pumas, and giant otters.<\/p>\n

Full Day to Mount Chimborazo<\/h3>\n

Do you dare to explore the place on Earth that is closest to the sun? This tour for adventurous travelers is full of snowy landscapes, low temperatures, and incredible wildlife.<\/p>\n

You can trek up to the Condorcocha Lagoon, visit and photograph the Chimborazo Volcano up close, or visit the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve.<\/p>\n

If you want to climb to the summit of the mountain, it\u2019s a completely different adventure. A lot of alpinists who have conquered world famous peaks like Mount Everest come to Riobamba with the goal of visiting the farthest spot from the center of the planet as their next conquest.<\/p>\n

Trains: The Ice Train and the Pathway of the Ancestors Route<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s one of the least known train routes in Ecuador (even though the train is actual a truck on rails). The landscapes that can be observed on this journey, the stories that are told and the people you will meet are all spectacular. It is completely worth the 4-four hour trip for this unique opportunity for cultural immersion.<\/p>\n

During the tour, there are also stops in Colta to appreciate its historical church (the first one built in Ecuador) and its mysterious lagoon.<\/p>\n

Colta Lagoon<\/h3>\n

19 kilometers from Riobamba, you\u2019ll find the charming Colta Lagoon (also known as \u201cDuck Lagoon\u201d). This place is home to various types of birds such as herons, seagulls, coot birds and what is known in Ecuador as the praderito canelo, a small shorebird that feeds off insects and crustaceans.<\/p>\n

The lagoon is also surrounded by domestic animals like cows and sheep. On your visit to the lake, you can spend some time navigating around it in small boats.<\/p>\n

Guano<\/h3>\n

A few minutes from Riobamba is the town of Guano, the \u201cArtisanal Capital of Ecuador.\u201d The quality of their weaving is world-famous, so it\u2019s the ideal place to acquire blankets or embroidered clothes. You can also find well-made handicrafts fashioned from leather here.<\/p>\n

The Urbina Train Station is also a great place to visit in Guano. When you get there, if you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll get to meet Baltazar Ushca, the last of the \u201chieleros\u201d. This older gentleman is dedicated to \u201cgathering\u201d ice from the top of the Chimborazo in an artisanal way, for use in fruit juices and in the preparations at traditional markets like La Merced or San Francisco.<\/p>\n

What to see in Riobamba \u2013 Places you cannot miss<\/h2>\n

Maldonado Park<\/h3>\n

Maldonado Park is the heart of the city. Riobamba being a planned city, the Maldonado park was conceptualized as the hub from which the avenues and streets would radiate out. It\u2019s located in front of the Cathedral and holds a set of fountains and monuments of high artistic value.<\/p>\n

Unlike in other Latin American cities where the most prominent monuments are dedicated to military heroes, the main monument of this major square is dedicated to a civilian: the scientist Pedro Vicente Maldonado, one of the main contributors in the French Geodesic Mission that measured the equatorial zone.<\/p>\n

Alfaro Square<\/h3>\n

This is one of the most vibrant squares in the city thanks to the nearby Riobamba train station. To see it coming and going is a spectacle in itself. In the square, there are also stands of handicrafts made with wood, ceramic or straw.<\/p>\n

Market La Merced<\/h3>\n

In this traditional market of Riobamba, you can find fresh ingredients and typical foods like the hornado riobambe\u00f1o (wood-fired pork) and some truly special fruit juices made with ice from the Chimborazo.<\/p>\n

You can also taste some \u201cpickles\u201d: a homemade vinegared vegetable salad, sausages and bread (called \u201cpickles\u201d even in Spanish). Some other traditional dishes are yaguarlocro (soup with entrails) and jugo de sal (coriander, onion, fried eggs, and meat juice).<\/p>\n

Red Square of Riobamba<\/h3>\n

The name of this plaza does not come from the famous kremlin in Moscow, but rather from the red color of the plaza\u2019s floor tiles.<\/p>\n

This is the best place in the city to buy traditional artisanal handicrafts, especially woven textiles, embroidery, Andean clothes and leatherworks.<\/p>\n

Art and culture in Riobamba \u2013 The best museums and cultural areas<\/h2>\n

Museum of Religious Art of La Concepcion<\/h3>\n

Besides appreciating its collection of more than 200 religious objects dating from the sixteenth century, you can also walk through the dorms and cloisters of the Conceptas nuns and visit other rooms of this place which hold important stories from the colonial and republican history of Ecuador.<\/p>\n

Riobamba Cathedral<\/h3>\n

Built for the first time in 1835 and made with white calcareous stone, it features a baroque architectural style and a structure of three levels: the socle, the moldings, and three towers. The cathedral is dedicated to San Pedro, the patron saint of Riobamba.<\/p>\n

House Museum of Riobamba<\/h3>\n

This museum is located in one of the most unique architectural complexes of Riobamba, featuring a well-preserved colonial style.<\/p>\n

Inside the museum, you can appreciate a large sampling of contemporary paintings and a permanent gallery of exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and theater.<\/p>\n

Inti Raymi Festival<\/h3>\n

Just half an hour away from Riobamba you can take part in a local celebration of the Inca festival of the sun, known as Inti Raymi. The populations with Puruh\u00e1 – Inca roots and other indigenous communities of the province of Chimborazo celebrate the arrival of the Summer Solstice on the 21st of June of every year during this festival.<\/p>\n

Nightlife in Riobamba<\/h2>\n

Most bars and clubs in Riobamba are centered around Daniel Le\u00f3n Borja avenue. Lots of places offer food, appetizers, drinks, and great parties. Also, the karaokes of the city deserve a special mention for how fun and popular they are.<\/p>\n

We recommend:<\/p>\n

Baltimore Bar – Website- Adress: Av. Daniel Le\u00f3n Borja \/ Phone: +593 3-296-3954.<\/p>\n

Factory 593 – Website – Adress: Av. Primeras Olimpiadas between Alfredo Costales y Luis Alfonso Falconi \/ Phone: +593 99 919 4206.<\/p>\n

Rinc\u00f3n del Gato – Website – Adress: Jos\u00e9 de Orozco 32-21 \/ Phone: +593 98 483 4100.<\/p>\n

Volcano Bar Karaoke – Website – Adress: Bolivar Bonilla & San Jos\u00e9 \/ Phone: +593 98 402 2474.<\/p>\n

Riobamba Safety Tips<\/h2>\n