Visit Chimborazo Volcano, in Riobamba Ecuador
Ecuador’s Chimborazo is the Tallest Volcano in the World
Experience
What is Riobamba known for?
Located in the heart of the Avenue of Volcanoes, Riobamba is a crucial stop on the southbound route towards Cuenca and Guayaquil. Renowned for its vibrant market, the city also boasts a couple of charming colonial squares adorned with beautiful trees and fascinating historic buildings, including the cathedral and neoclassical basilica.
My Experience
Many travellers either donโt spend long in Riobamba, or they miss it out altogether. However, there is something about being in a city that has 3 volcanoes on the skyline that immediately takes your breath away.
When you get to learn a little more about Riobamba, you find out that one of these is the tallest volcano in the world, and the closest point on Earth to the sun, Chimborazo. This city, perched up in the Andes at 2,700m, was my first experience of South America. I loved the vibrant, bustling markets, the wide-open parks, and the friendly people.
Riobamba is home to the largest indigenous population in Ecuador and every day you see people in traditional dress – think brightly coloured ponchos and trousers, topped with a white or black hat. Each personsโ dress denotes the village that theyโre from. You can learn about these cultures the Riobamba museum.
A great way to immerse yourself in local culture is visiting one of the many parades that happen throughout the year. The most important are Semana Santa in March/April time and the Paseo del Niรฑo at Christmas, where youโll see traditional Andean costumes from Ecuadorโs sierra region. The parades are a great way to meet locals and relax with them over a Pilsener beer or a Canelazo.
One of the days I spent here was one of my best travelling experiences, and it inspired the name for my travel blog. Mountain biking down Chimborazo was an almost magical experience. The mountain is regarded as a God, and Ecuadorians attribute mystical powers to it. It is even said that you should ask the volcano permission before you hike or ride on it, otherwise bad things may happen to you.
Thereโs also more wildlife than youโd expect up here too โ I ran into a herd of vicuรฑas, small llama like creatures that produce the most expensive wool in the world. Theyโre usually scared of people, but if youโre really lucky, theyโll come right up close to you and youโll get the most amazing pictures! Other wildlife in the area includes the maned wolf, and a number of large birds. There are no condors though โ even though the lake at the top of Chimborazo is called Condor Cocha (Condor lake).
Thereโs a lot of history and culture to discover in Riobamba, and people should consider spending time here seeing the city as well as its awe-inspiring surroundings.
SEE – Photos & Videos
GO – Getting There
The most common and easiest way of travelling to Riobamba is taking the bus. From Quito, it takes 3-4 hours and costs between $4-5, depending on which company you take. From Guayaquil, itโs a little longer – 4.5 hours, and usually around $6. You can also take private taxis from either city, but theyโll cost a little more.
Although Riobamba has a train station, itโs only used for the tourist Tren de Hielo. Thereโs an airport, but it doesnโt offer international flights. Itโs mostly just used for private planes.
Do – Activities & Attractions
Climb or bike on Chimborazo
The main reason that people come to Riobamba is to experience this magnificent mountain. You can get to the second refuge on your own at 5,100m, but any higher than that and youโll need a certified guide. Getting to the summit is expensive โ expect to pay around $200+ per day. You will need to have spent some time in the Andes acclimatising before tackling this. Keep your eyes peeled for vicuรฑas โ their wool is the most expensive in the world.
Check out Pro Bici for mountain biking, or Julio Verne travel for climbing.
Take the Tren de Hielo from Riobambaโs beautifully restored train station.
Another way to experience Chimborazo and the stunning countryside around the city, Tren de Hielo is a throwback to Ecuadorโs old rail network. Youโll pass by the Capac Urcu volcano, and visit one of Ecuadorโs most famous residents โ the last iceman of Chimborazo, in the villages of Urbina and La Moya.
Saturday Market (Plaza Roja)
Every Saturday morning, Plaza Roja becomes a bustling, friendly, indigenous market where you can buy everything from woolly jumpers to souvenirs, to roasted guinea pig (try it if youโre feeling brave). Itโs a great place to spend a morning watching traditional handicrafts being made, before a spot of lunch or breakfast at one of the many stalls in the square.
People watch in Parque Maldonado
One of the cityโs many parks, and definitely one of the most pleasant for whiling away an afternoon. Itโs centred around Riobambaโs cathedral; whose faรงade was reconstructed stone by stone after a huge earthquake in 1797. Take a bench here and spend a few hours watching the world go by. Itโs a good idea to buy a tasty ice cream off one of the local helado hawkers.
See Ecuadorโs first Catholic church in Colta
Not in the city itself, but still in the province, Colta is about a half an hour bus ride from Riobamba. The reason you shouldnโt miss it is that La Iglesia de Balbanera (Balbanera church) was the first Catholic church built by the Spanish conquistadors. The small, beautiful building is right by a traditional market. Colta also has a lake where you can rent a bike, or simply just relax and drink in the views.
Some other options for day trips include trekking on El Altar, visiting the quaint village of Guano, or taking a trip to the co-operative town of Salinas de Guaranda, where small businesses make chocolate, cheese, and footballs to name just a few.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means WSE Travel may earn a small commission if you choose to book or buy through themโat no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we believe can genuinely enhance your travel experience.
Stay – Accommodation
Hotel Tren Dorado
A cheap and cheerful option near to the train station (as the name suggests), Hotel Tren Dorado is a great choice for budget travellers. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and have wildcat-inspired blankets! Most importantly, hot water is always available. Less common than youโd hope in Ecuador!
Hostal Oasis
Riobamba doesnโt have a presence on Hostelworld, but it does have a couple you can book upon arrival or by email. One of those is the Hostal Oasis, south of the city centre. It has a great garden and a shared kitchen and is situated close to Parque la Libertad. The area can be a bit sketchy at night, so take a taxi if youโre out having dinner or partying.
Casa 1881
This 4-star option offers much more than youโd expect from its affordable price. Set in a colonial building, Casa 1881 effortlessly mixes late 1800โs style dรฉcor with mod cons like smart TVs, power showers, and Wi-Fi. Thereโs a beautifully decorated courtyard, and some of the best rooms come with balconies.
Hotel Zeus
The tallest building in Riobamba, Hotel Zeus is close to the Terminal Terrestre (bus station) and the city centre. The onsite restaurant offers local and international food, and a buffet breakfast. Rooms have Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs and private bathrooms with hot water. The best rooms have views of Chimborazo when itโs not covered by clouds!
Eat – Restaurants
Riobamba is said to be the best place to eat hornado in Ecuador. Whatโs hornado? Itโs a whole roast pig, cooked overnight for 8 hours and slowly turned over coals to make the meat juicy, and the skin crispy. Itโs often served with llapingachos (small fried mashed potato balls), mote (boiled corn), and salad. Itโs delicious, but also very fatty!
For the best hornado, go to Mercado de la Merced in the city centre. Thereโs a room full of it, where the women who serve will all be shouting at you to pick their kiosk.
Other dishes to try here are yaguarlocro (a soup made of lamb/pork entrails), cuy (roasted guinea pig), and fruit juices made with ice chipped away from the Chimborazo glacier.
There are also several Western restaurants on Avenida Daniel Leon Borja where you can get pizza, burgers, and chifa (Ecuadorโs take on Chinese food).
Time – Seasonality & Schedules
The great thing about Ecuador is that due to its position on the equator, thereโs never a bad time to visit. Daylight is from 7am to 7pm every day and the clocks donโt change. The days are mostly clear from June to September, whereas itโs cooler and wetter for the rest of the year. Riobamba is regarded as the coldest city in the country, and Ecuadorians refer to it as Frรญobamba. At night, it can get seriously cold, but in the daytime, youโll need sun cream.
Safety – Possible risks
Riobamba is one of the safest cities in Ecuador. However, like everywhere, there are places you should avoid, especially at night. Violent crimes are rare, but pickpocketing happens. Westerners stand out as targets, but in two months of living in the city, I never experienced any problems. That said, donโt take any unnecessary risks, and always take taxis at night.
Please Note: Travel inherently comes with an element of risk (just like crossing the road does). You are putting yourself in elements that are unfamiliar and foreign to your usual lifestyle and with that, become more susceptible to fall victim those who try to play off those unfamiliar to their local scams. There are also potential dangers in the environments to which you may not be accustomed to.
Please take extra care in travelling, ensure that you have adequate medical insurance (accidents seem to happen when you least expect them), and have let a trusted colleague, family member or friend know your whereabouts and activities.
Where Sidewalks End travel advises you to travel at your own risk, and to be extra aware of your surroundings (without letting it spoiling your time).
Pay – How much does it cost?
As a city, Riobamba is one of the cheapest places to travel in Ecuador. Tours of the surrounding mountains can be picked up for much cheaper than in Quito or Baรฑos. Thanks to Ecuador using the US dollar, itโs a pretty easy transition currency wise too. Low prices of food, travel, and hotels mean that if youโre frugal, you can easily get by on $30 a day here.
Responsible Travel – Best Practices
As mentioned above, Riobamba has the largest indigenous population in Ecuador. Make sure the company you are touring with is responsible and pays an indigenous guide the wage they deserve. Although haggling can be fun at markets, remember that many of the products on sale are handcrafted by local and indigenous people. Be fair and pay a respectable price.
Reality Check – Be Aware
Riobamba is a great introduction to real South American life. The main problem that visitors will face is the altitude, but if youโve spent a few days in Quito beforehand, thatโs a great way to get yourself acclimatised.
You certainly should spend a few days trying the local food, perusing through souvenirs at the markets, and maybe even try testing out your Spanish! Itโs a little different to the main tourist draws of Ecuador, and a few days here will set you back very little cost wise. You wonโt regret a trip to Riobamba!
Additional Resources
https://www.ecostravel.com/en/ecuador/cities-destination/riobamba/catedral-riobamba.php – information on Riobamba cathedral
https://www.riobamba.co (in Spanish) โ A website about the city.
http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/html/riobamba.html – Information on Riobamba and other cities in Ecuador.
www.thecuriousvicuna.wordpress.com โ travel blog by an English teacher based in Riobamba.
JOIN US! WSE Travel Packages
This sounds like quite the adventure, right? We thought so too! Though we realize it can be pretty intimidating to get out there into the world on your own, especially when travelling to some of these off the beaten path locations. We love it when our readers give it a shot and try it for themselves! In fact, please leave us feedback if you do!! If trying something โthisโ adventurous on your own is just a bit outside of your comfort zone, WSE Travel is here to help!
Follow this link for our โChoose Your Own Adventureโ Tours โ packages that are highly personalized and tailored at your request.
Riobamba Travel Resources
These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.
- Best Flight Deals: Trip.com โ Trip is my favorite flight search engine. It is a flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. Its innovative search finds the best option for specific travel dates by comparing airfares offered by all major airlines and agencies. The aggregator displays final prices, without any hidden fees. They are hands down the number one place to start.
- Best Hotel Deals: Booking.comย โ Booking is the best all-around hotel booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates because it compares all the other major hotel booking sites. They have the widest selection of comfortable accommodations. In all my tests, theyโve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
- Best Tour Deals: Where Sidewalks End (of course) โ WSE Travel is a boutique tour operator with specially curated tours, events, and workshops. We have many tour options available in cities in Mexico and worldwide, including cooking classes, walking tours, art workshops, and more!
- Best Car Rental Deals: Discover Cars – If you want to have mobility freedom, renting a car is an incredible option, but finding the best deal can be a nightmare! Discover Cars scans all the major car rental sites and includes all mandatory fees, taxes, and extras in the quoted price so there wonโt be any unpleasant surprises when you arrive at the rental desk.
- Best Travel Insurance Deals: SafetyWing – SafetyWing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to all your travel needs. They have cheap plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road. They even have subscriptions if you are planning long-term, without having to re-apply for each segment of your trip.
- Best E-Sim Provider: Airalo – Airalo is one of the most versatile e-sim providers I’ve ever found, offering e-sim in almost every country on earth! No need to take your home phone provider’s sim card out and risk losing it on your trip! As long as your phone has e-sim capabilities, Airalo has you covered at really good rates too, meaning you can be connected at all times on your trip!
- Best 100% Pick-pocket Proof Clothing Deals: Clever Companion โ They make clothing specifically for travel, with hidden pockets to hide your valuables. From hoodies to briefs, they cover all your clothing needs – each with hidden pockets to hide your money, wallet, and anything else you want to keep safe!
- Best Eco-Safe Travel Products: TreeTribe – This company is just awesome! From water bottles to yoga pants, wallets to bikinis, and everything in between – all their products are great quality, and eco-friendly AND they plant a tree for every purchase!
- Best Outdoor Travel Product: LifeStraw โ My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
Have you ever been to a city that had a really unique historical or cultural feature? Where was it and what made it so unique?
If you are backpacking through South America, Brazil and Peru are musts: check out Lenรงรณis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil and explore the Sacred Valley in Peru, starting with Pisac!
Please feel free to share your stories and thoughts in the comment section below!