Ambato to Riobamba travel guide

From Ambato the Panamericana goes south surrounded by fruit orchards and crosses to the next valley, Mocha, where guinea pigs (cuy) are raised for the table. You can sample roast cuy and other typical Ecuadorean dishes at stalls and restaurants by the roadside (Mariadiocelina is recommended). The valley’s patchwork of fields gives an impression of greater fertility and prosperity than the Riobamba zone that follows. A small crucifix crowns the roof of many houses, where figurines of domestic animals are also found.

From Mocha the road climbs to a high pass at Urbina, from where there are fine views in the dry season of Chimborazo and its smaller sister mountain, Carihuayrazo. There is good walking in this area . From Urbina the road descends from the páramo through onion and potato fields to Riobamba.