Riobamba travel guide

Getting around

There is a frequent bus service to the larger towns within the region. Some more out-of-the-way communities will usually have one or two buses per day and more transport on market days. Riobamba tour operators offer tours or just transport to the attractions in the area.

Ins and outs

Riobamba is 190 km south of Quito and 250 km north of Cuenca along the Panamericana. South of Riobamba, by the Laguna de Colta, a paved road goes southwest through Pallatanga to Guayaquil, 225 km from Riobamba. Going west from Riobamba are two access routes to Guaranda . Another paved road goes northeast to Penipe and beyond to Baños. At the time of writing, this road was closed near Baños due to volcanic debris, but you can get from Riobamba to Penipe and a bit further. Another road goes southeast from Riobamba to Cebadas, Atillo and over the Cordillera Oriental to Macas in Oriente.

Getting there

Buses from Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Guaranda, Alausí and Ambato arrive at the well-run Riobamba Terminal Terrestre on Epiclachima y Avenida Daniel León Borja. Buses from Baños and Oriente arrive at the Terminal Oriental, at Espejo y Cordovez. Buses to smaller towns within the province leave from specific street corners throughout the city . A taxi between terminals costs US$1. The nicely refurbished railway station remains a central landmark, but is used only for tourist rides .

Banks

Banco del Pacífico, Av Daniel León Borja y Zambrano, ATM and TCs. Banco Pichincha, Primera Constituyente y García Moreno, ATM only. Several other ATMs in town.

Hospital

Metropolitano, Junín, entre España y García Moreno, T03-294 1930.

Internet

Rates about US$1/hr.

Laundry

Donini, Villarroel entre España y Larrea, Mon-Sat 0830-1230, 1500-1800, US$0.80 per kilo. They also have a dry cleaning service on Av Daniel León Borja 37-55 y Brasil.

Post office

10 de Agosto y Espejo.

Travel agents

Diamante Tours, García Moreno y Veloz, T03-296 0124. For airline tickets.

Useful addresses

Ministerio del Ambiente, Av 9 de Octubre y Quinta Macají, at the western edge of town, T03-2610029. Mon-Fri 0800-1300, 1400-1700. For information about Parque Nacional Sangay; rangers are only in the office in the early morning. From town take a city bus San Gerardo-El Batán.