Ambato Ecuador

It is 140 kilometers to the south of the City of Quito Ambato is the capital city of the province of Tungurahua and has approximately 221,000 inhabitants.

This city is well known as the Land of the Flowers and the Fruits.

Here you can find different kinds of fresh fruits such as pears, peaches, plums and tree tomatoes during the entire year in the markets.

The city offers you amazing tourist locations with beautiful landscapes, and cultural and traditional sites.

Ambato is located near important tourist sites such as the village of Baños located at the foot of active Tungurahua volcano (5087 meters above sea level) and Pelileo, a town renowned for its textile production of jeans.

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Its architecture features churches such as: the Cathedral, San Francisco, La Merced, Santo Domingo, la Medalla Milagrosa, and the church of Los Padres Josefinos.

The city also has interesting archaeological and ethnographic samples at the museum of Juan Montalvo and the museum of the Colegio Bolivar.

Ambato city is famous for the "Carnival festivities" during February of each year. This huge celebration is called: La Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas (The festivity of the flowers and fruits).

The program is varied during the celebration: folklore and music festivals, typical food fairs, street theater, fireworks, handicraft fairs, fruits and flowers fairs, traditional dances, and other interesting events.

During the festivities in the city of Ambato there are also bullfights and parades like the Fraternity Parade and a parade of floats beautifully adorned with flowers and fruits, representing the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Main Attractions to Visit in Ambato Ecuador

Visit the Cathedral and Montalvo Park, also make sure you stop by at Juan Montalvo's museum's house which is located at Bolivar and montalvo streets.

The Museum of Sciences and Botany "Hector Vásquez" is another great place to visit for those interested in ethnographic collections and animals.

This museum is located at Sucre street in the National School Bolivar. If you want to buy some fine leather items, then I recommend you to visit Miraflores.

There are a lot of leather shops that you will enjoy for a long time, you will find leather jackets, hand bags, wallets, etc. at very fair prices.

Another town specialized in Leather crafts near the city of Ambato is Quizapincha, which is located 10 Km west of the city, it is famous for its fine leather work.

It is also recommended that you visit the main market (Mercado Central) on Mondays. Here you will find many items and local souvenirs and you will experience how life and a traditional local market held in Ambato Ecuador.

During February or anytime of the year, visit Ambato Ecuador, the Land of the Flowers and the Fruits!

Ecuador Recommended Reading

Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands
This book covers extensively from rugged Ecuador's Andean mountains and the Amazon rain forest, to serene Pacific beaches and the unique wildlife and landscapes of the Galapagos Islands. (One of the most complete travel guides to Ecuador)

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