Riobamba and Chimborazo, Ecuador: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The province of Chimborazo occupies the central highlands of Ecuador, in a high valley between the eastern and western ranges of the Andes. The name comes from the volcano that dominates the horizon northwest of Riobamba, the country’s highest peak, capped with ice. Near the Equator, where the planet bulges most, Chimborazo’s summit sits farther from the center of the Earth than Everest’s summit, and no other spot on the surface is as distant from it.

The mountain lies within a páramo reserve created to bring back vicuñas, which returned to the grasslands of the slopes in the late 1980s. A dirt road carries visitors to a mountain refuge above 4,800 meters, and a short hike leads to another refuge near 5,000 meters.

Riobamba, the provincial capital, sits at about 2,750 meters and is the base for the volcano. The city was rebuilt in a different location after the 1797 earthquake that buried colonial Riobamba, where Cajabamba in the canton of Colta now stands. The grid-style center brings together the cathedral, built with stones brought from the old city, the basilica with its pink dome, and the Loma de Quito, where the battle of April 21, 1822, was fought. In 1830, Ecuador’s first Constituent Assembly met in the city. On the road to the south are Laguna de Colta, with totora-lined shores, and the Church of Balbanera, considered the oldest Catholic church in Ecuador.

In the southern part of the province, Alausí is the departure point for the train that climbs the Devil’s Nose, a rock face on the slope of Mount Pistishí: the track descends about 500 meters in a zigzag down to Sibambe station. Runs take place from Thursday to Sunday and on holidays; because the line has stopped during storms and for repairs, it’s worth checking service before planning the day.

From the city to the refuges, altitude rises from 2,750 to over 4,800 meters. Many travelers experience shortness of breath and fatigue during the first days above 2,500 meters; spending at least one night in Riobamba before ascending the volcano and walking slowly at high elevations helps you enjoy the visit.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Riobamba, Alausí.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Riobamba and Chimborazo is

Outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Riobamba and Chimborazo

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (UIO), in Quito · 230 km to Riobamba

The nearest air gateway is Quito (UIO), about 230 km from Riobamba along the Pan-American Highway; buses leave from the Quitumbe terminal in Quito and take three to four hours. Guayaquil (GYE) is the country’s other major entry. Riobamba has no commercial flights, and Alausí is about 95 km to the south. Entry requirements for Ecuador depend on nationality: confirm before you travel.

Suggested arrival point: Riobamba

Chimborazo · Riobamba and Chimborazo Capital Suggested arrival point

Riobamba

Capital of Chimborazo province, at about 2,750 meters, in the central Andean valley. It was rebuilt on the Tapi plateau after the 1797 earthquake, and the grid-patterned downtown preserves the cathedral with stones from the old city, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Loma de Quito, with views of the surrounding volcanoes. It is the base for Chimborazo, about 45 km away, and for Laguna de Colta and the Church of Balbanera, about 20 km away.

Chimborazo · Riobamba and Chimborazo

Alausí

A small town in southern Chimborazo, near 2,300 meters, on a slope of the Chanchán River valley. Cobblestone streets, houses with wooden balconies and the main church surround the station, the departure point for the rail trip to Sibambe that passes the Devil’s Nose. At the top of Loma de Lluglli, the Monument to San Pedro, the town’s patron saint, dominates the view.

The local experience

Things to do in Riobamba and Chimborazo

Alausí · Chimborazo · Train ride

Devil's Nose Train

The best-known section of the old railway between Guayaquil and Quito: the train leaves from Alausí, drops about 500 meters in altitude on a zigzag alignment along a rock face to Sibambe station, and returns the same way.

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Volcano

Chimborazo Volcano

The highest peak in Ecuador, over 6,200 meters, and the point on Earth’s surface farthest from the planet’s center. Vicuñas live in the páramo around it, and a dirt road leads to mountain refuges.

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Church

Cathedral of Riobamba

The Cathedral of San Pedro, facing Maldonado Park, with a carved white stone façade; some of the stones were brought from the old Riobamba, destroyed by the 1797 earthquake.

Alausí · Chimborazo · Monument

Monument to Saint Peter

A 21-meter statue of Alausí’s patron, covered in ceramic mosaics, atop Loma de Lluglli; the viewpoint looks over the town roofs and the valley.

See 4 more places in Riobamba and Chimborazo

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Church

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Neoclassical church with a pink dome facing La Libertad Park, built between 1883 and 1915 with donations and labor from the townspeople.

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Viewpoint

Loma de Quito

A hill in central Riobamba with the church of San Antonio and 21 de Abril Park, which commemorates the 1822 combat. On clear days the viewpoint shows Chimborazo and other volcanoes around the valley.

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Church

Balbanera Church

Small stone church beside Laguna de Colta, founded in 1534 and considered the country’s first Catholic temple. On the façade, a colonial portal; at the altar, the Virgin of Balbanera.

Riobamba · Chimborazo · Lagoon

Laguna Colta

Lagoon at about 3,300 meters, with shores covered in totora, water birds and llamas and sheep grazing on the grasslands; the Church of Balbanera is beside it.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Temperature varies little through the year: in Riobamba days are pleasantly sunny and nights chilly; at the Chimborazo refuges temperatures stay near zero and it can snow in any month. June, July, August and September are generally the driest months, with the volcano visible more often. Between October and May it rains more frequently, especially in the afternoon, when fog tends to cover the summit.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow for one day in downtown Riobamba and at the Loma de Quito, one full day for Chimborazo, and one day for Laguna de Colta, the Church of Balbanera and the train in Alausí. With four or five days you can do the hike to the Whymper refuge at a relaxed pace, spend a night in Alausí, and include a rest day to adapt to the altitude.

Which city to stay in

In Riobamba, the historic center around Parque Maldonado puts the cathedral, basilica and Loma de Quito within walking distance. Daniel León Borja Avenue, northwest of the center, also concentrates hotels and restaurants. In the surroundings, haciendas and rural lodgings lie along the road to Chimborazo. In Alausí, accommodations are basic and located in the town center near the station; staying in town avoids the round trip from Riobamba on the day of the train.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Riobamba and Chimborazo

Why is Chimborazo the point farthest from the center of the Earth?

Because the planet is flattened at the poles and wider at the Equator. Located about 160 km south of that line, Chimborazo’s summit is roughly 2 km farther from the planet’s core than Everest’s summit, even though Everest is much higher above sea level.

How many days to set aside for Riobamba and Chimborazo?

Three days: one for downtown Riobamba, one for the volcano and one for Laguna de Colta and the Devil’s Nose train in Alausí. Travelers coming from low elevations benefit from an extra day to adapt to the altitude.

Do you need a car to visit Chimborazo?

It’s not mandatory. Tours and taxis run from Riobamba to the Hermanos Carrel refuge, and buses on the road to Guaranda stop at the reserve entrance, from where the climb to the refuge is long. With your own car, the itinerary between the volcano, Colta and Alausí is more flexible.

Can you go to Chimborazo as a day trip from Quito?

Yes, with a tour or driver, but it makes for a long day: it’s about three and a half hours of driving one way. Sleeping in Riobamba lets you reach the volcano in the morning, when fog is usually less, and helps with altitude adaptation.

What is the best time to visit Chimborazo?

The months from June to September tend to be the driest, with the summit visible more often. In any month, morning and early afternoon tend to have clearer skies; later the fog usually rises.

Riobamba and Chimborazo

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip