Riobamba (Chimborazo)

The historic "Sultana of the Andes", with Chimborazo volcano (the point farthest from Earth's centre), the zigzag Devil's Nose railway and the indigenous market at Guamote.

Riobamba is the capital of Chimborazo Province in Ecuador's central Andes, at an altitude of about 2,750 m; its orderly layout and ring of snow-capped peaks have earned it the name "Sultana of the Andes". The town was moved and rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1797, and Ecuador's first constitution was drawn up here in 1830. Northwest of the city rises Chimborazo, the country's highest peak, whose summit is the point on Earth farthest from its centre; in the reserve you can see wild vicuñas, drive up to the Carrel Refuge at about 4,850 m and then hike to the Whymper Refuge at 5,000 m. Classic excursions nearby include the zigzag Devil's Nose railway from Alausí, the Thursday indigenous market at Guamote, Laguna de Colta and the Balbanera church, and the Atillo and Ozogoche lakes in Sangay National Park; Guano, on the northern outskirts, is famous for hand-woven rugs and leather goods. It is cool year-round; Jun–Sep and Dec–Jan are relatively dry, when the volcano shows itself more often, with the best visibility early in the morning. Getting there: about 3.5–4 hours by bus from Quito, or about 4.5 hours from Guayaquil. Plan on 2–3 days, and acclimatise before any high-altitude trip on Chimborazo. Bring sun protection and warm layers; train services have changed often in recent years, so be sure to confirm in advance.

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