Central Highlands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 162

The Natural HistoryMuseum (Museo de Ciencias Naturales) is lo-
cated in the city center, on Sucre, near the Parque .Cevallos. It is
home to a collection of stuffed birds and bottled animals. It's not bad if
you like that kind of thing.
The Casa de la Cultura , on Montalvo between Rocofuerte and
Bolívar, has a nice little café/art gallery, a great place for a coffee and
a slice of chocolate cake, or to meet and chat with local artists and in-
tellectuals, for whom this is a popular haunt. They have exhibitions
featuring the work of local artists - some good, some not so good - al-
though it is all a matter of taste. They also have live folk music from
time to time, the occasional movie night, and have even been known
to throw in a comedy night now and again. Be warned though - as the
obvious foreigner, you will be the brunt of every joke.
Ambato is a major junction for roads to many destinations in Ecua-
dor. To the north is Quito and the Central Highlands, to the south is
Cuenca, Loja and the Southern Highlands, as well as the route to
Guayaquil and the coast. To the east is Baños and the road to the jun-
gles of theOriente. It is also a home base for finding a guide to climb or
explore VolcánChimborazo to the south, as well as Sangay, Altar and
Tungurahua .Volcanos Ambato is about 85 miles and 2½ hours south
of Quito via the Pan-AmericanHighway. You can't miss it as it lies di-
rectly along the highway.
Riobamba
South of Ambato along the Pan-American Highway is Riobamba, the
capital of the Chimborazo province and an important hub for climb-
ers. Offeringmodern services, outfitters, gear and provisions, it tends
to cater to mountain folk more than to the typical “gringo trail” trav-
eler. From Riobamba, you may be able to witness the peaks of up to
five volcanoes on a clear day, including the renowned Chimborazo,
Altar and Tungurahua.
With nearly 120,000 inhabitants, Riobamba is an important city that
links the north with the south and the Pacific Coast. In fact, the spec-
tacular steam engine train ride that once began along the coast in
Guayaquil drops travelers here, offering an incredible display of
changes in the land and the people along the way.
Located in the Tipi Valley, Riobamba and the surrounding region is
known for its cultural heritage and agricultural and commercial ac-
tivity. It perseveres with a flare of colonial aristocracy and the pace
here is slow. As for the adventure traveler, Riobamba's primary at-
traction is its ideal location for local hiking, trekking, and climbing
excursions.