In the Andes of Ecuador the cities offer wonderful landscapes, history, traditions, delicious gastronomy, and excursions around places of contrasts that are beyond imagination. On of these is Ambato, in the province of Tungurahua, at about 80 miles south of Quito.
The first sign that tells us we are getting close to the city is the sight of the magnificent volcanoes and snow-covered mountains such as Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Carihuayrazo. Even closer, some tannery industries and the businesses welcome us. The city is nestled in a valley and the houses sit on a system of terraces at different levels.
We start our route at El Español sector, from the offices of the Ministry of Tourism, located in the historic downtown area of Tungurahua. One block from there is the Edmundo Martínez Pictorial Museum, built 120 years ago with pishilata stone, wattle and daub, and brick. The renovated facilities guard oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, works from famous painters such as Guayasamín, Kigman, Villacís, Viteri, and Román.
We continue for a few blocks and arrive at the heart of the city: Cevallos Park. Surrounding the park there is the biggest architectonic richness, which hosts public institutions such as Bolívar High School, of classic and neoclassic architecture in the front, the modern Basilica, which was replaced after the 1797 earthquake, the City Council buildings, those of the Provincial government, offices from the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Post Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the Museum Casa del Portal, and the Cultural Center.
This urban environment is complemented by the aroma of the traditional Ambato bread, which can be purchased at several bakeries, and which invites us to take a break and have breakfast.
The usual offer at Café Ponche is the Swiss lunch, which can be served with empanadas, orange cake, a toast, puff-pastry ears or cheesecake. Or you can join the crowd of the Mercado Central (main open-air market) and try the llapingachos (potato tortillas), accompanied with fried eggs, chorizo, avocado, and a salad.
History and culture
We took a slower route, one that combines nature and history. So we started at the Botanical Gardens, located in the Atocha beltway, where there are two beautiful mansions-museums, each 14 hectares, which belonged to the distinguished Mera and Martínez families.
Ambato is known as the city of the three men named Juan, in honor of the famous Ecuadorian scholars Juan León Mera (writer and poet), Juan Montalvo (writer), and Juan Benigno Vela (renown professor). They were born in this city.
The houses, of adobe, wattle, and daub and which belonged to Juan Mera and Martínez, have been turned into a Spanish-style patrimonial Historic Museum. It is attractive because of its architecture, its natural surroundings, its writings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and even the home décor.
There is furniture from the XVIII and XIX Centuries, in sculpted, carved, and varnished wood, from the Mera and Martínez parents. In the slow-paced route, which lasts about three hours, the soft chirp of the birds and the floral aromas that are present in the magical and ecological environment awaken our senses.
MORE ABOUT AMBATO
- From any other city in the country, one can travel by bus, on any on the interprovincial buses, leaving from the respective bus stations.
- With regard to hotel capacity, Ambato is well served, and in accordance with several budgets.
- Ambato is located at about 8465 feet above sea level, approximately 85 miles from Quito, 179 miles from Guayaquil, and 190 miles from Cuenca.