If you want a short trip outside Riobamba, Ecuador, try these suggestions. A guide to travel from Riobamba to nearby cities and towns, including Guayaquil and Quito. You can go for a day trip or stay overnight for easy sightseeing outside the city.
20 Great day trips & overnight excursions from Riobamba
Nearest & Best places to go
Location: Bolívar province
El Arenal desert is a region of the Bolívar province in Ecuador. Located in the limit with the Chimborazo province, in the road Guaranda-Ambato. El Arenal is the dry western side of Chimborazo volcano. This area is the result of the Chimborazo volcano's ancient eruptions. It offers a very beautiful and special landscape. From there, it is ...
Location: Bolívar province
Guaranda is a small city, capital of the Bolívar province. It is located in the northeast of the province, about 137 mi. (220 km.) South of Quito and 93 mi. (150 km.) North of Guayaquil. Guaranda sits amid seven steep hills, that's why it is also known as "the Rome of Ecuador" or the "City of ...
Location: Pastaza province
Puyo is the capital of the Pastaza province. Located only 20 mi. (32 km.) from the town of Baños de Agua Santa and 4 1/2 hours bus ride from Quito (an hour by airplane). This small city has three main rivers: Pastaza, Puyo, and Bobonaza. Puyo is the central point to go to Baños, Macas, ...
Location: Pichincha province
Quito is Ecuador's capital. This beautiful city is nestled in a valley at the base of the Pichincha Volcano. Quito boasts one of the largest historical districts in Latin America. It has colonial architecture. In fact, Quito's old town is quite breathtaking.
Location: Tungurahua province
Baños de Agua Santa or "Baños" is a beautiful town located in the Tungurahua province, Ecuador. Baños means "springs" and Agua Santa means "holy water." This town possesses natural beauty, surrounded by lush vegetation, waterfalls, rapid rivers, and thermal springs. Hence its name, holy hot springs. The closest cities are Ambato and Riobamba. The movie Proof ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Ambato is a nice city, the capital of the Tungurahua province. It is the major hub for travelers heading from Quito to Riobamba o Guayaquil. Ambato's full name is "San Juan de Ambato". Known as the "City of Flowers and Fruits" - "Ciudad de las Flores y las Frutas" in Spanish, due to the great variety of fruits ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Latacunga is a nice city, the capital of the Cotopaxi province. Situated on a plateau — piece of land much higher than the surrounding flat areas. Located about 55 mi. (89 km.) south of Quito, near the Cotopaxi volcano. This city has an International Airport, also name "Cotopaxi". Latacunga's most important festivities are the Provincialization of ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Bucay is a small town located in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador. This is around a 90-minute drive east of Guayaquil. Bucay is a place full of nature. It has a cloud forest and many waterfalls. A traditional drink of the place is the delicious juice of cane, made at the moment. In fact, some tourists ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Salcedo is a small town located in the heart of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. It is famous for its delicious and creamy fruit ice-cream known as "helados de Salcedo". Ice-cream is a traditional dessert in this region and can only be found locally. Every Sunday, Salcedo hosts a local market that offers traditional products like ponchos, hats, ...
Location: Imbabura province
Otavalo is an indigenous city, surrounded by volcanoes. Located 68 mi. (110 km.) from the north of Quito, Ecuador — about a two-hour bus drive. — Otavalo is known as the "Intercultural Capital Ecuador" due to its diversity. Its main attraction is the Peguche waterfall, located inside the Protected Forest of Peguche. Other local attraction is the ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Cotopaxi National Park is located in the Cotopaxi Province, around 50 km south of Quito. The Cotopaxi volcano - 19,347 feet (5,897 m) - is the main attraction of this park. Cotopaxi National Park is a popular destination for visitors looking to hike, climb and trek. There is also a museum to visit. Best months to ...
Location: Guayas province
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, major port, leading commercial center, and capital of the Guayas province. It is famous for being the gateway to the Galapagos Islands and for its nightlife.
One-day trips
Location: Chimborazo province
Achupallas is part of the Alausí canton, in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador. Achupallas is a peaceful city famous for the Inca trail. The trail crosses the Tres Cruces sector, as well as the Culebrillas lagoon. The final destination is the ruins of Ingapirca in Cañar. During the time of the Incas, the Achupallas sector ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Laguna Amarilla is a crater-lagoon at the base of El Altar volcano, in Ecuador. El Altar has an elevation of 17,451 ft. (5,319 m.) and it is part of the Sangay National Park. The volcano has nine snow-covered peaks, in the middle of them, it is the lagoon that has a horseshoe or C shape. Although ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Atillo Lagoons are part of the Sangay National Park and the Ozogoche lake complex. "Lagunas de Atillo" in Spanish. It includes several lagoons such as Negra, Cuyug, and Atillo. Located south of the Chimborazo province. About 40 mi. (79 km.) from Riobamba, on the road Riobamba–Macas. The nearest town is Guamote, about 30 mi. (48 km.) Southeast. ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Penipe is a town located on the slopes of El Altar volcano. This is 92 mi. (149 km.) South of Quito, near Riobamba — in the Chimborazo province, Ecuador. There are some buses from Riobamba to Penipe — approximately 10 mi. (16 km.) driving east. In fact, Penipe's main attraction is "El Altar" volcano; as well as the Tungurahua volcano. ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Mount Carihuairazo is a volcanic caldera, in a beautiful snow-topped mountain. Located inside the Chimborazo Fauna Reserve. Close to the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain. The nearest city is Riobamba, about 19 mi. (30 km.) Southwest. This is 93 mi. (150 km) Southwest of Quito. Mount Carihuairazo is an inactive volcano, part of the "Avenue of ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Balbanera is the oldest Catholic church in Ecuador, built by the Spaniards in 1534. The Balbanera church is located in Cajabamba town, 11 mi. (18 km.) from Riobamba near the Colta lake. The church is built with stones, its arched entryway features low pillars, cherubs, and rough religious imagery. Also worth noting are what appear to be ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Lakes of Ozogoche — "Lagunas de Ozogoche" in Spanish — are located in the Chimborazo province of Ecuador. The Ozogoche Lakes consists of 45 separate lakes and lagoons located inside the Sangay National Park. In particular, Ozogoche is famous because every year, thousands of migrating plover birds leave their habitat in the Northern countries to make ...
Location: Chimborazo province
El Altar is an extinct volcano on Sangay National Park. 170 km south of Quito, near Riobamba. It has nine peaks surrounding a beautiful glacial crater lake. Surrounding the crater, there are green valleys full of waterfalls and multi-coloured glacial lagoons.
Overnight trips - Short excursions
Location: Cotopaxi province
Cotopaxi National Park is located in the Cotopaxi Province, around 50 km south of Quito. The Cotopaxi volcano - 19,347 feet (5,897 m) - is the main attraction of this park. Cotopaxi National Park is a popular destination for visitors looking to hike, climb and trek. There is also a museum to visit. Best months to ...
Location: Bolívar province
Guaranda is a small city, capital of the Bolívar province. It is located in the northeast of the province, about 137 mi. (220 km.) South of Quito and 93 mi. (150 km.) North of Guayaquil. Guaranda sits amid seven steep hills, that's why it is also known as "the Rome of Ecuador" or the "City of ...
Location: Guayas province
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, major port, leading commercial center, and capital of the Guayas province. It is famous for being the gateway to the Galapagos Islands and for its nightlife.
Location: Tungurahua province
Baños de Agua Santa or "Baños" is a beautiful town located in the Tungurahua province, Ecuador. Baños means "springs" and Agua Santa means "holy water." This town possesses natural beauty, surrounded by lush vegetation, waterfalls, rapid rivers, and thermal springs. Hence its name, holy hot springs. The closest cities are Ambato and Riobamba. The movie Proof ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Ambato is a nice city, the capital of the Tungurahua province. It is the major hub for travelers heading from Quito to Riobamba o Guayaquil. Ambato's full name is "San Juan de Ambato". Known as the "City of Flowers and Fruits" - "Ciudad de las Flores y las Frutas" in Spanish, due to the great variety of fruits ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Latacunga is a nice city, the capital of the Cotopaxi province. Situated on a plateau — piece of land much higher than the surrounding flat areas. Located about 55 mi. (89 km.) south of Quito, near the Cotopaxi volcano. This city has an International Airport, also name "Cotopaxi". Latacunga's most important festivities are the Provincialization of ...
Location: Pastaza province
Puyo is the capital of the Pastaza province. Located only 20 mi. (32 km.) from the town of Baños de Agua Santa and 4 1/2 hours bus ride from Quito (an hour by airplane). This small city has three main rivers: Pastaza, Puyo, and Bobonaza. Puyo is the central point to go to Baños, Macas, ...
Location: Bolívar province
El Arenal desert is a region of the Bolívar province in Ecuador. Located in the limit with the Chimborazo province, in the road Guaranda-Ambato. El Arenal is the dry western side of Chimborazo volcano. This area is the result of the Chimborazo volcano's ancient eruptions. It offers a very beautiful and special landscape. From there, it is ...
Location: Imbabura province
Otavalo is an indigenous city, surrounded by volcanoes. Located 68 mi. (110 km.) from the north of Quito, Ecuador — about a two-hour bus drive. — Otavalo is known as the "Intercultural Capital Ecuador" due to its diversity. Its main attraction is the Peguche waterfall, located inside the Protected Forest of Peguche. Other local attraction is the ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Bucay is a small town located in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador. This is around a 90-minute drive east of Guayaquil. Bucay is a place full of nature. It has a cloud forest and many waterfalls. A traditional drink of the place is the delicious juice of cane, made at the moment. In fact, some tourists ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Salcedo is a small town located in the heart of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. It is famous for its delicious and creamy fruit ice-cream known as "helados de Salcedo". Ice-cream is a traditional dessert in this region and can only be found locally. Every Sunday, Salcedo hosts a local market that offers traditional products like ponchos, hats, ...
Location: Pichincha province
Quito is Ecuador's capital. This beautiful city is nestled in a valley at the base of the Pichincha Volcano. Quito boasts one of the largest historical districts in Latin America. It has colonial architecture. In fact, Quito's old town is quite breathtaking.
