Things to do in Riobamba
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Expediciones Julio Verne
Expediciones Julio Verne is a respected Ecuadorian-Dutch-owned, full-service operator offering affordable, two-day summit trips to Chimborazo and other peaks, as well as to the Oriente and Galápagos. The company arranges guided hikes, rents out climbing and hiking gear and offers clear information without pressuring customers. It also offers downhill mountain biking on Chimborazo (their routes are good for kids about ten years and up) and tons of interesting tours in the region.
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El Rey del Burrito
‘The King of the Burrito’ serves large burritos, tacos and enchiladas with super spicy salsa (ole! ). There must be a vegetarian in the house, because they have wonderful options for herbivores. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is enlivened by some cool murals.
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Riobamba Market
The Saturday market transforms Riobamba into a hive of commercial activity, when thousands of people from surrounding villages come to barter, buy and sell. They flood into town by truck, cart, donkey and foot, unloading impossibly giant loads and spreading out their wares along the streets northeast of Parque de la Concepción.
Every plaza in the city fills with vendors. Needless to say, it's a colorful affair, though it's tourist appeal lies in people watching and gadget-spotting more than in buying. The only place with handicrafts is Parque de la Concepción (Orozco & Colón).
As you're walking around, keep your eyes peeled for locally made shigras. Also look out for ba…
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Museo de Arte Religioso
Inside the beautifully restored, 16th-century convent of the Conceptas nuns, Riobamba’s Museo de Arte Religioso houses one of the country’s finest collections of 17th- and 18th-century religious art. Once upon a time, many upper-class girls were sent to this convent for confined education within its walls. The museum shows the nuns’ bleak cells and even the scourges they used to ‘punish’ themselves. The museum’s signature piece is a priceless, meter-tall monstrance inlaid with more than 1500 precious stones including emeralds, pearls, diamonds, rubies, amethysts and aquamarines. Made of solid gold with a solid silver base, it weighs over 360kg (making it incredibly diff…
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Mountain Climbing & Mountain Biking
Riobamba is an excellent base for climbing Chimborazo (and many other nearby peaks) and is home to several of Ecuador's top mountain guides. For more information on climbing Chimborazo, and always keep in mind that there is no guarantee you'll reach the summit. Two-day summit trips include guides, climbing gear, transportation and meals. Rates rarely include park entrance fees.
Downhill descents from the refuge on Chimborazo - an exhilarating way to take in the views - are very popular.
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Veloz Coronado Expeditions
A pioneer in Ecuadorian mountaineering, and owner of Veloz Coronado Expeditions, Enrique Veloz is practically a historical personage in Ecuador. He and his sons are both certified with ASEGUIM (Asociación Ecuatoriana de Guias de Montaña; Ecuadorian Mountain Guides Association), and Veloz himself has climbed Chimborazo more than 500 times. They have high standards for safety, climb most of the peaks in the central sierra, and also offer mountain-climbing courses.
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Museo de la Ciudad
If you're just trying to kill some time, pop into the Museo de la Ciudad. It occupies a beautifully restored building from 1910, once inhabited by a woman who was both Riobamba's best hair stylist and possessed by the devil. Slightly less interesting than its previous inhabitant, the museum's exhibits include a permanent national park display, historical photos of Riobamba and temporary visual-art exhibits on the 2nd floor.
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Pro Bici
Pro Bici is one of the country’s best mountain-bike operators, with many years of experience and excellent trip reports from clients. It offers mountain bike rentals (per day $15 to $25, depending on the bike), excellent maps, good safety practices and fascinating day tours. The friendly owners speak English, and the store is located on the second floor of a fabric factory.
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Parque de la Concepción
The only place with handicrafts is Parque de la Concepción. As you’re walking around, keep your eyes peeled for locally made shigras (small string bags), tagua-nut carvings, and totora straw baskets and mats woven by the indigenous Colta from the reeds lining the shores of nearby Laguna de Colta.
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Mercado La Merced
The ladies hawking hornado (whole roast pig) put on a pretty hard sell, yelling out for your attention and offering samples. If you can stand the pressure and you’re up for dining in a (very sanitary) atmosphere of flayed Wilburs, then the market is fun and interesting. The pork is superfresh. Saturdays are busiest.
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Alta Montaña
Alta Montaña is run by the well-known and amiable Rodrigo Donoso, an accomplished mountaineer. Apart from arranging guided climbs of the highest mountains in Ecuador, Alta Montaña manages three mountain refuges on Volcán Chimborazo and arranges acclimatization and training days before ascents.
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Basilica
Parque La Libertad (Primera Constituyente at Alvarado) is anchored by its neoclassical basilica, famous for being the only round church in Ecuador. It was designed, built and decorated mainly by locals, making it a great source of civic pride. It's often closed; try Sundays and evenings after 18:00.
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El Delirio Restaurant
Named for a poem by the great liberator, Simón Bolívar, and located in his house that is a historical monument, the restaurant serves comida típica (traditional Ecuadorian food) in a dimly lit, antique atmosphere. The hostess of many years is a bit on the eccentric side.
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Puro Café
Serving absolutely perfect coffees, cappuccinos and other caffeinated beverages, this narrow café tucked into a side street also has pressed sandwiches and cheese plates. It really is perfect if you’re looking for a place to chill alone or chat with a friend.
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Pizzería D’Baggios
Dozens of different kinds of medium-thick-crust pizzas are prepared before your eyes in Baggio’s wood oven. They wouldn’t make an Italian drool, but this corner pizzeria spins out a satisfying pie and the oven keeps the whole place nice and toasty.
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Andes-trek
Two excellent guides (both ASEGUIM certified) are Marcelo Puruncajas and his son Pablo, who speak Spanish, English and German. Both can be found at Marcelo's Andes-trek . They can also be hired for trekking trips anywhere in Ecuador.
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Chifa Casa China
Like most Chinese food in Ecuador, it’s a little heavy on the grease, but the lovely Chinese family that runs this chifa (Chinese restaurant) serves large portions with plenty of fresh vegetables and seafood.
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Parque La Libertad
A few blocks southeast of Parque Maldonado (Primera Constituyente at Espejo), Parque La Libertad is anchored by its neoclassical basilica (Veloz near Alvarado), famous for being the only round church in Ecuador.
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Sierra Nevada
Serving excellent seafood, Ecuadorian dishes and out-of-nowhere concoctions like goulash, Sierra Nevada is a sure shot for any meal. It also whips out what are likely the best almuerzos in town.
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Pizzería San Valentin
The cornerstone of Riobamba's nightlife, San Valentin is a lively place, great for both eating and socializing. Order at the counter (pizza, hamburgers or Tex Mex) and eat at the tables.
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Tentadero
Tentadero near Ángel Leon is the town’s hottest (both in terms of popularity and temperature) discoteca, spinning electronica and salsa well into the night.
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La Abuela Rosa
Drop by Grandma Rosa’s for comida típica (traditional Ecuadorian food) and tasty snacks including sandwiches, chocolate and cheese. Friendly, cozy and popular with locals.
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Natural Food
Herbivores, beeline it to Natural Food for delicious, hearty (and cheap!) vegetarian almuerzos. You can bring your meat-eating mate, since they do meat too.
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La Parrillada de Fausto
This fun, Argentine-style grill serves great barbecued steaks, trout and chicken in a ranch-style setting. Don’t miss the cool, cavelike bar in back.
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La Cabaña Montecarlo
This one's pricey by Riobamba standards, but the service and food (seafood, trout, soups, filet mignon and other takes on steak) are good.
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