Riobamba Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Riobamba has two bus terminals. The main bus terminal (296 2005; Av León Borja at Av de la Prensa) is almost 2km northwest of downtown. Buses bound for Quito ($4, four hours) and intermediate points are frequent, as are the buses for Guayaquil ($5, 4½ hours). Transportes Patria has a Machala bus at 9:45am ($6, six to seven hours) and there are several buses a day for Cuenca ($6, six hours). Buses for Alausí leave 20 times a day between 5am and 8pm with CTA ($1.50, two hours). Flota Bolívar has seven daily buses to Guaranda ($2, two hours). Some continue on to Babahoyo; all buses now take the El Arenal route, which also passes the access road to Chimborazo and the mountain refuges.

For buses to Baños and the Oriente, you have to go to the Oriente bus terminal (Espejo & Luz Elisa Borja), northeast of downtown. The road to Baños reopened in 2005, making the ride just under an hour (as opposed to two hours via Ambato). If Tungurahua’s volcanic activity increases, this road could close again.

Buses to Atillo in Parque Nacional Sangay leave from different corners just southwest of Plaza San Francisco.

Train

The only service out of Riobamba is the famous ride down La Nariz del Diablo. The schedule changes somewhat regularly, so inquire locally for the latest information. Your best bet is to call the train station (296 1909; Av León Borja at Unidad Nacional), which is also where you buy your tickets either the day before, or the morning of (starting at 6am) the departure. You must have your passport to purchase a ticket; if you’re buying tickets for friends, bring their passports as well.

The train ($11) leaves Riobamba at 7am Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. It picks up more passengers in Alausí and goes only as far as Sibambe, immediately below La Nariz del Diablo, where there are no services. From Sibambe, the train ascends La Nariz del Diablo and returns to Alausí, where passengers can spend the night, continue on to Cuenca by bus or return to Riobamba by bus. Riding on the roof is, of course, allowed.

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