San Pedro de Riobamba is the capital of Chimborazo Province . Riobamba is situated at the middle of Ecuador . Because of its central location Riobamba and the surrounding province are known as “Corazón de la Patria ”, “the heartland of Ecuador ”, while Mount Chimborazo has earned the name “the Sultan of the Andes .” The city of Riobamba was built in the wide Tapi valley in 1799, after an earthquake destroyed the old Riobamba in 1797. The city has broad streets and many architecturally significant colonial buildings, churches, museums, parks.
From Riobamba, we have access to 5 astonishing snow peaks reaching over 5000 meters above sea level; 2 of which, Tungurahua (5100 masl) and Sangay (5230 masl) are active volcanoes, El Altar or Capak Urku (5319 masl) the mountains of the Central Andean Range and Carihuairazo (5016 masl) and Chimborazo (6310 masl) the highest mountain in Ecuador, both in the Western Andean Range.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITY
Population: 150.000 habitants
Altitude: 2750 masl
Climate: Dry, average temperature 12, 7 °C / 54, 7 °F
Suggested attire: light attire during the day with sweaters and jackets needed for the evening
Time zone: -5:00 GMT
Monetary unit: the American dollar
Telephone codes: Country: 593 City: 03
Post office: Corner of Diez de Agosto and Espejo Street
Other recommended places:
Tren Dorado Hotel: Carabobo and Daniel León Borja Avenue
Vegetarian Restaurante Zen Wei: Princesa Toa 43-29 and Calicuchima
La Casa de Mamá coffee house: Juan Montalvo and Argentinos
D´Baggio Pizzeria: Daniel León Borja Avenue and Miguel Angel León Avenue
Magic Color: photo shop, digital cameras, films, Diez de Agosto and Larrea
