Chimborazo Province · Ecuador
Where to stay in Riobamba
Riobamba is a city in Chimborazo Province, Ecuador, home to about 177,000 people.
- Best months
- June to January
- Nearest airport
- LTX85 km · Cotopaxi International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
- Language
- Northern Quichua, Shuar, Spanish
Things to do
What to see and do in Riobamba
Do
- Climb or hike Chimborazo
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Riobamba
13 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Casa 1881 | 0.4 km | |
| Hotel Bella Casona | 1.7 km | |
| Hotel El Altar | 3.2 km | |
| Hotel El Molino Riobamba | 1.6 km | |
| Hotel Hacienda Abraspungo | 3.8 km | |
| Hotel Rincon Aleman | 3.8 km | |
| Hotel Riobamba Inn | 0.7 km | |
| Hotel Shalom | 1.1 km | |
| Hotel Spa Casa Real | 3.0 km | |
| Mansion Santa Isabella | 0.7 km | |
| Mirador de Bellavista Riobamba | 1.1 km | |
| Rio Hotel | 0.5 km | |
| Turismo Comunitario La Esperanza | 20.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Riobamba
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Riobamba are June to January. November is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C; April is the wettest, with about 109 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Riobamba: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX), about 85 km from the city centre in a straight line; Coronel E Carvajal Airport (XMS, 91 km) and Mariscal Lamar Airport (CUE, 140 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
There are connections to most major destinations in Ecuador, including Latacunga (2 and a half hours, 4,40$ Aug 2026), Quito (3 hours), Guayaquil (4 hours) and Baños (1½ hours). There aren't regular scheduled passenger trains to Riobamba anymore, however Tren Ecuador runs excursion trains from Quito and Guayaquil, and the Tren del Hielo I from Quito to Riobamba. The Naríz del Diablo train no longer runs from Riobamba. The railway station Estación Riobamba is centrally located at Av Daniel León Borja.
Getting around
A bus costs 30 cents. Taxis are plentiful; most trips within town should be $1.50. Minimum fares are $1.20 until 19:00 and $1.30 after 19:00. The main tourist area is very walkable - ask for a map at the tourist information center at the corner of Av. Daniel León Borja and Brasil.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LTX · Cotopaxi International Airport
XMS · Coronel E Carvajal Airport
CUE · Mariscal Lamar Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Riobamba
Eat
Riobamba does not lack for restaurants. No matter what your tastes, check out Calle 10 de Agosto/Calle Daniel Leon Borja (Riobamba's main avenue) for all your dining needs. Lunch costs around $2-5, and dinner is normally from $3-6.
Drink
"La Avenida" is the teens' favorite spot to relax and de-stress from the week's work. Parties start around sundown and go from El Parque Infantil all the way to La Estación del Tren. And if you're lucky to be around Las Fiestas del Abril, or Riobamba's independence day week, they hold a lot of activities and parades all that week just to celebrate another year of freedom. Drinking and partying in Rio (as the natives call Riobamba) isn't so hard to do. There are many places where you can go and enjoy a good drink. There is the bar El Tentadero and for the younger generation, Las Pipas. Both are across Plaza de Toros on 10 de Agosto.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Riobamba: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Riobamba?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Riobamba are June to January. November is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C; April is the wettest, with about 109 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Riobamba?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX), about 85 km from the city centre in a straight line; Coronel E Carvajal Airport (XMS, 91 km) and Mariscal Lamar Airport (CUE, 140 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Riobamba?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Riobamba
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.