Page 1 of 3 Colorful Indian Markets of Ambato, Ecuador
By Mike Yaeger and Matt Lepkowski
Quick FactsDestination:
Ambato, Ecuador |
The lush, green slopes of the Central Highlands rise sharply away from the dusty road that carries us into the heart of Ecuador and the mountain town of Ambato. The road here provided spectacular views of a number of Ecuador’s highest volcanoes, including the venerable Cotopaxi. As quickly as the bus leaves the bustling capital city, the folk and scenery transform into a landscape filled with countryside and local color. For the first time we saw Indians in large number walking the streets in their colorful handmade wool clothes.
Each little village has its own unique style and color of clothing so that it's possible for locals to tell each other's origin. This is the agricultural heart of Ecuador, where the pace of life is just a little bit slower and the traditions a lot older. Ambato is one of the largest cities in the Central Highlands, and it is the center of government and commerce for the region.
The volcanic mountain peaks of central Ecuador
Transportation from Quito to Ambato, Ecuador via Bus
Once again, we caught a bus from the Terminal Terrestre in Quito, and paid 2 USD each for the 2 hour ride to Ambato, south of Quito. The sky was quite overcast, but after an hour, we found ourselves on rolling highways through farmland as far as the eye could see. This road is also famous because it passes through a corridor of very tall volcanoes, which provide for grand vistas all around, if the weather permits.
We arrived in Ambato at 2 in the afternoon, and got dropped off at the Parque Juan Montalvo, in the quiet Western part of the city. After wandering for a while to get our bearings among the unmarked streets, we set off toward the city center, and quickly found ourselves in a little slice of metropolis. Schools, government buildings, hotels and businesses predominate here, as does the traffic of buses, cabs and cars.
Lodging in Ambato, Ecuador
The center of commerce in Ambato ceters around the large Parque 12 de Noviembre, and this area also bosts the most hotels in town. The cheapest hotels (like the Residencial 9 de Octubre) charge only 1.50 USD a night, and needless to say, the rooms were small, dark, and dirty. If you want to stay at these, bring your own padlock for the door, because otherwise there isn’t one. We were not on THAT tight of a budget, so we looked for a medium hotel, and ended up at the "Hotel Ejectivo." It is a 6 story hotel with a mirrored glass front, across the street from the main market. Our room was on the third floor and included a private bath with reliable hot water, color TV and a good view. The two of us paid 12 USD for the room. On the high end, there was also a Hilton in town by the airport.
Later, during our stay in Ambato, we decided to switch rooms and get one without a private bath. We paid 8 USD instead of 12 USD. It's amazing what a difference 4 dollars makes! The new room was in the back of the hotel and was much smaller. There was barely enough room for the 2 beds, with no closet and black & white television with poor reception. There was a window but the glass panes didn't fit the wooden frame and open gaps were present.