ONCE THE CAPITAL OF ECUADOR, TRADE HUB, RAILWAY AND FINANCIAL CENTER OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN THE CITY WHERE THE FIRST CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN.
ALL PAST GLORIES, NOW RIOBAMBA IS CONSIDERED A SLEEPY TOWN HIGH UP IN THE ANDES AT CLOSE TO 3000M. JUST A PLACE TO PASS THROUGH ON YOUR WAY TO CUENCA, OR HEADED DOWN TO THE AMAZON.
BUT THIS IS TO OVERLOOK THIS HIDDEN GEM OF A CITY. WHY YOU MAY ASK.
FIRST AND FOREMOST THE VIEWS – IF YOU LOVE MOUNTAINS THERE IS NO CITY IN ECUADOR THAT MATCHES ITS VIEWS AND ITS POTENTIAL CLIMBING. RIOBAMBA SITS IN A BOWL SURROUNDED BY VOLCANOES: CHIMBORAZO (6300M), TUNGURAHUA (5100M), EL ALTAR (5600M). ALL THESE ARE VISIBLE CLEARLY AS YOU WALK THE WIDE OPEN STREETS.
THEN THERE IS THE TRADITION RIOBAMBA HAS MAINTAINED MANY OF ITS CUSTOMS, UNLIKE MODERNISED CITIES LIKE CUENCA OR QUITO. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES STILL MAKE UP A DECENT PART OF THE POPULATION, THE LOCAL MARKETS ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE DECADES AGO, FULL OF LIFE AND COLOR. THE LOCAL FOODS ON OFFER LIKE ROAST PORK, OR ENCEBOLLADO (FISH SOUP) ARE REALLY GOOD. ALSO THE PEOPLE MAINTAIN A SLOW RELAXED PACE OF LIFE NOT FOUND ON MANY PARTS OF THE PLANET NOWADAYS.
RIOBAMBA IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE TRADITIONAL THINGS IN LIFE, NO MCDONALDS, OR BIG HIGH RISES. JUST SIMPLE LIVING AND BEING.
AND FINALLY WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT REALLY APPRECIATE – NO GRINGOS, THEY´VE PAST BY THIS SLEEPY, NONDESCRIPT, BEAUTIFUL, PEACEFUL, CULTURALLY RICH TOWN. GET A TASTE OF TRADITIONAL ECUADOR AND COME AND VISIT RIOBAMBA.