They say there’s lost Inca treasure buried somewhere in the remote and inaccessible wilderness of the 2197-sq-km Parque Nacional Llanganates. The park encompasses broad swaths of páramo, cloud forest, tropical forest and 4000m peaks, and is home to tapir, puma, jaguar, capybara and more. You can hire a guide for about $30 a day in the small village of Píllaro, 20km northeast of Ambato. December to February is the best time to visit.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
8.75 MILES
Several famous ambateños (people from Ambato) had quintas that survived the earthquake. They were once considered countryside homes, but today they are…
22.44 MILES
The Devil's Cauldron is a must-stop. There are two terrific trails from Río Verde that take you here. The first is accessed from below the soccer field,…
Museo Provincial Casa del Portal
9.68 MILES
This majestic home was built in 1900 and now houses Ambato's best museum. There are tons of interesting historic photos on the 1st floor. Head up to the…
9.65 MILES
On the northwest side of Parque Juan Montalvo is this museum in Montalvo’s pied-à-terre; the grand mausoleum in which the writer is interred is on the…
18.35 MILES
Perched on a hilltop behind Baños, just beyond the village of Runtún, this grassy viewpoint is a photographer's dream. As well as a pretty tree house,…
24.49 MILES
The Thursday morning market in Saquisilí is one of the best in the central highlands. It’s a mostly authentic and fascinating place to observe the array…
17.46 MILES
Adjoining the church, this museum in the priest's former living quarters contains several oil paintings by Father Enrique Mideros as well as his…
11.81 MILES
If you're interested in indigenous culture, a look around this museum is well worth your time. However the exhibits, spread over five floors, require some…
Nearby Central Highlands attractions
8.75 MILES
Several famous ambateños (people from Ambato) had quintas that survived the earthquake. They were once considered countryside homes, but today they are…
2. Museo de Ciencias Naturales
9.5 MILES
Although a bit dusty, this natural history museum in the Colegio Bolívar houses Ecuador’s most thorough collection of stuffed birds, mammals and reptiles…
3. Museo de Arte de la Casa de la Cultura
9.62 MILES
Featuring an excellent collection of Ecuadorian oils and acrylics from the 18th through 21st centuries, this fun little museum takes just 10 minutes to…
9.62 MILES
Ambato once had an old cathedral, but it was destroyed along with the rest of the city by the 1947 earthquake. Many people consider the replacement temple…
5. Casa y Mausoleo de Montalvo
9.65 MILES
On the northwest side of Parque Juan Montalvo is this museum in Montalvo’s pied-à-terre; the grand mausoleum in which the writer is interred is on the…
6. Museo Provincial Casa del Portal
9.68 MILES
This majestic home was built in 1900 and now houses Ambato's best museum. There are tons of interesting historic photos on the 1st floor. Head up to the…
7. Museo Pictórico Edmundo Martínez
9.82 MILES
Housed in a stone-faced mansion, this small museum has occasional live music and rotating exhibits from local artists.
10.98 MILES
This 200-year-old house was the countryside retreat of writer Juan Montalvo, the ‘Cervantes of America.’ There’s a tiny but well-put-together museum…