Tungurahua

CULTURE

Museums and Culture

Ambato invites you to discover its history and pride cultural through unique spaces. Walk through Montalvo Park and admire its imposing Cathedral, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1949. Visit the Juan Montalvo House Museum and its Quinta to learn about the life of the illustrious writer from Ambateño, surrounded by original objects and living memories. Be sure to explore the Quinta de Juan León Mera, author of the national anthem, a place full of gardens, art and tradition. Ambato is living culture that awaits you with history, identity and character.

Discover the historic center of Baños de Agua Santa, a place full of faith and tradition. Walk through its churches, old houses and squares, and visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Baños, where stories of hope and miracles are told.

Textile and footwear culture:

Tungurahua invites you to learn about its shoemaking tradition in destinations where the craft becomes art. In Cevallos and Quisapincha, family workshops produce leather footwear with unique designs and excellent quality. Ambato, along with parishes like Izamba and Santa Rosa, complement this route with factories and stores where you can buy directly from the producer. To visit these places is to take more than just a pair of shoes with you: it is to walk with Andean identity in every step.

Also know the textile route, where tradition and quality come together in each garment. In Pelileo, epicenter of jeans and denim clothing, you will find workshops and stores with products direct from the manufacturer. In Ambato, the parishes of Atocha, Ficoa, Izamba and Huachi Chico complement this offer with knitwear, uniforms and local fashion. Visit these destinations and take home pieces made with authentic work and contemporary Andean design.

NATURE

Baños de Agua Santa: Exploration and birdwatching trails

Baños de Agua Santa awaits you with landscapes full of energy and excitement. Live the adventure practicing canyoning, rafting, canopy or climbing in unique natural scenarios, surrounded by jungle, rivers and mountains. Walk the famous Ruta de las Cascadas and marvel at the Pailón del Diablo and the Manto de la Novia, two impressive waterfalls. Also the opportunity to see birds such as Andean gulls, ducks or hummingbirds near the Agoyán and Bascun waterfalls.

Tungurahua Volcano: Trekking

The imposing Tungurahua volcano offers unique experiences for trekking and hiking lovers. nature. From Baños you can take guided hikes to safe viewpoints such as the Casa del Arbol and the Garganta de Fuego Refuge, with spectacular views of the volcano and its surroundings. These routes allow you to enjoy good views, fresh air and direct contact with nature.

Los Llanganates Ecological Reserve: Ecotourism

Discover the Llanganates National Park, a natural paradise that encompasses several provinces such as Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, Napo and Pastaza. This park offers lagoons, moorlands and forests full of life. From Tungurahua you can do trekking, guided hikes and bird watching in little explored landscapes. It is the perfect place for adventurers looking for pure nature, challenging routes and the mystique that surrounds the legendary hidden treasure. Llanganates connects you with the wildest and most authentic Andean-Amazonian Ecuador.

ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND RURALITY

In Tungurahua, the Kichwa villages of Salasaka, Chibuleo and Tomabela, the indigenous communities of Quisapincha, among others, offer a direct connection to Andean identity. Recognized for their community organization, ancestral knowledge and traditional festivities, these villages keep alive practices such as loom weaving, ritual agriculture, music and natural medicine. Their territories are spaces where visitors can learn about authentic customs, participate in fairs, visit artisan workshops and understand how a millenary culture lives in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes.

Holidays:

Tungurahua proudly celebrates its most representative festivities, which reflect identity, gratitude and faith. In January, the Diablada de Píllaro where thousands of devils dance to the rhythm of a vibrant tradition that attracts locals and foreigners. In February, Ambato experiences the Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores, created after the 1949 earthquake as a symbol of renewal and homage to its agricultural wealth. Its opening begins in January with the Corso de las Flores y la Alegría, a vibrant parade with floats decorated with fruits and flowers. In October, Baños de Agua Santa honors the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint, with processions and religious events that gather thousands of pilgrims.

Inti Raimi and Corpus Christi: Fairs and festivals of ancestral origin

In June, Tungurahua invites you to experience Inti Raymi, the great Andean festival of the sun, where Kichwa communities celebrate the agricultural cycle and thank the earth for its fruits. This festival is open to tourists and is lived with intensity throughout the province with ancestral music, dances, rituals and offerings to the sun and the Pachamama, this festival revives the Andean spirituality in squares and sacred spaces. To participate is to connect with a living heritage that illuminates the culture of the Andes.
In June, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi celebrates the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and is experienced with colorful processions, traditional dances and altars adorned with flowers and fruits. This festivity combines the Catholic faith with Andean customs, creating a vibrant atmosphere of devotion and culture.

GASTRONOMY

Tungurahua invites you to savor its typical cuisine, full of identity and tradition. Try the llapingachos with chorizo ambateño, potato tortillas with cheese accompanied by chorizo, egg and peanuts; or the fritada ambateña with pork, corn and ripe. Enjoy roasted guinea pig or rabbit with potatoes; the famous Pinllo bread, soft and baked in a wood-fired oven. Enjoy the empanadas de viento made of wheat flour stuffed with cheese; the handmade melcochas which are hand-pulled sugar cane candies; the guava candy and the traditional sánduche, which is a cocktail of sugar cane juice and brandy.

CRAFTS

Tungurahua offers the visitor a rich variety of traditional crafts that reflect their Andean heritage. Among its most representative products are tapestries, ponchos, bags and accessories woven on looms, with symbols of the indigenous cosmovision. Other highlights include decorative and utilitarian ceramics, handmade musical instruments, and handmade sweets such as melcochas, made with techniques passed down through generations. Each piece is a living testimony of local identity and creativity.

Chumbi or Andean sash: Andean textiles

In Tungurahua, the chumbi or Andean sash is a textile piece loaded with symbolism and tradition used by the Kichwa communities. Woven on a handloom, this colorful belt not only fulfills a practical function by holding the clothing, but also represents the connection with the land and ancestral identity. Its design, elaborated with unique patterns, conveys stories and cultural values. To acquire a chumbi is to carry with you a living part of the Andean world.