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Its capital is Ambato, “the city where four worlds wait for you.” World of adventure, rest, diversion, and nature. Baños de Ambato is the entrance to the Golden west. To get to Baños you cross the famous avenue of the volcanoes. It is located in a valley with waterfalls and thermal water. You can discover and enjoy all of its attractions and explore the marvelous landscapes.
Tradition, Museums, Architecture, and Ethnicity. It is an important center of textile and carpet manufacturing. In this beautiful city cultural, artistic, and academic acts are developed. The obligatory tourist stops are found in places like: Museum of la Quinta de Juan Montalvo, Museum of la Quinta de Juan Leon Mera, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of Painting “Luis A. Martinez,” The Cathedral made from concrete, with a bell tower next a an enormous chapa, and stone worked stairs. Other interesting places to visit are Mocha, Pelileo and Pillaro.
Party of flowers and fruits. The city of Baños is famous for its festival which is constituted as the “most typical test of Ambatinity that animates the city and the province.” A calendar of festivities for all types are developed including cultural, artistic, and academic acts. What stands out are: the international folklore festival, the national painting salon of Luis A., the flower games, dance festivals, and the crowning of the queen.
Museum Casa de Montalvo. The house where Juan Montalvo was born and lived; includes a visit to its mausoleum where his embalmed body rests.
Museum of la Quinta de Juan Leon Mera. The country house of the writer Juan Leon Mera has great architectural value for its use of materials from the colonial era such as: straw, adobe, and wood. The enclosure is made with walls to admire the botanical garden. Today it is a museum where the furnishings, pictures, documents, photography, and writings are exhibited that recreate the life of Mera.
Handicrats- Salasacas. The ethnicities of the Salasacas maintain their ancestral customs. They dedicate themselves to agriculture and especially to handicrafts of cloths and clothing. Their markets are known for selling the best textiles. The Salasacas celebrate the festival of Inti Raymi of festival of the sun during the month of June.
Baños is a city full of charms. The natural beauty along with the climatic contrasts transforms it into a marvelous place. Baños invites you to its pools of thermal and mineral waters that come from the springs of the volcano Tungurahua. You can go to the hydrothermal complex of El Salado. Santa Ana, Santa Clara and La Virgin the last is the most visited by national and international tourists and is located at the foot of the Waterfall of the Virgin.
This charming town is the refuge of more than 60 waterfalls among which the most visited are: Ines Maria, Pailon del Diablo, Manto de la Nova, Caballera de la Virgen, San Jorge, San Pedro, Chamana, Machay, Agoyan, El Fantasma, El Placer, San Fransisco, Cashaurco, El Corazon, etc. You can also get to know them by walking through the ecological paths and magical hanging bridges.
Pailon del Diablo Waterfall. This is the most impressive waterfall of the region. The water from the waterfall is transparent and in the Pailon the water turns into a turquoise color. To observe it closer you should descend through a path that is perfectly marked that through orchids, hortencias, and half wild vegetation that reaches the hanging bridge where you’ll find yourself on the edge of the waterfall. The Pailon del Diablo is considered as one of the ten tallest drops of the world being 100 meters tall.
Waterfall and Cable Ferry Manto de la Novia. Its name derives from the dimension it has but above all else due to the similarity in color with a bride’s white veil. From the bridge you can have an impressive view of the waterfall. You can take a cable ferry across the waterfall.
Agoyan Waterfall. This waterfall is an old symbol of the zone due to the waters forming from the waters of the Pastaza River and falls 40 meters giving its visitors a great natural spectacle. It is an impressive waterfall but due to water use for hydroelectric generation it does not always have water.
Machay Waterfall. They are 12 waterfalls 2 kilometers from the Verde River in the Machay settlement. Observe orchids, birds, and exuberant vegetation by walking through well marked paths.
Los Llanganates
The mountain range of the Llanganates form part of the Llanganates National Park. It is here where it is presumed that the treasure of Rumiñahui is hidden. One of the famous sites is the Lake of Pisayambo. To get into the National Park it is suggested you contract a professional guide.
Basilica de la Reina del Rosario de Agua Santa.
Also known as “the Sanctuary,” it is found imposing on the central plaza. It is of architectural infrastructure, this artistic work defies time and history. On the interior there are different paintings and a collection of murals that describe local miracles attributed to the Virgin patron of the city. You can also appreciate beautiful works of art. During October you can enjoy its festival, the virgin comes out in procession with festivities full of music, dance and folklore. The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Agua Santa receives thousands of faithful.
Cunugyacu is a community that offers an unforgettable experience where you can get to know the local culture and their daily activities. They count with the following services: lodging, food, guides, and attractions. The attractions include the following: thermal waters, lakes, forest, and unequal landscapes where you can do activities such as trekking, ascending the Carihuairazo snow, horse trips, biking, and te observing of birds and wild animals.
Agrotourism is also present at various communities which offer a tourist to participate in the daily routines of the zone.
Rafting.-This activity can be done in the waters of the Pastaza River and the Patate River which are of 3-4 class which is apt for people without experience. The descent takes approximately 2 hours depending on the water level. This sport is classified on a 1-6 scale depending on the degree of difficulty with one being for beginners and 6 for experts.
Kayaking.-This sport can be done at the various rivers in this zone: The Patate River, Pastaza River, Topo River, and the Verde Chico River. Ecuador is known as one of the best countries with favorable conditions for this sport. This sport consists of descending rivers in small individual boats
Canyoning.-This is a sport practiced on cascades. Basically it is the descent of the cascades along a rope held onto harnesses and other equipment. This activity is realized generally on the cascades of Chamana, San Jorge, Blanco River, and Cashaurco River
Bungee Jumping ad Pendulum.- It is a sport done on bridges. It is done using ropes are tied to the bridge and consist of jumping from the bridge and freefalling. This activity is done on the San Francisco Bridge and the Blanco River ont eh road to Puyo.
This type of sport is done at the settle of Machay 200 meters before the entrance to the waterfalls. Also in the Valley of the Butterflies, during a 20 minute walk from the San Pedro settlement. At the base of the waterfall there is also a camping site.
Interesting treks are realized on the outskirts of Baños or to know the route of the Waterfalls which is the best tour on this medium of transport. Or you can take longer trips like: Baños-Puyo, Baños Vizcaya, Pondoa-Baños. One of the most famous routes on bike is the path from Baños to Verde River which passes through many waterfalls, rivers, and cable ferries.
Ecozoo, Aquarium, and Snake haven San Martin
The Ecozoo park of San Martin is located on the descent on the right of Tungrahua. It is a place where various species of animals, exotic birds, and snakes of Ecuador can be appreciated, where the specimens are in good state and in adequate sites for their conservation. Here various species of monkeys, pumas, dantas (tapirus), eagles, jaguars, capybaras, and spectacled bears have reproduced as well as other endangered species.
La Liria constitutes a true reserve of floristic species of the Province and is the refuge of more than 200 species of superior plants which according to scientific nomenclature can be grouped into 151 genus and 79 native botanical families of the Matoral Seco ecosystem of the inter-Ande valleys of Ecuador.
The Tungurahua Volcano keeps watch over the city of Ambato and can be seen from almost the whole city. It has a height of 5,029 meters. Tungurahua in kichwa means throat of fire and according to indigenous mythology is an angry being full of fury with fire on its insides and needing of human sacrifice.
From the Bellavista Viewpoint, leaving Baños you can have a spectacular view of Tungurahua. When there are clear skies it is possible to observe to long ash columns that come from the crater. If you want the complete experience, during the night you can make this trip with a courtesy canelazo, you can appreciate the complete surroundings of the small city of Baños.
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