Book your bed early for Finados and 12 November

Monday is market day in Ambato, which tempts visitors to fill the rest of it with museums, but the official tourism site notes that many museums and historic quintas close on Mondays. Published hours also disagree, with one guide listing the Mera quinta as open Wednesday to Sunday only. Pair the Monday feria with a…

Ambato's big fairs depend on trucks and open roads, so road blockades can empty them. In June 2022 blockades stopped the Monday feria and kept the Mercado Mayorista closed from the Sunday, and in 2025 sales there fell by more than half during a national strike until fairs picked up again that October. Before planning…

During Sol de Noviembre the municipality programs Ambato Suena, a run of concerts among its free events. The 2025 lineup included an Andean instruments orchestra, a jazz night, a serenade to Ambato for the city anniversary, symphonic rock and a tribute to the Hermanos Miño Naranjo. Look for the lineup on the…

On 31 December Ambato sees out the year with viudas, comic widows who parade through the barrios, hold contests and race in heels, sometimes asking bus passengers for a small contribution. Stages with dance shows go up downtown on Calle Montalvo, and the city sets designated spots such as Calle Barranquilla for…

Every November Ambato celebrates its independence on the 12th with Sol de Noviembre, a month of free concerts, parades, exhibitions and food. The 2025 edition ran from 30 October to 29 November and included a mega colada morada, the Ruta del Pan y la Colada Morada through Atocha, Pinllo and Izamba, a chocolate fair at…

Quisapincha, a village about 12 km west of Ambato, lives on leather, with jackets, boots, bags, wallets and gloves sold in shops near the center. The town has around 100 sewing workshops, though only a handful still work fully by hand, so ask who made the piece. Go on a weekend, when the leather fair is busiest and…

Monday is feria day in Ambato, and the Mercado Mayorista is its engine, with producers and traders loading goods that supply markets across the country. Go early, walk the halls to see the highland fruit and vegetables piled high, and buy produce here for picnics. On a normal Monday the market keeps its usual…

The Museo Histórico Martínez Holguín tells the story of one Ambato family through carved wooden furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. It sits in an adobe house on the grounds of the La Liria garden in Atocha, so it pairs well with a garden walk. Many museums and quintas in town close on Mondays, so plan it for…