Travel guide: Ambato, Ecuador
Hotels, cars, visas, lounges — everything you need before you land in Ambato.
Compare transfers in AmbatoPlan the trip
Start with a transfer, stay or car, then fill in the rest.
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you.
- ATF airport guideTerminals, transport into town, tips
- Lounges at ATFDay passes and lounge access
- Car rental in AmbatoCompare rental desks and prices
- Hotels in AmbatoStays for every budget
- Flight delays in EcuadorCheck if you can claim for a delay
- Flights to AmbatoCompare fares worldwide
- eSIM dataMobile data in Ecuador
Airport transfersCompare private rides from the airport
At a glance
Local facts
Travel essentials for Ambato, Ecuador — what to expect on the ground. Ambato sits in Ecuador (Americas), in a tropical climate band — tropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season. Nearest airport: ATF serves the area. Local timezone is America/Guayaquil, which matters for arrivals and check-ins. It sits at -1.08°, -78.70° — useful for weather, daylight, and route planning. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.
- RegionEcuador, Americas
- Climate bandtropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season
- Nearest airportATF
- TimezoneAmerica/Guayaquil
- Coordinates-1.08, -78.70
- Located in the Southern Hemisphere
Ambato is a city in the central highlands of Ecuador, the capital of Tungurahua province, set in a fertile valley in the heart of the Andes at around 2,500 metres above sea level. It is famous as the City of Flowers and Fruit, a nickname earned by the rich produce of its surrounding valleys, and each February it holds a much-loved Festival of Fruit and Flowers, with parades, flowers and celebration. The festival has its roots in the city's recovery from a devastating earthquake in 1949. Ambato stands among the great volcanoes of the Ecuadorian Andes, within sight of snow-capped peaks such as Chimborazo and Cotopaxi, and is a busy market and commercial city. Ambato is reached by road, on the main highway through the Andes from Quito, a few hours to the north, and from the coast. The climate is cool and spring-like all year, at its high altitude, with a rainy season and a drier one.
Book an airport transfer to Ambato
Compare private transfers from licensed partners. Meet-and-greet included.
Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Ambato
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Ambato tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
See Ambato tours on Viator →Aurum may earn commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Two wheels
Bike, scooter & motorcycle rentals in Ambato
BikesBooking aggregates local rental shops — city bikes, e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles. Pick up at a depot near your accommodation, drop off when you're done.
Browse BikesBooking →Aurum may earn commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
More partner options for Ambato
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you. Partners set their own prices and terms.
WeGoTripSelf-guided audio tours for AmbatoSearch on WeGoTrip ↗
AiraloTravel eSIM data for AmbatoSearch on Airalo ↗
Booking.comHotels and apartments in AmbatoSearch on Booking.com ↗
AviasalesCompare flights to AmbatoSearch on Aviasales ↗
Welcome PickupsFixed-price airport rides to AmbatoSearch on Welcome Pickups ↗
DiscoverCarsCompare car hire desks near AmbatoSearch on DiscoverCars ↗
SafetyWingTravel medical insurance for your tripSearch on SafetyWing ↗
AirHelpClaim for a delayed or cancelled flightSearch on AirHelp ↗
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ambato?
Ambato is a city in the central Andes of Ecuador, the capital of Tungurahua province, set in a fertile mountain valley at around 2,500 metres above sea level. It lies among the great volcanoes of the Ecuadorian highlands, a few hours south of the capital, Quito, on the main highway through the Andes.
What is Ambato known for?
Ambato is known as the City of Flowers and Fruit, for the rich produce of its highland valleys, and above all for its Festival of Fruit and Flowers, held each February with parades and celebration. The festival grew out of the city's recovery from a major earthquake in 1949 that destroyed much of the town.
What is the weather like in Ambato?
Thanks to its high altitude in the Andes, Ambato has a cool, spring-like climate for much of the year, with mild days and chilly nights, rather than tropical heat. There is a wetter season and a drier one, but temperatures stay fairly steady, and the mountain air is fresh and clear.
Nearby destinations
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.