Riobamba - The Sultan of the Andes

Surrounded by spectacular snowcapped peaks such as Chimborazo (at 6,310 m, Ecuador's highest peak), Riobamba, the former capital of Ecuador, is known as the Sultan of the Andes. With its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, Riobamba's Old Town is a favorite among foreign tourists, with Parque Pedro Vicente Maldonado being a particularly interesting destination. Other places worth visiting are the Natural Science Museum at Colegio Maldonado, the religious art museum in the Concepción Convent, the Banco Central Museum, the Cathedral, San Antonio Church, the Basilica, and La Merced.

Punín Cemetery

A 30-minute drive from Riobamba brings you to this cemetery, famous for its Pleistocene animal fossils and the human remains found in Chalán gully which date back to 8,000 BC. There is a museum here and a sanctuary to Señor del Chuypi.