Volunteer Locations: Ambato

We are no longer sending volnuteers to Ambato. We where receiving too few applications to make the programs sustainable and instead have decided to concentate our efforts on the more popular programs in the Galápagos Islands

Ambato is a thriving city just 3 hours south of Quito which sits on a ridge which steep hills on one side and a valley dropping of sharply on the other. The city is also called the “Garden of Ecuador”, well-known for its production of peaches, apples, pears, grapes, oranges, strawberries, cane of sugar, cereals and all class of vegetables. Its industrial production is based on textiles, flowers, conserves of fruits, articles of leather, rubber, and furniture.

The city is proud of its cultural heritage, and nicknames itself 'Tierra de Los Tres Juanes'. The three Junes include Juan Leon Mara was a writer and poet who is most famous for writing Ecuador's national anthem. Juan Montalvo was another famous writer who many have named the "Cervantes of South America". Juan Benigno Vela was a renowned teacher and champion of the Country's youth. All are immortalized in Ambato's parks, museums and buildings.

Ambato has developed into an architectural marvel where modern buildings coexist elegantly with colonial edifices. Modern structures give the city a metropolitan feel while at the same time they enhance the remaining colonial architecture.

Ambato is famous for its 'Fiesta de las Flores y de las Frutas' (Festival of Fruit and Flowers), which is annual festival that's supposed to coincide with Carnival but is usually held during the last two weeks in February. Apart from fruit and flower shows, the festivities include bullfights, parades, late night street dancing and general fun.

Volunteering in Ambato

Travel to Teach offer a wide range of volunteer programs in Ambato including English and computer teaching, conservation projects, business development, health and medical work and social work. Please see our Ecuador programs page for more details. All volunteer programs are available in Ambato except human rights work.

General Ambato Information

Local Food
In the quiet streets of Ambato there are a large number of small restaurants, bakeries, and grocers. International fare is easy to find including Italian, Swiss, Chinese and Continental restaurants. There are also numerous Ecuadorian restaurants where volunteers can find dishes from the highland, lowland, and coastal regions.

Weather
Ambato is located in the mountain range of the Llanganates Nacional Park bordering the Amazon Region. The climate is tempered dry, characteristic of the interandina region, with a average temperature of 18 centigrades and is considered as one of the best climates of Ecuador.

Activities
Ambato has many options for sightseeing including old cathedrals and museums. Museums include the Juan Montalvo House and the Colegio Bolivar Museum which houses archaeological, ethnographic, and botanical artifacts and collections.

There are also many options for day excursions to neighboring cities, towns, and national parks. Some of the nearby cities which are worth visiting include Los Banos, Banos de Agua, and Pelileo. Banos de Agua is a tourist hotspot and is one of the most popular gateways to the Amazon and Pelileo is a center for handcrafted artisan products and textiles.

Being in the Llanganates National Park and the Amazon there are also many opportunities for outdoor adventures including hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, and trekking.

Accommodation
Travel to Teach volunteers are accommodated in a nice area of Ambato close to banks, shopping centers, markets, universities, and many of Ambato's cultural and historical places. Volunteers stay with host families where they will experience Ecuadorian daily life. Volunteers will have a private single room and will share facilities such as the kitchen, refrigerator and bathroom.

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