Ecuador Travel

Ambato

Ambato

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In the highlands of Ecuador you can find many traditional markets where indigenous people sell handmade goods, produce and livestock. Culturally, markets in Ecuador are significant because they provide an arena for local craftsman and farmers to make a living. This traditional way of life is beginning to disappear as Ecuador becomes more industrialized. Luckily, you can still find a different market to explore every day of the week. Two of the most important markets in Ecuador and just south of Quito, the Ambato Market and the Saquisili Market. If you visit either of these markets in Ecuador, you are sure to catch a glimpse of traditional life in Ecuador and will likely find a unique souvenir to bring home.

Ambato Market

Ambato is a mountain city famous for some of the largest and most colorful markets in all of Ecuador. In Ambato, several markets are set up every day throughout the town center, where you will find locals and visitors from the highlands selling and bartering for goods.

At the Ambato Markets, fresh-cut flowers and fruit are the main attraction. These goods are grown in farms throughout the Andes because the climate and rich volcanic soil allows plants to blossom year-round. Ambato is so proud of its agriculture industry the city has its own festival in February, the "Festival of Fruits and Flowers." Other items sold at the markets include fruits, vegetables, spices, grains, seeds, and animals. Handmade art and crafts are also available, but you should be aware these markets are mostly for locals.

The hub of activity in Ambato is the Mercado Central, a square just east of Parque 12 de Noviembre between Vela and 12 de Noviembre. Mercado Central is a traditional selling, bartering, and trading post that has been hosting similar markets since 1861. Another market, the Mercado Modelo, is just a few blocks north of the Mercado Central on the southeastern side of Avenida Cevallos. In addition to the Mercado Central and Mercado Modelo, there are about half a dozen other markets throughout Ambato. Vendors also fill the streets around these markets, so you can literally find something for sale on every corner.

The largest and most notorious market day is Monday, but there are also sizable markets on Wednesdays and Fridays. Any other day of the week visitors are sure to find some market activity in the Mercado Central, but those three days are when the most buying and selling happens.

You may want to consider visiting Ambato near the end of February, when two large fiestas are celebrated. Ambato first celebrates Carnival, a festival that occurs in the days leading up to Lent—similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In much of Ecuador, diablitos (little devils) run around and splash innocent bystanders with water. However, the practice is officially outlawed in Ambato, so you are free to enjoy the parades and other festivities without worry. At the same time as Carnival, Ambato celebrates the Fiesta de las Frutas y las Flores (Festival of Fruits and Flowers).

Ambato has a warm and sunny climate most of the year, so as long as the weather is clear you should have a good time touring the markets. The average temperature ranges between 13 and 15 degrees celsius (55 and 59 degrees farenheit). From October to February the weather in Ambato is usually dry, but expect rain from March until May. The city is warmest in the months of November and December, but any night can get cold so plan accordingly by wearing many layers of clothing.

The city of Ambato sits in the central Andean valley, just two hours south of Quito. Nicknamed the "Garden of Ecuador," Ambato is the capital of the Tungurahua Province and serves as a main transportation hub for travelers crossing from Quito to Cuenca on the Pan-American Highway. To get to the Ambato market, you can take a bus from the Quitumbe terminal in Quito. The trip to Ambato will take around two hours, and will cost around two dollars. It is a good idea to travel to the city the day before the Ambato market and spend the night in a hostel—the cheapest of which will cost around $5 for the night.

Saquisili Market

The Saquisili Market is the largest market in the Cotopaxi province, and has existed since pre-Columbian times. The Saquisili Market is an open-air market that takes up eight different plazas where agricultural products, livestock, and handcrafted goods are sold.

At the Saquisili Market, there are four different markets that each specialize in selling specific goods. The first two markets sell animals: one market has large animals such as pigs and llamas, while the other market specializes in smaller animals like chickens and guinea pigs. A third market is strictly for produce, but has everything from fruits and vegetables to sugar and spices. Finally, the last Saquisili Market is a flea market, where all kinds of electronics, toys, and other goods are pawned. All around Saquisili, you will also find stands that sell textiles and other handmade goods.

The Saquisili Market takes place every Thursday. Saquisili is located about an hour-and-a-half south of Quito, just a few kilometers off the stretch of the Pan-American Highway that stretches between Quito and Ambato. To get there from Quito, you can take any Ambato-bound bus. To make sure you get off the bus at the right time, ask the driver or the driver's helper to give you a signal when you are near the town. You will also most likely be able to follow the lead of indigenous Ecuadorians on the bus: they will be easy to spot by their traditional dress, and will probably be carrying baskets and bags full of produce.

It is best to get to the Saquisili Market early in the morning, when more people will be out and about selling and buying goods. You can plan on eating lunch at the market, too. If you have been looking for a place to sample Ecuador's main delicacy, cuy (guinea pig), this is a great place to pick up a skewer of the meat.