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Voykit pocket guide · Ecuador
Guamote
Spend a half‑day in Guamote to see the Thursday market and volcano views; add a quick bus ride to Riobamba if you have extra time.
Guamote is a small Andean town of ~3,000 people, known for its indigenous Thursday market, panoramic volcano scenery and the Devil's Nose train. It fits into a day‑trip from Riobamba or a brief stop on a highland itinerary.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (dry, sunny)
- Avoid
- Dec–May (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Bring small notes: $50 and $100 bills are often refused.
- Daily spend
- Budget $10–15 excl. bed · Mid $15–25 excl. bed · High $25+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro and Movistar (plus CNT) sell prepaid SIMs in malls and shops with a passport; Claro has the widest coverage.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs work without adapters.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service often included; add a little for good service.; Galápagos naturalists and crew: US$10–20 per person per day in total, split per the boat's guidance.; Drivers and day guides: US$5–10 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap in most places (Quito and Cuenca's water is treated but pipes vary); drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the bowl; bus terminal toilets charge a few cents.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | $1–2 |
| Street snack (empanada, fruit) | $0.5–1 |
| Bus ticket to Riobamba | $5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CUE · Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Cuenca)
- about 5 h bus from Guamote
Typical fares
- Guamote ↔ Riobamba bus
- about $5 each way (check)
- Devil's Nose train (one way)
- about $3 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; hire a car at the railway station for farther sites.
See and do
Known for
- Thursday indigenous market
- Panoramic views of Altar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Sangay
- Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) train
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Riobamba | Local bus from Guamote, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
| Devil's Nose train stop | Board the Nariz del Diablo train from Guamote station (Sun, Wed, Fri) | ≈30 min including boarding |
Sleep
- Inti Sisa Guesthouse
- Three blocks from the railway station; basic rooms, meals included.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoˈla |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwanˈto ˈkwes.ta |
| Where is the market? | ¿Dónde está el mercado?ˈdon.de esˈta el merˈka.do |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; women often one cheek kiss; avoid: Skipping the greeting before a question
- Time: Allow for 'hora ecuatoriana' socially; avoid: Assuming tours leave late — they do not
- Photos: Ask people first; avoid: Photographing children without permission
- Dress: Layers in the Andes; avoid: Beachwear in city centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude around 2,600–4,500 m; acclimatise if coming from sea level.
- Limited services after sunset; plan meals and accommodation ahead.
- Train schedule (Devil's Nose) runs only Sun, Wed, Fri; confirm times locally.
Generally safe; watch for altitude effects and keep valuables secure on buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guamote yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Thursday indigenous market
- Panoramic views of Altar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Sangay
- Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) train
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Guamote coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Guamote, revision 5038558 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5038558
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guamote
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulate in Quito; Ecuadorian emergency number 911.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guamote). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.