In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Ecuador
Guano
Half-day stop from Riobamba: see the museum, climb the hill for volcano views, buy shoes or rugs, eat cholas and fritada. Not an overnight destination.
Guano is a small town at the foot of El Altar volcano, 20 minutes from Riobamba. It is known for shoe shops, handwoven rugs, the local sweet roll called chola, and pork fritada. The main draw is a short hill climb with views of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and El Altar, plus a small museum with pre-Columbian pottery and a monk mummy. Most travellers visit as a half-day trip from Riobamba.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (dry, clearer views)
- Avoid
- Mar–May (rainy season)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 $15–25 (day-trip, no bed) · Mid $25–40 (day-trip, no 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 |
|---|---|
| Bus Riobamba–Guano | $0.25 |
| Museum entry | $1 |
| Chola (sweet roll) | $0.25 |
| Fritada plate (pork, corn, plantain) | $3–4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LTX · Cotopaxi International Airport (Latacunga)
- About 2.5 h by bus; check
- GYE · José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (Guayaquil)
- About 4 h by bus; check
Typical fares
- Bus Riobamba–Guano
- $0.25, about 20 min
- Museum entry
- $1
- Chola roll
- $0.25
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. The bus from Riobamba drops you near the main square and the hill staircase.
See and do
Known for
- Shoe shops (sizes up to EU 42)
- Handwoven rugs and carpets
- Cholas (sweet filled rolls)
- Fritada (stewed pork)
- Hill viewpoint with volcano views
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Riobamba | Bus from Guano, about 20 min, $0.25 | 20 min |
| Alausí | Bus via Riobamba, about 1.5 h | 1.5–2 h |
| Guamote | Bus via Riobamba, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Baños | Bus via Riobamba, about 1.5 h | 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Guano town centre
- A few basic hostales; most visitors sleep in Riobamba and day-trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto?KWAN-toh |
| Where is the bus to Riobamba? | ¿Dónde está el bus a Riobamba?DON-deh es-TAH el BOOS ah ree-oh-BAHM-bah |
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
- Shoe sizes rarely above EU 42 (US men's 10).
- Hill climb has many steps; take water.
- Fritaderias may close by early evening; check.
Guano is a safe small town. Normal precautions apply; watch for uneven steps on the hill climb.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guano yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Shoe shops (sizes up to EU 42)
- Handwoven rugs and carpets
- Cholas (sweet filled rolls)
- Fritada (stewed pork)
- Hill viewpoint with volcano views
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guano, revision 5038576 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5038576
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guano
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Spanish is the main language; English is not widely spoken.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guano). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.