natural wonder
Chimborazo
Ecuador's 6,263 m ice-capped giant: the farthest point from Earth's centre. A wild vicuña-lined road climbs its flanks to the Carrel refuge at 4,850 m.
24 km · about 30 min drive
South AmericaEcuadorBolívar
Guaranda
Bolívar, Ecuador · South America
About Guaranda
Guaranda is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Guanujo, 24km from Chimborazo.
Guaranda is in Bolívar, Ecuador, with about 22,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Guanujo, about 4 km away.
Guaranda (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaˈɾanda]) is a city in central Ecuador. It is the capital of Bolívar province located in the Andes Mountains. The city is connected by road with other hubs, including Riobamba, Babahoyo and Ambato.
Guaranda is a market town located in a valle – a deep valley in the high Andes,Read more
serving a vast hinterland of agricultural settlements ("comunidades") peopled by Quechua Indians. Its climate is subtropical, with a long (May – October) dry season ("estio"). Its population is mainly mestizo, but includes many people of different ethnicities. This nucleus has been intermarrying for almost five centuries, forming a compact population linked by family connections. Since the 1990s, the indigenous majority has seized political power and most of the local elected officers are of Quechua origin.
The city has a population of 30,755 (2022 census) and is growing. It has severe electrical and water supply problems. Water is drawn from high surface sources, mostly from the Chimborazo glacier, and is of good drinking quality. The city is also known for its week-long carnival and for its "Pajaro Azul" alcoholic drink.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Guaranda?
Within an hour or so of Guaranda: Chimborazo (24 km).
Where is Guaranda?
Guaranda is in Bolívar, Ecuador, about 4 km from Guanujo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 22,199
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- Bolívar
- Timezone
- America/Guayaquil
- Coordinates
- -1.5911, -78.9990
Tags
Worth the detour from Guaranda
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
Driving roads near Guaranda
- 74 kmMirador Nariz del DiabloA viewpoint at Pistishi over the Devil's Nose, the near-vertical rock face the Guayaquil-Quito railway descends by a zig-zag of switchbacks cut into the cliff in 1902.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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