The 15 Best Day Trips from Ambato
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Ambato, Ecuador, led by Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Riobamba. The closest is Latacunga, about 40 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Ambato
- 1
Quito, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car114 km north of AmbatoKnown for Arco de la circasiana.
- 2
Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car127 km north-west of Ambato - 3
Riobamba, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 55 min by car46 km south of Ambato - 4
Quevedo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car97 km west of Ambato - 5
Latacunga, Ecuador
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car35 km north of Ambato - 6
Milagro, Ecuador
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car147 km south-west of Ambato - 7
Babahoyo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km south-west of Ambato - 8
El Empalme, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car116 km west of Ambato - 9
Balzar, Ecuador
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km west of Ambato - 10
Ventanas, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car96 km west of Ambato - 11
Naranjito, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km south-west of Ambato - 12
Vinces, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car131 km west of Ambato - 13
Pomasqui, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car134 km north of Ambato - 14
Machachi, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car82 km north of Ambato - 15
Puyo, Ecuador
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car73 km east of Ambato
A sample day: Ambato to Quito
- 07:30Leave Ambato
- 09:15Arrive in Quito (1 hr 45 min drive)
- 09:30Arco de la circasiana
- 11:30Lunch
- 12:45Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Quito
- 15:15Head back to Ambato
- 17:00Home in Ambato
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Ambato?
- The best day trips from Ambato are Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Riobamba, Quevedo, Latacunga. The closest is Latacunga, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Ambato?
- Latacunga is the closest, 35 km north of Ambato, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Ambato?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Ambato: Latacunga (40 min), Riobamba (55 min).
- What is the biggest city near Ambato for a day out?
- Quito is the largest city in day-trip range, 114 km north of Ambato and about 1 hr 45 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Ambato?
- For a weekend away from Ambato, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Milagro (147 km, 2 hr 20 min), Balzar (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Naranjito (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Pomasqui (134 km, 2 hr 5 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Ambato?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Milagro at 147 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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