Travel Guide to El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues

Getting There

• Car

  If you are traveling by car from the nearest city, Ambato, drive north on the Pan-American Highway (E35) for about 1 hour. Follow signs for Riobamba, and when you reach the town of Cañar, take the exit toward Chambo. Continue on this road for approximately 30 minutes until you reach the village of Chambo. From Chambo, take a left onto a gravel road leading towards El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues. The road may be bumpy, so be cautious and drive slowly. After about 15 minutes on this road, you will see the towering rock formation of El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues. Parking is available nearby.

• Public Transportation

  To reach El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues via public transportation, start from Ambato. Take a bus from the Ambato bus terminal to Cañar. The fare is typically around $2. The bus ride will take approximately 1 hour. Once you arrive in Cañar, look for a local bus or shared taxi heading towards Chambo. This will cost about $1 and take around 30 minutes. After reaching Chambo, you can either ask locals for directions or hire a taxi to take you to El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues for around $10. The taxi ride will take about 15 minutes on a gravel road.

• Walking

  If you are already in Chambo and prefer to walk, you can hike to El Gran peñón de los Curiquingues. From the center of Chambo, head northwest towards the gravel road leading to the rock formation. The hike is approximately 5 km and will take around 1.5 to 2 hours. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and carry water, as the terrain can be uneven and steep in some areas.