Chimborazo Province

This central Andean province holds the country's tallest mountain and extends between highland valleys and the edges of the Amazon basin. The territory encompasses several cantons with varied terrain from dry highland plains to glaciated zones, with its capital city serving as the administrative and economic center.

The region was established as a separate administrative unit in the early 19th century and took its name from the mountain that served as a landmark for travelers for centuries. Early settlers developed trade routes across the mountains connecting the highlands with coastal areas.

The population consists of 58.4% Mestizo and 38% Indigenous people who maintain traditional agricultural practices, cultivating potatoes and corn at high altitudes.

The provincial capital serves as a starting point for journeys into the surrounding mountain country, with roads leading in different directions to smaller towns and rural areas. Higher elevations require proper clothing and time to adjust to thinner air, especially when arriving from lower regions.

The area protects portions of a national park with diverse ecology ranging from cloud forest to alpine zones. Visitors can travel through different climatic zones in a single journey, from temperate valleys to year-round snow-capped peaks.

Location: Ecuador

Inception: June 25, 1824

Capital city: Riobamba

Elevation above the sea: 3,642 m

Shares border with: Morona-Santiago Province, Tungurahua Province, Bolívar Province, Guayas Province, Cañar Province

Website: http://chimborazo.gob.ec

GPS coordinates: -1.98333,-78.71667

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:04