San Juan de Ambato is a city in the centre of Ecuador near the Ambato River . It is the capital of Tungurahua Province, at an elevation of 2,600 meters above sea level. The population is 154,095 (INEC, 2001).
The city is a leading commercial and transportation centre on a fertile region near the northern foot of the volcano Chimborazo. It hosts the largest animal market of the country.
An earthquake on August 5,1949 destroyed most of the city so that only few buildings of the colonial era remain.
As a way to recover from the tragic earthquake, Ambato began its tradition of the Fruits and Flowers Festival. It is now a major tourist attraction held during carnival season.
Landmarks include the mausoleum of Juan Montalvo, the estate of Juan León Mera, and the white Ambato Cathedral .
Ambato is also where, on November 12, 1821, Antonio José de Sucre achieved a major victory over the Spanish Royalist Army during the war for independence.
Ambato is the gateway to Banos, a beautiful city that leads into the forests of the upper Amazon basin.
Banos is located at an altitude of 5.970 ft, at the skirts of the Tungurahua volcano (16.500ft).
Banos is where tourists travel to swim in its thermal baths filled from volcanic spring water with therapeutic properties, and where they base themselves before they head for high altitude treks upon the slopes of the volcano.
Banos is also the film location for the movie "Proof of Life", which starred Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe.
