The Atocha-La Liria botanical garden in the northern suburbs of Ambato is one of the better green spaces in the Ecuadorian highlands. The gardens cover several hectares and are planted with native and exotic species from across Ecuador's altitudinal zones, from the páramo to the cloud forest.
The site also incorporates the grounds of the former hacienda of Juan León Mera, another of Ambato's celebrated writers — author of the Ecuadorian national anthem and the novel Cumandá. Mera used these gardens as inspiration, and they have a cultivated but slightly wild quality that suits the literary connection.
A pleasant morning can be spent walking the paths, especially in the dry season when the flower displays are at their peak. The garden's connection to the Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas — Ambato's famous flower festival — becomes obvious here. Admission is modest and the crowds are rarely oppressive. Take a taxi from the city centre.