Ecuador  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  -1.6697, -78.3105 Map Page Views:  13,990. Good page?    Administrators:  TYeary, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Kurt Johnson on Apr 7, 2008 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 66° | 43° 64° | 41° 64° | 37° 66° | 36° 66° | 36°

Ecuador's highest, Chimborazo

Description 

Ecuador is an amazing place. Located on the equator between Columbia to the north and Peru to the south, it may be one of the smallest countries in South America, but its also one of the most diverse. From Pacific beaches to the west to glaciated volcanoes in the center to Amazon rainforests in the east, it's got a little bit of everything. It's small size makes it easy to get around in as well. And it's people and culture are worth the trip even if you don't go there to climb.

Ecuador is a volcano climber's dream. In fact, due to it's geography, volcanoes - or their eroded remains - are just about the only mountains you'll find. There are peaks for every level - from grass-covered walk-ups to massive glacier-clad giants like the country's highest, 20,700 foot Chimborazo, and everything in between. Being volcanoes, by nature even the majority of the glaciated ones are moderate snow slogs - with an occasional bergschrund crossing or short headwall - doable by anyone with glacier and snow climbing experience. What sets this country's summits apart from their American counterparts like Hood and Rainier is elevation. Anyone looking to break into high altitude climbing couldn't find a better place than Ecuador.

The Andes of Ecuador run more or less north-south through the center of the country and the main highway, the Panamericana, runs right through the middle between volcanoes that stand out bold against the blue sky on a clear day. Although the mountains here are considered part of the Andes, think of them more like the volcanoes of Washington and Oregon in relation to our Rockies, rather than the craggy granite peaks of Peru's Cordillera Blanca or the torres of Patagonia.

When you get off the beaten path, away from the highway and the adjacent urban areas like Ambato and Latacunga, you enter a world of farms and lush green pastures, eucalyptus groves and llamas, and then finally the scattered stands of polyepsis and tall grasses of the paramo that let you know you're in the heart of the cool, thin-aired high country.

Getting There 

You can find flights from any major city in the states, although the cheapest will originate in places like Miami and New York. Since it's not as major a destination for Americans as Peru is, flights are a couple hundred dollars more to Quito than to Lima, even though Quito's closer. Two years ago I paid about $600 (which was a surprising deal) from Denver and last year paid about $800.

Most people fly to Quito from which you can either rent a car or get on a bus to get to just about anywhere you want to go. For some of the peaks close to the city, you can even take a taxi for not too much money. Of course, buses are by far the cheapest, and they'll take you (and all your heavy, awkward gear) to whichever town you plan to use as your base, or even drop you off anywhere along the highway. From there, depending on which mountain you're headed to, you can hire a taxi, or a private car or truck (usually abundant in climbing areas) to take you to the trailhead or refugio (climber's hut).

The Classics

Featured Route For Ecuador

Regular Route Mod. Snow  International : South America : ... : Cotopaxi

This standard climb to the summit of a beautiful volcano deals with moderate snow, some mild glacier problems, a few crevasses, and the expected variability expected of such ascents. The last 500 feet is occasionally steep, but snow/ice conditions will have more effect on technical difficulties than anything else. It takes an average party roughly 8 hours for the round trip from the hut. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

Photos of Ecuador Slideshow

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Cotopaxi, Ecuador	Chimborazo, Ecuador	The Illinizas, Ecuador
Illiniza Sur, Ecuador	Illiniza Norte, Ecuador	Ruminahui, Ecuador
El Corazon, Ecuador	Tungarahua, Ecuador	Nancy Bell backpacking near Carihuairazo whose sum...
Above the clouds on Cotopaxi, Ecuador 1996.	Mocha summit of Carihuayrazo (16,463ft), Ecuador c...	Nancy Bell on the roof of the Secret Garden hostal...
Cayambe Ecuador	Ted Williams and Nick Cobler nearing the summit on...	Heading down from Cotopaxi's summit.
Tungurahua volcano erupting in the distance as see...	Illiniza Sur getting the first rays of a sunrise	Polylepis forest below El Altar
El Altar from valley