To the south of Quito lies ‘The Avenue of Volcanoes’, which stretches down through the centre of the country. This is home to some of Ecuador’s wildest and most spectacular scenery with nine of the ten highest mountain peaks such as Chimborazo at 6310m and Tungurahua at 5033 m.
The Avenue of Volcanoes
Why visit The Avenue of Volcanoes ?
- Take a hike to the snowbound summit of Cotopaxi Volcano
- Visit one of the many beautiful rose farms in the area
- Explore old Incan trails and pine forests on horse back
- Hunt for a bargain at the colourful Saquisili indigenous market
- Cruise down the Cotopaxi foothills on a mountain bike
There are dozens of pretty little villages inhabited by indigenous Indians who live as their forebears have for centuries working the rich volcanic soils. Traditional dress is worn by much of the population here and their hugely colourful and vibrant markets are a fascinating and hugely rewarding experience.
Cotopaxi National Park covers almost 34,000 hectares and is Ecuador’s most famous and popular National Park and is dominated by the beautiful snow-capped cone of Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 m), which is the country’s second highest peak. There is some excellent hiking & horse riding within the park where you can enjoy some fabulous scenery and the possibility of seeing a wide variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, red brocket deer, Andean fox and many bird species including the occasional Andean condor.
As in the north, there are a couple of lovely private properties to stay where horse riding, mountain biking, fishing and trekking are just a few of the activities that you can enjoy.
LOCATION
ECUADOR KEY INFO
Visa
No Visa is required for UK passport holders.
Health Requirements
No mandatory vaccinations are required.
Time Difference
GMT - 5 Hours
Flight Time
13.5 hours with one stop
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