(for more info open this link - Volcanos in Ecuador ) mostly extinct or dormant, but there are currently 3 active volcanos and a number of potentially active ones in Ecuador. It never fails to excite us when we turn a corner and get a sudden full-on view of a snow-capped volcano. Because of the cloud cover this doesn't happen everyday.
On an exceptional day one can see 5 snow-capped volcanoes from various places in Quito. Most often we can only see two - Cayambe in the north and Cotopaxi in the south.
Today was a superlative day to drive up Cotopaxi. We left home at 7:10 am and enjoyed clear skies and views until about 10:30. From the parking lot at 4640 m we could see Illinizas, Cayambe AND Antisana (a rare treat). It was our third time at that height and again we didn't make it very far from the parking lot, due to the wind, cold and thin air. Our goal is to go back one day, fully prepared to climb the 200 meters directly up to the Refugio at 4800m (this will take about 1 hour at that altitude because of the challenge with breathing the thin air) and then hike out to the toe of the glacier. But for that we will need to be warmly dressed, wear our hiking boots (for ankle support - the loose scree is as challenging as the thin air) and carry water.
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| Cotopaxi (5897 m) is 40 km from Quito (as the crow flies) but by road it is really about 60 km. We prefer to enter the National Park from the north gate, despite the 21 km of rough, cobblestone road. This approach, through small communities surviving on dairy and farming, is much more interesting than the highway. On that route we also pass a big llama herd and a herd of wild horses. Once you enter the park, it is pretty barren. |
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| View of Antisana (5704 m) about 40 km to the north east - this is the first time we have seen this volcano. It is almost always shrouded in clouds. |
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| View of Cayambe (5790 m) about 110 km to the north. (Ole has a powerful tele-lens!). |
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| Illinizas (5245 m) - directly to the west (about 25 km). |
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| The top of Cotopaxi - as seen from the parking lot. |
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| This group was all decked out with crampons on their boots - they must have been headed for the glacier. Beside their bus, a truck had off-loaded a bunch of mountain bikes. You can book a tour that drives you up to the parking lot and then you bike all the way back down - from 4600m to 3500m. It must be quite a rush! Antisana in the background. And the slope in the picture is deceiving - it is MUCH more steep!!! Seriously - you take 20 steps up and then have to stop to catch your breath. |
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