Chimborazo

So...on February 1 we headed south on the Pan-American Highway. On the off-chance that we could get a glimpse of Chimborazo, the highest volcano in Ecuador, we took the road less traveled west around the Chimborazo National Park. This was the start of our 2 week adventure exploring Southern Ecuador. Like every other road in Ecuador, each bend reveals a new stunning vista.

2800  m above sea level, the Andes, as far as the eye can see

 



Then, suddenly, around the next bend, there it is...in full majesty... Chimborazo!

... Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo (6,268 meters), is also the farthest point from the center of the earth and closest point to the sun. Even though it is some 2,500 meters shorter than Everest when measured from sea level, Chimborazo’s peak is actually farther from the center of the earth because of the earth’s equatorial bulge.

Just after we had lunch with this incredible backdrop, the clouds rolled in and obscured the view.

The second treat of this drive was spotting Vicunas, a wild cousin to llamas and alpacas. They used to be indigenous to this part of Ecuador but were hunted to extinction. In the 1980's they were re-introduced from Bolivia and Peru and seem to be thriving in the park now.