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Chimborazo volcano adventure

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Hike along historic trade routes in the shadow of Mount Chimborazo, an extinct volcano dominating an Andean landscape of sweeping plains, rural settlements and grazing llamas.

Standing tallest of all within the corridor of soaring peaks known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes, the extinct volcano of Chimborazo is Ecuador’s highest mountain. Its snow-capped form looms up out of sweeping Andean grassland, dominating the skyline and dwarfing the small farmsteads and herds of grazing llama that lie in its shadow.

We can arrange a 3-day adventure hiking in this remote and rugged terrain, enjoying the peace and tranquillity of life in the Andes. The trip begins with a scenic approach from Patate, following a llama trail to a spectacular viewpoint over the volcano.

The next day, you’ll wake in a cosy highland lodge to the sight of Chimborazo rising up to a height of over 6,000m, beckoning you to get out and explore. Today’s walk will follow a historically important trade route, the Camino Real or Royal Road, down the volcano’s southern flank and across a barren desert of ancient volcanic debris to a cluster of rustic settlements and farms.

On the final day, there’s a guided visit to Ecuador’s most important Inca ruin at Ingapirca before continuing on to the graceful city of Cuenca.

Activity Rating: moderate

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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