Ecuador, a Top Mountain Climbing Destination!

Ecuador is a top mountain climbing destination, with 18 peaks above 5000 meter (16404 feet) altitude! This includes one volcano with 9 peaks above 5000 meter high! The different mountain climbing routes vary from easy to hard, for both beginning and experienced mountaineers. Maybe best of all is that all these Andean mountain/ volcano peeks are located at relatively short distances from one and another. These short travel distances makes it easier to plan multiple summits in one travel itinerary through Ecuador. Would you like to reach the highest peak on the Equator, summiting one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and climb towards the highest point on earth? In Ecuador you can achieve all of these goals and more in a relatively short amount of time. Check also our most popular 3 Peaks Bucket List Climbing Expedition in Ecuador.

The top 10 highest peaks in Ecuador

From ‘low’ till hight, the 10 highest mountains/ volcanoes in Ecuador consist of:

10 – Tungurahua, an highly active volcano of 5016 m (16456 ft) altitude
9 – Carihuairazo, an inactive volcano of 5020 m (16469 ft) altitude
8 – Iliniza Norte, is with 5126 m (16818 ft) the lower peak of the Iliniza Volcano
7 – Sangay, one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador with an hight of 5230 m (17158 ft)
6 – Iliniza Sur, is with 5263 m (17267 ft) the highest peak of the Iliniza Volcano
5 – El Altar, actually has 9 peaks that are all above 5000 m altitude. These peaks form a horseshoe around a spectacular crater lake. The highest peak is 5319 m (17451 ft) and is called El Obispo. Climbing this peak is technically demanding (a D+ grading) and nobody has yet accomplice to climb all 9 peaks, because of their challenges.
4 – Antisana, an active volcano of 5758 m (18891 ft) altitude and the fourth highest volcano in Ecuador.
3 – Cayambe is a sleeping volcano of 5790 m (18996 ft) altitude. It is also the highest point on the Equator and the only point on the Equator with a permanent snow cover.
2 – Cotopaxi, with 5897 m (19347 ft) above sea level, this is the highest active stratovolcano in the world.
1 – Chimborazo is an extinct volcano of 6263 m (20548 ft) altitude. It is not only the highest mountain in Ecuador, but its summit is also the farthest point on Earth’s surface, if we would measure from the center of the earth. This is due to its location along the planet’s equatorial bulge!

The highest mountain on Earth

The Mount Everest is a top climbing destination for mountaineers who want to reach the highest point on earth, when measured from sea level. However, to reach its summit at 8848 m (29029 ft) above sea level is a very complicate and dangerous challenge, with a very high price tag. Climbing to the summit of the Chimborazo Volcano is a bit less of a challenge and much cheaper. Still, when your reach its summit at 6263 m (20548 ft) above sea level, you can also say that you reached the highest point on earth. Yes, that’s right. Because of the oblate spheroid shape of the planet Earth, which is thicker at the Equator than it is from pole to pole, the summit of the Chimborazo Volcano is at 6,384.4 km (3,967.1 mi) from the Earth’s center. The summit of Mount Everest is at (6,382.3 km (3,965.8 mi) from the Earth’s center. Therefore the summit of the Chimborazo is at 2.1 km (1.3 mi) further away from Earths center and Earths closest point to the sun.

The Chimborazo Volcano has two peaks

Only between 50 to 60% of the mountaineers who attempt to summit the Chimborazo make it to the top. However, by far, most of these climbers only reach the first top called Veintimilla, at an altitude of 6,234 m (20,453 ft). The second and highest summit, is called the Whymper Peak at 6263 m (20548 ft) above sea level. Both summits are like a saddle and to reach the Whymper Peak, you will first have to descent a little and trek through a field of lose snow. Normally this will take around 30 to 45 minutes. But when this snow is fresh, or warmed up by the sun, it is possible that you sink more than waste deep into it. In these situations it isn’t possible to cross the snow field to reach the Whymper Peak.

Popular mountain climbing destinations

With all these great opportunities for mountaineers it comes a bit as a surprise that Ecuador as a climbing destination it is still very underrated in Google searches. The reason behind this could be, because Ecuador receives fewer tourists compare to other mountaineering destinations. This is also the main reason why the archaeological Maya site Chichen Itza in Mexico was chosen to be one of the new World Wonders, instead of the more impressive archaeological Maya site Tikal in Guatemala… However, with Ecuador still being underestimated as a mountain climbing destination, the slopes of its mountains are less crowded with tourists. You should explore them now, before they become too popular and you get waiting lines as on the top of the Mount Everest.

Benefits of Mountain Climbing in Ecuador

Mountain climbing in Ecuador (and any other part of the world) offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and disconnect from the chaos of everyday life. The pristine beauty of the mountains, the serenity of the surroundings, and the sense of being one with the elements create a profound sense of peace and tranquillity. Mountain climbing is not just a physical challenge, but also a mental and emotional journey that pushes you to your limits. The benefits of mountain climbing go beyond the physical exertion and adrenaline rush. It teaches you resilience, patience, and the importance of teamwork. On top of that, reaching the summit of a mountain, provides a feeling of accomplishment that can boost your confidence and self-belief, even in other areas in your life. No surprise that mountaineering has strongly grown in popularity.

Altitude sickness while climbing in Ecuador

When I climbed to the Veintimilla Summit of the Chimborazo Volcano in November 2006, I had little experience in mountain climbing and didn’t use enough time to acclimatize. Somewhere above 5400 m (17717 ft.) I started to struggle. But I didn’t have a headache, usually one of the first symptoms of high altitude sickness. I just got very tired and with hindsight (based on the accounts from the other people I climbed with), a little disoriented. Only years later I found out that the symptoms might have come from HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema), which is a dangerous condition, caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain… I was lucky to reach the summit and go down, without having to need medical attention. But I wouldn’t recommend anyone to try to summit a mountain peak above 5000 m without practice and enough time to acclimatize. For more information about altitude sickness.

Best period for mountain climbing in Ecuador

Generally speaking the best months to climb mountains in Ecuador are between November and February and in May and June. Although the weather can be unpredictable, in these months there is usually less snow and wind. Too much snow and wind on the mountain slopes can cause dangerous avalanches. Therefore it always remains important to only climb under the guidance of an experienced mountain guide and follow his/ her instructions.

Hidden gem for rock climbers in Ecuador

Teddy Dondanville, a rock climbing guide and freelance writer, choose the Columns of Tangán outside the mountainous town of Sigchos in Central Ecuador as the best rock climbing destination for 2025. “Along with cracks so good they’re seemingly cut via extraterrestrial laser beams, a pristine Ecuadorian cloud forest envelops you with jaw-dropping beauty”, according to Mr. Dondanville. Tangán’s land owner, Don Ramiro Uribe—along with local climbers—has transformed the Columns of Tangán into a sustainable climbing tourism business.