Sangay NP

Ecuador's largest mainland national park lies in the Cordillera Oriental, some 200 km south of Quito. It extends from the peaks and paramo grasslands of the high Andes to the Amazon rainforest, containing a remarkable variety of ecosystems, from rainforests, to cloud forests, to high grasslands, to alpine highlands to crag and glacier.

This superb World Heritage Site wilderness contains waterfalls, lakes, rivers and of course volcanoes. Two of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, Sangay and Tungurahua, as well as the dramatic extinct volcano, El Altar, all lie within the park.

There is a lot of walking to be done in the park. Here are the best (or best known anyway).

El Altar

This jagged 5,219m remnant of an exploded volcano is absurdly dramatic, a horseshoe of 9 snowy wildly broken peaks some 3 km across, replete with spires and crags and sporting a severe lake in the crater in the middle. It is said that, pre-explosion, El Altar would have been the highest peak in Ecuador. From the lake you can hear the creaking of the high glaciers.

The 25km, 3 day hike to the lake at some 4,200m and back is one of Ecuador's walking glories.

The trail starts from the small village of Candellaria, which is accessible by bus from Riobamba. After a short walk you come to Hacienda Releche. It is possible to spend the night here or in the hacienda's refuge, closer to the mountain.

Volcan Sangay

Sangay is claimed to be the most continuously active volcano in South America, so climbing it is dangerous at best. It is a great cone which changes shape and height and contains numerous craters.

Enjoy a huge variety of vegetation zones and wildlife, enjoying the striking journey, from the lowland forests to snowcapped peaks. You have a chance to see rare indigenous species, such as the mountain tapir and the condor.

Volcan Tongurahua

This superb, intermittently active volcano is in the Sangay NP, but in the Banos area, to the north of the heart of the park.

Other walks

There are plenty of other superb walks in Sangay NP, which we have not yet got information on. Recommendations requested, so we can give more information.

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This is tough walking in remote mountains with uncertain weather, where altitude can cause real problems. Come fully prepared, including proper acclimatization.

Have a look at TripAdvisor - there are tens of millions of reviews, so you may get good, current views on guides, places to hike and places to stay.

Ecuador Climbing and Hiking Guide - Viva has a worthwhile section on this area. Find relevant books by using our Amazon search function:

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