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Ecuador

Avenue of the Volcanoes

Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi
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Avenue of the Volcanoes

Why visit the Avenue of the Volcanoes

The Avenue of the Volcanoes is the dramatic heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Dominated by snow-capped peaks, vast high-altitude plains and traditional haciendas, this is where Ecuador’s landscapes feel at their most expansive. Named by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt, the region is home to some of the country’s most iconic volcanoes, including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, as well as the emerald crater lake of Quilotoa.

Centred around the historic city of Riobamba, the region offers some of Ecuador’s finest outdoor adventures. Ride horseback across the windswept páramo, hike beneath glaciers in Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve or explore Cotopaxi National Park, where wild horses graze against a backdrop of near-perfect volcanic cones. Between adventures, stay in beautifully restored haciendas that have welcomed travellers for generations, offering roaring fires, home-cooked food and a genuine sense of place.

The Avenue of the Volcanoes is also rich in culture. Visit colourful markets, traditional farming communities and rose plantations, or continue south to Alausí, the starting point for the famous Devil’s Nose railway, one of the great engineering feats of the Andes.

For us, this is one of Ecuador’s defining journeys. The drive between haciendas, national parks and mountain towns is every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves, revealing extraordinary scenery, authentic Andean culture and some of the country’s most characterful places to stay.

Riobamba, Ecuador

Highlights of the Avenue of the Volcanoes

  • Explore Cotopaxi National Park – Ride horseback or hike across the windswept páramo beneath one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, where wild horses roam freely and condors often circle overhead.
  • Stay in Ecuador’s finest haciendas – Spend your nights in beautifully restored country estates, from historic Hacienda San Agustín de Callo to traditional working ranches that capture the spirit of the Ecuadorian Andes.
  • Stand on the slopes of Chimborazo – Visit Ecuador’s highest mountain and the point on Earth furthest from the planet’s centre, where high-altitude trails reveal spectacular views across the surrounding volcanoes.
  • Walk the rim of Quilotoa – Admire the vivid turquoise waters of one of South America’s most beautiful volcanic crater lakes or descend to the shoreline before climbing back to the rim.
  • Discover Riobamba and the central Andes – Explore Ecuador’s traditional mountain capital, browse colourful local markets and venture into the surrounding countryside, where centuries-old farming traditions continue beneath towering volcanic peaks.
  • Follow one of South America’s great scenic drives – Travel through a landscape of volcanoes, fertile valleys, rose plantations and high-altitude grasslands, where every day reveals a different perspective on the Ecuadorian Andes.
Roses roses roses

Ecuador exports more than one billion roses every year, many grown along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The combination of volcanic soils, cool nights and intense equatorial sunlight produces blooms renowned for their exceptionally large heads and vibrant colours.

Wild horses

The grasslands of the high Andes are home to herds of wild horses. No one knows exactly how they became established, but they have roamed the páramo for generations and are now an iconic part of the landscape.

Where to stay

Best lodges in the Avenue of the Volcanoes

Nothing but the best. Browse our handpicked, tried-and-tested luxury lodges.

Chilcabamba Lodge, Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador Luxury Lodge

Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge, Avenue of the Volcanoes

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Hacienda San Agustín de Callo Luxury Hacienda

Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, Avenue of the Volcanoes

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Hacienda La Andaluza Hacienda

Hacienda La Andaluza, Avenue of the Volcanoes

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Good to know

Getting to the Avenue of the Volcanoes

The Avenue of the Volcanoes is easily reached by road from either Quito or Cuenca. From Quito, it’s around two hours to Cotopaxi National Park, with spectacular Andean scenery unfolding almost immediately.

Travelling north from Cuenca, allow around four hours to Riobamba or five hours to Chimborazo. We recommend exploring the region with a private driver-guide, allowing time to visit traditional haciendas, colourful markets and viewpoints, while enjoying one of South America’s most scenic road journeys.

When to go

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OUR FAVOURITE TIME TO VISIT

The Avenue of the Volcanoes can be visited year-round, but we particularly recommend June to September, when drier conditions often bring crisp mornings and the clearest views of Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and the surrounding peaks. It’s the ideal time for hiking, horse riding and exploring the high-altitude landscapes. If you’re travelling in June, you’ll also experience vibrant indigenous festivals, adding an extra cultural dimension to your journey through the Ecuadorian Andes

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Caroline Maber