Chimborazo Volcano Climbing Tours
Ecuador is a country full of stunning landscapes and endless adventures. Near the equator, there is a group of mountains known as the Avenue of Volcanoes, which is home to Chimborazo Volcano.
Chimborazo’s peak is famously known for being the farthest point from the center of the Earth.
Chimborazo attracts thousands of visitors every year. The hike to Chimborazo’s summit is a scenic, but difficult route that only the most-experienced hikers have successfully conquered. Its snow-capped peaks require proper guidance. Gulliver Expeditions provides a variety of Chimborazo guides, hikes and tours, allowing any experienced hiker to appreciate the beauty of Chimborazo.
Chimborazo Summit
The summit of Chimborazo Volcano reaches 20,564 feet (6,262 meters) and is considered Ecuador’s highest mountain. The summit of Chimborazo Volcano is not only the highest peak in Ecuador, but also the farthest point on the planet from the center of the Earth, due to the Earth’s equatorial bulge.
According to many scientific reports, Chimborazo Volcano is the highest peak in the world based on a certain measurement. However, if you calculate mountains based on traditional metrics, or height above sea level, the highest peak in the world would still be Mount Everest.
The summit of Chimborazo rises approximately 20,500 feet above sea level. It is indeed nearly 10,000 feet shorter than Mount Everest’s 29,029 feet (5.5 miles), but if you calculate the height of both mountains from the center of the Earth, the results are different. This is due to the fact that the Earth’s surface is not a perfect sphere. The Earth flattens at its poles and bulges at its waistline. Because of this, its radius is about 13 miles greater at the Equator.
Chimborazo Guides & Tours
Climbing Chimborazo Volcano with the help of a mountain guide is a must. This strenuous hike should be taken with caution and with the guidance of an experienced climbing expert.
Gulliver Expeditions offers a 2-day guided Chimborazo tour and hike. You’ll experience all the beauty of Chimborazo, with the security of a well-trained, experienced Chimborazo guide. Due to the extreme heights of this trek, we only encourage experienced hikers to climb this route.
Climbing Chimborazo – The Logistics
There are two refuges on Mount Chimborazo:
- Carrel refuge – 4,800 m (15,744 ft.)
- Whymper refuge – 5,000 m (16,400 ft.)
People usually start their 6-9 hour climb one or two hours before midnight, and return to the hut a couple hours before noon in order to avoid the danger of falling rocks caused by the sun hitting the glacier entrance, known as “El Corredor.”
We highly recommend contacting a guide to assist you on your hike.
Chimborazo Climbing Season
Chimborazo can be climbed all year round, although the best periods to do it are from June to July or January to February. In order to avoid altitude sickness, try to acclimatize by climbing smaller peaks of Ecuador, such as Cayambe, Illinizas or Pasochoa before heading to Chimborazo.
We’d love to have you join us on our next climb of Chimborazo.
Contact Gulliver Expeditions for more information on our exclusive Chimborazo climbing tours.
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