The Carihuairazo: Learning to Hike with a Giant of Wind and Snow

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The legend tells that, in ancient times, the Carihuairazo Volcano –whose name means “man of wind and snow” in Quechua (cari: man; huaira: wind; razu: snow) – was much higher than it is now. Fighting against the Chimborazo Volcano for the love of the Lady Tungurahua Volcano, the Carihuairazo ended up half-destroyed and lost the fight.

In the Ecuador’s Occidental mountain range is found this romantic fighter, located very close to the Chimborazo, in the province of Tungurahua. The Carihuairazo is perfect for mountaineers in the process of acclimatization or training in search of new landscapes and adventures. It is a place of beautiful natural contrasts that always amazes visitors.

Considering it has 3 peaks, the highest being 5020 (1646ft) above the sea level, the Carihuairazo is also great for beginners or family groups wanting to learn basic techniques for climbing. The snowy slopes are easy to climb, and they help mountaineers to acclimate and get prepared for future ascents to any of the higher, snowy peaks of Ecuador, always accompanied by a professional instructor. In the way up, you will find a great variety of moors full of flora and fauna, which can also be visited on horseback in the skirts of the volcano.

This inspiring, legendary volcano is undoubtedly a relic that can be enjoyed by everyone. The extinct Carihuairazo always welcomes visitors and prepares them for the new experiences and the challenges of reaching great heights.

Photo: august_allen

The Pastaza: A Rafting Adventure from The Andes to The Amazon

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If you think of a volcano that roars endlessly, it would be difficult to imagine that at its feet lays a peaceful place surrounded by rivers and numerous waterfalls, whose geography makes it the perfect spot for adventure tourism lovers. This place is called Baños de Agua Santa, and it is home of the region’s most fast flowing rivers. Baños has been favored with very nice weather due to its proximity to the Amazonian region, and its rivers are the scenery for several ecological adventure sports, such as rafting.

One of the most interesting fast flowing rivers of the region is called the Pastaza River. There, you can get on a rubber dinghy with other adventurous partners and go through some of the most fun routes as you slide fast down these waters, getting filled with adrenaline. Several pauses are done throughout the route, as a nature’s way to compensate your weariness. At these sections, water flows more slowly and you can hear the sounds of the adventurers’ faithful companions: the birds. You will have the chance to observe the exuberant vegetation at both sides of the river as you dip your hands into the calm, crystalline water. Once this section is left behind, the adventure continues. As you move forward, you will notice the water’s temperature rises, as another sign of the contrasts of this place.

When the aquatic adventure is over and you step once again on firm ground, you can keep on exploring by foot on a trip through the exuberant vegetation that you admired from the rubber dinghy at the river, vegetation so beautiful it invites you to discover it and unveil its mystery.

Photo: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Ecuador

Walking the Road from the Holy Waters to the Devil’s Waters

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In Ecuador, there is a sanctuary for those who enjoy adventure tourism. It is located in the Tungurahua Province, at the feet of the Tungurahua Volcano. The place is called "Baños de Agua Santa" (The Holy Water Baths), a village that offers visitors a tour through the famous Waterfalls Route: a 16km (almost 10 miles) route including several waterfalls and tunnels, a cable railway ride, suspension bridges and narrow paths. The route leads to the jungle’s heart, where one of the world’s 10 most beautiful waterfalls is found: the Pailón del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron).

The route is usually done by bike or quad, although it can also be done by car. There are seven other waterfalls along the way, whose white waters contrast beautifully with the green vegetation. Visitors take a break at the third waterfall called the Manto de la Novia (the Bride’s Veil), located facing a precipice. There, visitors can take a ride on the tarabita, an old kind of cable railway that makes a 100m (328ft) tour to the other side of the precipice, passing right over the waterfall: an experience you just can’t miss!

After the 16 km route, all vehicles must be left at the Hortensias Restaurant and the final, 1km (0.6mi) path must be done by foot. Arriving to the Pailón del Diablo, a slight climate change can be perceived, since the path takes visitors away from the Andean cold weather and closer to the warmth and humidity of the Amazonian region. Visitors walk through the jungle until arriving to a long suspension bridge, from which the power of the great Pailón del Diablo waterfall can already be felt. The final stop is at the Otro Lado Restaurant, which has a path that allows watching from a short distance the powerful waters plunging from an altitude of more than 100m (328ft).

In this tour, Nature offers us a great spectacle made up by the deafening fury of the water crashing into a black giant rock known as the Diablo; the water splashing everywhere; the smell of wet earth that invades the place; the wind desperately blowing and the fascinating vegetation that envelopes the scene in green, all of these providing an adventure that makes visitors want to go back every year. The Waterfalls Route is a unique experience that will awake all your senses.

Photo: RevThom's Sabbatical Blog  

The World’s smallest orchid is found among roots and leaves

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Ecuador has the World’s greatest orchid diversity with 4000 identified orchid species, 1300 of them being endemic. It was in this transitional area between the Andes and the Ecuadorian Amazon where, half hidden among roots and leaves, the World’s smallest orchid was found. This orchid, of which the name has not been yet defined, measures only 2.1mm wide, beating the platysteke jungermannioides species’ size of 2.5mm, a plant so small that its leaves are almost transparent, allowing seeing through them.

It was almost three months ago, in a high-biodiversity region known as Cerro Candelaria, up in the Pastaza River of the Ecuadorian Amazon; when Dr. Lou Jost, an American botanist specialized in orchids, found by chance the smallest orchid of the platysteke genre, on which he was researching. At that moment, the famous orchid hunter realized that his new discovery was far more interesting than the orchid he was studying.

On an interview with the botanist, he remarked: « "It's an exciting feeling to find a new species. People think everything has been discovered but there's much more ». This discovery adds up to the more than 60 orchids and 10 plants Dr. Jost has found in the last 10 years.

To visit this high-diversity region, you must first get to the Tungurahua province, right between the national parks of Sangay and Llanganates. This area works as a corridor in the middle of the two protected parks, preserving a big portion of virgin forest.

Photo: Lou Jost 

The Volcanoes Land: Passing Through Giants

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When traveling to Ecuador, make sure you include in your plans a 325km (201mi) road called “The Volcanoes Avenue”. This road goes through some of the world’s highest volcanic peaks, many of which are still active. Named by the legendary explorer Alexander Von Humboldt in 1802, this unique natural corridor is formed by eleven volcanoes that emerged on the sides of the Ecuadorian central highlands. It has become one of Ecuador’s main sightseeing destinations, attracting thousands of tourists each year.

Already at the beginning of the trip the landscape variety is overwhelming: one gets surrounded by immense patchwork of fields and enormous pine forest plateaus. The first part of the route goes through the magnificent volcanoes of Pasochoa, Corazon and Illiniza, finally getting to the Rumiñahui volcano, where visitors have the opportunity to climb to the crater either by trekking or on horseback. Once at the top, an astonishing view of the mighty, 5900-meter (19356ft)-high Cotopaxi volcano will take your breath away!

Back on the road, you go through a landscape of low-hanging clouds until reaching the Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador’s most famous park and home of the highest active volcano in the world: the Cotopaxi, nominated for the World’s New Seven Wonders of Nature. Contrary to the Chimborazo Volcano, where you must have more climbing experience, Cotopaxi offers a great climbing opportunity for reasonably in shape novices. There is a good gravel road which winds up the ash-strewn side to a parking area located 4600m (2 miles) away. From here, the physically fit can carefully walk a further distance of 200m (0.12mi) to a refuge from which you can get incredible views – if the altitude and the weather allow!

The route then passes through Baños (baths), a scenic little town named like that after the five natural thermal baths found here. Baños is located in the Tungurahua province, nestled in a valley at the foot of the 5023m (16479ft)-high Tungurahua volcano.

Our Final Destination is Riobamba. This city has quite a unique location. On a clear day, it is possible to see the peaks of five volcanoes: Chimborazo (6310m/20702ft), Altar (5319m/17450ft), Sangay (5230m/17158), Tungurahua (5023m/16479ft) and Carihuairazo (5020m/16469ft) – a magnificent view! Chimborazo, the highest volcano in Ecuador and the furthest point from the center of the Earth (and once thought to be the highest mountain on Earth) is located approx. 50km (31 miles) away from Riobamba.

To better enjoy the environmental beauty of this eco route, activities such as horseback riding, canopy, climbing, trekking and bird watching are offered to visitor, but just the fact to be standing next to these magnificent formations, volcanoes that are higher than you could imagine, will give you a feeling of eternal peace and an unforgivable memory.

Photo: Kilobug