The volcano
Farthest from the centre.
Dabit100 / David Torres Costales Riobamba — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Eduardo Navas — CC BY-SA 2.0
Ecuador's highest mountain, an ice-capped dormant volcano rising to about 6,263 metres, whose summit has a unique claim: it is the point on Earth's surface farthest from the planet's centre, because it sits on the equatorial bulge, beating even Everest on that count. Around it spreads a vast reserve of sandy, grassy páramo, created to bring back the vicuña, the slenderest relative of the llama with the finest wool, after it vanished from the area. Today golden herds graze freely in front of the volcano, easy to see from the road. A dirt road climbs to the Carrel refuge at about 4,850 metres, and a short, steep trail leads on to the Whymper refuge near 5,000 metres, where visitors stand close to the ice. The summit is for experienced climbers with guides. The altitude here is dangerous for the unacclimatised: spend a few days in Quito or Riobamba first, walk very slowly and descend at once if you feel a strong headache or dizziness. Bring winter clothes, as the wind is bitter.
Farthest from the centre.
Grazing freely.
Near 5,000 m.
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve, about an hour west of Riobamba
Yes, the road reaches the Carrel refuge at about 4,850 m, with a short walk to the Whymper refuge, after acclimatising.