When you hear the word Chimborazo, it may be something unknown to you, but when you hear the word Everest, you know exactly what we are talking about: the highest mountain in the world. I will tell you that Chimborazo is the highest mountain in the world if measured from the center of the earth, therefore it is the closest point to the sun due to its proximity to the equatorial line [1], while Everest is the highest mountain in the world measured from sea level.

Chimborazo is located in the Andes Mountains and is the highest volcano in the northern Andes in Ecuador at 6,263 m.a.s.l. Its name comes from one of the Amerindian languages spoken in America before the Spanish colonization, which is Kiwchua. In this language, Chimborazo has some translations into Spanish, such as: “the ice that is on the other side” or as an “ice woman”, among others.

This natural beauty is part of the 98 volcanoes of Ecuador, of which 31 are active and thus, according to the ranking of the Smithsonian Institution records, Ecuador is the thirteenth country with the greatest number of volcanoes on the planet [2].

Chimborazo is a potentially active volcano; according to historical data, its last eruption was around 550 AD. Its surface is completely covered by glaciers that descend to 4,600 m above sea level. When the Andean landscapes are in all their splendor, the imposing Chimborazo captures your attention. Without a doubt, for those who love trekking, nature and photography, it is the perfect place to visit. Every year it hosts tourists from all over the world, where they practice: mountaineering, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and it also has 2 shelters where mountaineers can carry out the acclimatization process before ascending to the summit [3].

For the ascent, it is recommended to use specialized guides. The journey takes approximately two days. The route will begin at night for safety reasons. After 7 or 8 hours walking along the glacial ridge, with inclinations of 30 to 40 degrees, you will finally be able to reach the summit of Veintimilla, at 6,227 meters high. Optionally, you can continue for another hour to Whymper, the highest peak, at 6,263 meters [4].

Without a doubt, for mountaineering lovers, this is a special destination.

Figure 1: group photo of mountaineers climbing Chimborazo. Photo courtesy of chimborazolodge.

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