Cayambe Volcano

Cayambe reaches 5,790 metres, the third highest mountain in Ecuador, and it holds a distinction no other peak on earth can: the equator line crosses its southern flank, so a point on its glacier at about 4,690 metres is the only place where the equator passes over permanent snow and ice, and it is where the equator reaches its greatest elevation anywhere on earth. The summit is a glaciated dome climbed from the refuge on the south-west side, a technical ascent on ice needing rope, crampons and a guide, usually started around midnight. Below the ice, the paramo flanks hold Andean wolf, deer and condor. The refuge is reached by a rough road from Cayambe town, and many visitors go no further than that.

Highlights

• Ice on the equator - the only glacier the line crosses anywhere.
• The equator's highest ground - the line crosses the mountain at about 4,690 metres.
• The refuge at 4,600 metres - the base for the climb and the road-end viewpoint.
• Paramo flanks and condors - the country below the snowline.

When to go

June to September and December to January are the drier climbing windows. Two to three days with acclimatisation. Summit attempts need a certified guide, technical kit and full acclimatisation.

What to expect

This is a glaciated technical climb with crevasse risk, not a walk; the retreat of the ice has made routes more broken and dangerous in recent years. The access road is rough and often needs four-wheel-drive. Altitude at the refuge alone affects many people.

Nearby

Cayambe town is below; the Papallacta road runs south.

Key facts