Not surprisingly my friend raised an incredulous eyebrow when I boasted that Chimborazo Ecuador is the tallest mountain in the world. But it did pique his curiosity. Maybe Chimborazo Volcano in Ecuador is not as famous as Mount Everest, K2 or the other giants of the Himalayas. Perhaps many people have never even heard of Chimborazo Ecuador. But scientists really do agree that the peak of Chimborazo volcano is the furthest point from the center of the earth’s core, and the closest point on earth to the sun. How is this possible? Read on to find out why Chimborazo Ecuador is the tallest peak in the world, and how you can see this magnificent volcano with your own eyes.
Where is Chimborazo Ecuador?
Chimborazo Volcano is located in the high Andes of Ecuador, South America, 235km south from capital city Quito. The closest city is Riobamba, in Chimborazo Province, from where wonderful views of the peak can be enjoyed on a clear day.
The volcano is surrounded on all sides by the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve. This protected parkland covers an area of almost 60,000 hectares, and is home to herds of wild vicuña. What is a vicuña? Imagine a small, cute relative of llamas and alpacas. They have particularly fine wool, said to be softer and lighter than cashmere.
Chimborazo has four peaks, from west to east: Veintemilla, Whymper, Politécnica and Nicolás Martínez. The tallest is Whymper peak, named after the British explorer Edward Whymper who was first to ascend the summit back in 1880. In fact he had to repeat the feat twice as nobody was willing to believe him the first time, that it was humanly possible to perform such a climb. For good measure Whymper then climbed Ecuador’s second most famous volcano: Cotopaxi. His resulting book is entitled Travels amongst the Great Andes of the Equator
How tall is Chimborazo Volcano?
Chimborazo clocks in at an impressive height of 6,310m or 20,703ft. It is a massive ice-capped stratovolcano, last erupting in 550AD. The volcano is massive, with 78mile circumference, and 30mile diameter. Chimborazo was thought to be an extinct volcano, but recent studies indicate it is in fact still active.
So how come Chimborazo Ecuador is higher than Everest?
Well, let me start by telling you that Mount Everest stands at an elevation of 8,848m (29,029ft).
Something doesn’t add up here, right? If Chimborazo is only 6310m tall then how can it be taller than 8848m Mount Everest?
It all depends on how we choose to make the measurements. If we measure in terms of elevation above sea level, then Everest is the clear winner. In fact Chimborazo doesn't even rank inside the top 100 peaks on the planet! But if instead we measure distance from the centre of the earth, then Chimborazo is the clear winner, beating Everest by a huge 2.1 kilometres. By the same measure we can also say that Chimborazo’s peak is the closest point on earth to the sun.
So, let’s explore this phenomenon a little further. How is the peak of Chimborazo further from the center of the earth than Mount Everest? It all comes down to Chimborazo's location in Ecuador. The equator line passes through Ecuador, just a little north of capital city Quito. So, Chimborazo is very close to the middle of the world. What does that have to do with anything? Well, contrary to popular belief, the world is not a perfectly round sphere. It is in fact an oblate ellipsoid caused by gravity and rotational centrifugal forces. In layman’s terms, what this means is that the earth’s crust has a bulge at the equator. So Chimborazo’s peak gets a helping hand, pushing it further from out the earth’s core. The Himalayas in contrast, don’t receive this advantage because they are located thousands of miles north of the equator.
So, by this criteria, Ecuador boasts 4 of the real top 10 tallest mountains in the world: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antisana. Other memorable mentions in the list include Huascaran (Peru) in 2nd place, Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) in 6th, and Mount Everest sneaking in at number 10.
How to visit Chimborazo National Park in Ecuador?
So, if you want to see the real highest mountain in the world, you need to visit Chimborazo Ecuador.
Chimborazo National Park is best visited as an overnight trip from Quito, or as part of a longer Andes itinerary. Hotels in Riobamba or historic haciendas closeby can be used as convenient base.
There are various way to visit and enjoy a day in the park, here are some that we recommend:
Chimborazo Trekking
The most popular Chimborazo trek takes you up to the Whymper Refuge, starting from the parking lot at lower Carrel Refuge. On route you will pass the Memorial Monument, which is a nice spot for photos. For those who wish to trek further, there is a high alpine lake formed by glacial melt beyond the refuge.
A great alternative is the Iceman Trek. This takes you well off of the beaten tourist path, following in the footsteps of Baltazar Uscha – the famous last Iceman of Chimborazo. A moderate trek takes you up to the snowline, hopefully observing vicuña along the way. The highlight is watching 70 years old Baltazar carve out a huge block of ice from the glacier. He then expertly chisels away, to form perfect cuboid blocks. Using Andean grasses, Baltazar fabrics rustic style rope to tie the blocks to his donkey. He then transports them down the slopes to sell at Riobamba market for making fruit ice drinks. It is awe-inspiring to watch Baltazar work. He is a true artist, and has only recently been recognised for his dedication to a unique tradition for so many years. The Iceman Chimborazo trek must be organised in advance with a guide. Happy Gringo have contacts to organise this trek - contact us for more information.
With luck, on either of these trekking routes, or during your drive through the park, you might catch a glimpse of the native vicuñas who call the Chimborazo Park home.
Mountain Biking
Various local agencies offer Chimborazo mountain biking trips. The most common route starts at the Carrel Refuge, and bikes down the steep slopes. Alternative, hidden routes include visits to ancient Inca Ruins or local indigenous communities as part of the fun.
Chimborazo Climb
There are many motivations for climbing a mountain, and if bragging rights are the prize, Everest will always win out. If technical difficulty is the name of the game, K2 takes the cake. But if you love life, and don’t have tens of thousands to spend on sherpas and permits (or the time to become an expert mountaineer) then Chimborazo is where it’s at! It certainly gives climbers the unusual claim to fame of having stood at the closest point on earth to the sun.
There are many motivations for climbing a mountain, and if bragging rights are the prize, Everest will always win out. If technical difficulty is the name of the game, K2 takes the cake. But if you love life, and don’t have tens of thousands to spend on sherpas and permits (or the time to become an expert mountaineer) then Chimborazo is where it’s at! It certainly gives climbers the unusual claim to fame of having stood at the closest point on earth to the sun.
In conclusion, Chimborazo Ecuador is a beast of a mountain. Beautifully sculpted by the ages of time, and appreciated by famous historical figures. Simon Bolivar was sufficiently moved to write a poem about Chimborazo. Alexander Von Humboldt attempted to climb it in 1802, Edward Whymper finishing the job 80 years later. For a long period of history, Chimborazo mountain was considered to be the world's highest peak measured pure elevation. Today, Chimborazo Ecuador is a breathtaking highlight of Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes. The national park offers something for everyone: adventurers, daytrippers, wildlife lovers and photographers. Above all though, Chimborazo Ecuador makes a quirky story to take home to friends and family - that you have seen the tallest mountain in the world! We highly recommend it as an inclusion into your Ecuador itinerary.
Our Happy Gringo Volcano Trail tour takes you to see 6 of Ecuador’s top volcanoes in 8 days. Climbing Cotopaxi or Chimborazo is an optional add-on. We can also easily include a visit to Chimborazo National Park, trekking, biking or the Iceman Trek if you Design your ideal trip with us.
