Part of the Ecuadorian Andes, Mount Chimborazo is an inactive volcano completely covered by glaciers at its peak. It is the highest mountain in Ecuador and in the Andes north of Peru and is higher than any summit north of it across the Americas.
And (here’s where the facts getting really cool and kind of quirky) depending on how you measure such things, Chimborazo comes out at the top of the list as the highest point on the planet. More than 29,000 feet in height, Mount Everest in the Himalayas is the world’s tallest mountain. However, because 20,000-foot tall Chimborazo sits on the planet’s bulge at the equator, its summit is the farthest point away from the center of the Earth and the part of Earth that is closest to the Moon.
So, why not celebrate this topographical highpoint with its own special holiday? Well, that’s what June 3rd is – Chimborazo Day.
The day is one for lacing up your trusty hiking boots and hitting a mountain trail even if you can’t make it Ecuador. But if you can take a trip to this nature lover’s paradise, you will be in for a treat!
The whole of Chimborazo is a national park. Around the park, a variety of outdoor activities like mountain biking, horseback riding and wilderness tours. It’s definitely worth a visit, for nature lovers of all experience levels!
Compared to a lot uphill hiking, getting to the summit of Chimborazo isn’t all that different. Sure, it can leave you winded but the views are breathtaking! However, it is advised that the trails (there are two) be left to more experienced hikers or to be traveled with a professional guide as weather conditions can change rapidly especially atop the glaciers, and although clearly marked the incline of the trails may prove grueling for people less accustomed to mountaineering. Along the way, hikers pass remote villages and experience pristine nature and a wealth of wildlife.
