The Biggest & Most Active Volcanoes In Ecuador 🌋
Yes! Finally my geology background is coming up clutch and I can talk about volcanoes in Ecuador. 🤘
I wrote this blog in downtown Quito, and only 8 kilometers away is a large stratovolcano called Ruku Pichincha. It’s really awesome to see and an even better place to go hiking. You have to go to TelefériQo and take the cable car all the way to the top. Highly recommended if you are visiting Quito.
Volcanoes In Ecuador: A Closer Look 👀
Ecuador has a lot of volcanoes, 84 of them to be exact. Of these 84 volcanoes, 27 of them are potentially active which is just wild 🤯. I would love to see one erupt in person as long as it is from a safe distance.
The most recent volcanic eruption was in the Galapagos in March of 2024 where La Cumbre had lava flowing down its sides. And within the last 20 years there was an additional 7 eruptions.
Here Is The Complete List Of Volcanoes On The Mainland & In The Galapagos Islands
Ecuador Mainland Volcanoes
- El Altar
- Antisana
- Atacazo
- Carihuairazo
- Cayambe
- Chakana
- Chiles
- Chimborazo
- Corazón
- Cotacachi
- Cotopaxi
- Cuicocha
- Cusín
- Illiniza
- Imbabura
- Licto
- Mojanda
- Ninahuilca
- Pan de Azucar
- Pasochoa
- Pichincha
- Pilavo
- Pululagua
- Quilindaña
- Quilotoa
- Reventador
- Rumiñawi
- Sangay
- Sincholagua
- Soche
- Sumaco
- Tulabug
- Tungurahua
- Yanaurcu
Galapagos Islands Volcanoes
- Alcedo
- Cerro Azul
- Darwin
- Ecuador
- La Cumbre
- Cerro Pajas
- Galápagos Rift
- Genovesa
- Marchena
- Pinta
- San Cristóbal
- Santa Cruz
- Santiago
- Sierra Negra
- Wolf
Chimborazo
Chimborazo is a stratovolcano and the tallest mountain in all of Ecuador. It reaches a height of 20,702 feet (6,310 meters) and it is located near the city of Riobamba in the Chimborazo Province.
Chimborazo last erupted during the Holocene epoch (11,700 ± 150 years) and is considered inactive. This volcano is now covered in glaciers and is a source of drinking water for the Chimbarazo and Bolivar provinces.
This volcano has 4 main peaks: Whymper, Veintimilla, Politecnica, and Nicolas Martínez.
Cotopaxi
Mount Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano located near the city of Latacunga in the Cotopaxi Province. Cotopaxi is the second highest peak in Ecuador and has an elevation of 19, 347 feet (5,897 meters).
Cotopaxi has erupted close to 90 times which has caused extensive damages and claimed many casualties. A violent eruption in 1768 destroyed the town of Latacunga and in 1877 lava poured down all sides of the volcano fully melting the glaciers sending large mudflows and debris down the mountain. The mudflows traveled over 100 kilometers.
The most recent eruption of Cotopaxi was on August 14, 2015. Two large stream eruptions came from the volcano. It was recorded that more than 2,100 recordings of earthquakes took place that month.
Pichincha
Pichincha is a dual peak active stratovolcano just outside of Quito and it is located in the Pichincha province. The two peaks are Wawa Pichincha and and Ruku Pichincha with elevations of 15, 696 feet and 15, 413 feet.
When you venture up TelefériQo, you will be able to climb the Ruku peak, and Wawa is accessed from the village of Lloa.
The most recent eruption of Pichincha was a steam-blast in March of 2012.
Quilotoa
Quilotoa volcano collapsed 800 years ago and now is a crater lake which sits 11, 483 feet (3,500 meters) above sea level. The lake is 820 feet deep and has a greenish blue colour from all of the dissolved minerals.
Quilota has become a very popular hiking spot with tourists and the total circumference of the caldera is 9.42 kilometers.
Reventador
Reventador (“The Exploder”) is one of the most active stratovolcanoes in Ecuador and has erupted over 25 times.
Volcanoes In Ecuador: FAQ’s
How many volcanoes are in Ecuador?
Ecuador has approximately 84 volcanoes, including 27 potentially active ones. These are spread across the Andes mountains and the Galápagos Islands, with notable ones like Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Sierra Negra.
What is the tallest volcano in Ecuador?
The tallest volcano in Ecuador is Chimborazo, which rises to 6,263 meters (20,548 feet) above sea level. Due to Earth’s equatorial bulge, its summit is also the farthest point from the Earth’s center, even farther than Mount Everest.
Is Quito on a volcano?
Quito is built on the eastern slopes of the inactive Pichincha volcano. While the volcano is classified as active, the city itself lies on older lava flows and remains safe under normal conditions.
What would happen if Cotopaxi volcano erupted?
If Cotopaxi erupted, it could trigger massive lahars—volcanic mudflows—that threaten nearby towns and Quito. Ash clouds would disrupt air travel and agriculture, while lava and pyroclastic flows could damage infrastructure. The eruption could affect over 300,000 people in surrounding regions.
Is Chimborazo taller than Everest?
Mount Everest is taller than Chimborazo when measured from sea level, standing at 8,848.86 meters. However, Chimborazo’s summit is the farthest point from Earth’s center due to the equatorial bulge, placing it over 2,100 meters farther from the core than Everest.