Sorry Everest.

It is no secret that Ecuador's Galapagos National Park is a must visit for wildlife lovers. Less known but of great interest is the Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon. What of the Ecuadorian Andes then? Are they worth combining on a visit to the Ecuadorian Amazon and/or Galapagos?

The answer is a resounding yes, and not because Chimborazo Volcano is the highest point on planet Earth.  Unknown to most, the summit of Chimborazo puts you more than 2,000 meters closer to the sky than Mount Everest. Of course, few consider the fact that the Earth is not a perfect sphere but has a bulge at the equator meaning that measuring a mountain from sea level is one thing, but from the center of the earth another.  

Of the 84 volcanoes in Ecuador, 27 of which are active, two stand out. Volcán Chimborazo for its soaring height and massive shoulders and Volcán Cotopaxi for its dreamlike shape that challenges Mount Fuji in Japan for the ideal of what a snowcapped volcano should look like.  

Both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo are a must for adventure travellers. One can no doubt appreciate their beauty from the comfort of a vehicle, a view well worthwhile, but for hikers and mountain bikers the thrill is multiplied. 

On a recent trip I revisited these two gorgeous volcanoes for mountain biking around the base of Cotopaxi at an elevation of 3,800m above sea level through lovely páramo covered in a rainbow of wildflowers, visiting the source of the Pita River and a former Inca post office. Then I travelled further south to Chimborazo for hiking to just above 5,000m above sea level in an attempt to kiss the sky. 

Weather is always variable on these great volcanoes, and my visit was no exception. At Cotopaxi we encountered sun, rain and clouds joining our bike ride around its base. At Chimborazo, we confronted gale force winds that ripped up pellets of ice off its glacier, reminding us of the strength of mother nature and not to underestimate her. 

Weather is just the framework for these once-in-a-lifetime thrills. The landscapes are dramatic; the air thin. Enjoying these two volcanoes that pierce the sky, just below the equator and the heavens, in any set of conditions, is an unforgettable joy. 

If one only considers any one attraction in Ecuador there remains no doubt that a visit is worthwhile. Whether it be the mind-blowing wildlife experiences of Yasuni or Galapagos, or the classic Spanish colonial architecture of Quito and Cuenca or the beautiful indigenous cultures of both the Amazon and Andes; Ecuador is a magnet for life enriching experiences. However, putting its gorgeous volcanoes in the sky into the equation, one must conclude that Ecuador cannot be missed.