The Guagua Pichincha & Rucu Pichincha Volcanoes, are located just 4 km to Quito Center, but a hard mountain range ahead separes the city and the Guagua Pichincha volcano, read more about Quito and Guagua Pichincha Volcano history & climb the Guagua Pichincha Volcano.

Location:
Pichincha

Guagua Pichincha Volcano (4784 meters)

The Guagua Pichincha Volcano is situated 9 km west from Quito and its part of the Pichincha volcanic massif that the Guagua and Rucu Pichincha form it. Guagua is an indigeneous word that means "baby" and it is an historic mountain because in its skirts Quito's independence was sealed definitely.

The Guagua Pichincha is a composite or stratovolcano with a horseshoe-shaped summit crater, with 1.5 km in diameter and 600 meters deep. The crater has almost vertical walls and it forms a small cone of 400 meters of diameter with numerous fumaroles and very hot springs.The volcano has no permanent ice cap. The last eruption was on October 7 of 1999.

One of the main attraction of the Guagua Pichincha is to climb up to its summit. To get to the summit it will take around 4 hours and it will require going with a local guide. About 20 minutes from the summit there is a small refuge that offers lodging and water.

How to reach Guagua Pichincha Volcano?

The fastest way is to go by car taking the road that goes to Lloa, from there you take a small dirt road that goes directly up to the summit of the Guagua Pichincha Volcano, it is recommendable to go in a car with 4x4 wheel traction. Another way is to walk La Libertad neighborhood going through Cruz Loma or the Antenas, in this case you will need 1 day to get to the summit and another day to get back to Quito.

Rucu Pichincha Volcano (4698 meters)

Rucu in the indigenous language of Quichua means "old" and it is10 km west from Quito. It is an inactive volcano located in the occidental mountain range of the Andes, it has many small peaks made of sharp-pointed rocks.

The view of Quito from the Rucu Pichincha is breathtaking. And also you can see the other peaks of the Pichincha like Guagua Pichincha, Padre Encantado and Condor Guachaman.

Climbing to the Rucu Pichincha is not so difficult and it will take around 5 hours to get near the summit.

How to reach Rucu Pichincha Volcano?

The easiest way to get to the Rucu is to take the Teleferico up to Cruz Loma and from there it will take around 2 to 3 hours to get to the Rucu Pichincha.

Another way is to climb the Antenas from Occidental Avenue at "Urbanizacion Mutualista Pichincha" it will take around 6 hours to get to the Rucu.

Antenas or Condor Guachana (4 050 meters)

The Antenas is a small mountain located 5.2 km from Quito. In this mountain there are placed every antennas of the TV and radio stations of Quito. It's a great route for trekking and for mountain biking. Its summit is reached in 3 hours.

For more information about the volcanic activity of the Guagua Pichincha visit the following website:

www.igepn.edu.ec