Avenue of Volcanoes
Some of the most dramatic mountain scenery and rolling paramo in Ecuador runs south of Quito along the Pan-American Highway. Aptly coined the 'Avenue of Volcanoes' by German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in 1802, this parallel chain of Andean peaks stretches north to south some 200 miles between the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central ranges. Comprising some of the tallest volcano peaks in the world, and many still smouldering, the imposing snow-capped peaks of Illiniza Norte and Illiniza Sur, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Tungurahua host a variety of climbing, trekking and horse riding opportunities.
The Avenue of Volcanoes is shrouded in folklore and for centuries marked an ancient trade route for many indigenous cultures including the Quichua who would trudge their fare through the valley to market. The patchwork of intensely cultivated fields are freckled with many rural villages, and a number of beautifully restored colonial haciendas that throw their doors open to guests with traditional Ecuadorian hospitality and rustic-style comforts.