The Highlands

Sixty million years ago, volcanic eruptions from the Earth’s core led to the formation of the Andes mountain range. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Riobamba region of Ecuador, where 8 active volcanoes, stretched across approximately 300 kilometers, from the Avenue of the Volcanoes can be observed. Of these, the Cotopaxi volcano, a 19,347-foot cone shaped giant is considered the 3rd most important active volcano in the world according to the NASA sponsored Clirsen and volcano research project.

Step into one of the unique microclimates formed by the mountain ranges and you will find yourself in a subtropical Valley. These valleys, along with the paramo region, contain many unique plant and animal species. Some of the most typical plants, such as the Chuquiragua or Flower of the Andes and the Pumamaqui, a native tree that can be found only in the Andean mountain region. Alpacas, Llamas and Vicuñas all members of the camel family are highly valued for their wool, can be seen wandering across the Plains of the paramo. High above fly 15 different rare varieties of Condors, many visible only in this area of the world.