The volcanic mountain summits of Ecuador provide easy access to high-altitude climbing with their peaks reaching over 20.697 ft. (6.310m). Ecuador's glacier-covered mountains straddle the equatorial zone of the planet providing relatively warm mountaineering environments and a variety of technical climbing challenges. The Andes is the world's second highest mountain range, spanning from Colombia to the tip of Patagonia in southern Chile. For a small country, Ecuador is very well endowed with major peaks, with 25 over fifteen thousand feet, many within a days drive from Quito. Most of the big volcanos are to be found in the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' with the Eastern and Western Cordilleras running either side of the high central valleys. The classic snow capped cone shaped volcanoes are much in evidence, for example Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cayambe and Tungurahua. A number are active, with Cotopaxi being alledgedly the world's highest active volcano -check the status locally before you climb. Chimborazo, although by no means the tallest peak in South America, does have the distinction of being the closest place on earth to the sun, due to the earth's bulge at the equator (the Climbing Volcanoes Expeditions Mountain Climbing in Ecuador Pioneer Journeysearth's shape is that of an oblate spheroid). For the more experienced climbers there are other more complex peaks that give a greater challenge, including Antisana, El Altar and Iliniza Sur, and in the east, away from the Cordilleras there are three peaks, Reventador, Sumaco and Sangay, that give a very different experience, being set in dense jungle. There are numerous non glaciated lower peaks that can be used to aclimatise - Pichincha and Imbabura for example. They look straightforward, but they are nonetheless not just an afternoon stroll -take advice first -there are a number of very good websites listed below. Be careful of robbers on the slopes of Pichincha. There are climbing huts at Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cayambe, Ilinizas, and Tungurahua (however due to volcanic activity Tungurahua is no longer safe to climb).