The Avenue of the Volcanoes — la Avenida de los Volcanes — is the corridor running south from Quito between Ecuador's two Andean ranges, with a line of high volcanoes on either side. The name is credited to Alexander von Humboldt, who travelled the region at the start of the nineteenth century, and it is still the standard term: Chimborazo's own geographical description places it in the Avenue of the Volcanoes west of the Sanancajas chain. The riding spine is the E35 Panamericana, and what makes it exceptional is density — you can be looking at a 5,897 m active volcano and a 6,263 m glaciated peak on the same day, from a paved road, in a country small enough to cross in an afternoon.
The ride in one paragraph
Quito sits at about 2,850 m (9,350 ft) and is either the highest or the second-highest national capital in the world depending on how Bolivia's capitals are counted. It is also the closest capital city to the equator, which has a direct effect on riders: because of altitude and latitude it receives some of the greatest solar radiation anywhere, with the UV index sometimes reaching 24 at solar noon under clear skies. From Quito the E35 runs south past Cotopaxi — 5,897 m (19,347 ft), Ecuador's second-highest summit, rising from a highland plain of about 3,800 m — through Latacunga and Ambato to Riobamba, which sits about 30 km southeast of Chimborazo. Chimborazo is 6,263 m (20,548 ft), the highest mountain in Ecuador, and its summit is the farthest point on the Earth's surface from the planet's centre because of the equatorial bulge. West of the corridor, side roads climb to the Quilotoa crater lake.
Route at a glance
| Corridor | E35 Panamericana south from Quito through Latacunga, Ambato and Riobamba |
| Quito | About 2,850 m (9,350 ft); closest capital to the equator |
| Cotopaxi | 5,897 m (19,347 ft), active; about 50 km south of Quito and 31 km northeast of Latacunga |
| Chimborazo | 6,263 m (20,548 ft), Ecuador's highest; Riobamba ~30 km southeast, Ambato ~30 km northeast |
| Quilotoa | Crater lake in a 3 km caldera; rim reaches 3,810 to 3,915 m |
| Quito seasons | Dry June to August; wet September to May; annual rainfall over 1,000 mm |
| Quito temperatures | Average afternoon maximum 21.4°C, night minimum 9.8°C, annual average 15.6°C |
Open the Avenue of the Volcanoes in Google Maps — Quito south through Latacunga and Ambato to Riobamba, ready to send to your navigation.
Quito to Latacunga, and Cotopaxi
The E35 south out of Quito is a proper highway — dual carriageway in places, well surfaced, and busy with freight. It is not the interesting part in itself; it is the access road to everything that is. Cotopaxi National Park lies about 50 km south of the capital, and the volcano rises from a plain of roughly 3,800 m with a base about 23 km wide and one of the world's few equatorial glaciers, starting at around 5,000 m. A 4WD track climbs from the park entrance to a car park at about 4,600 m below the José F. Ribas refuge. On a motorcycle that track is loose volcanic sand and gravel in its upper reaches, and the altitude at the top is real.
Cotopaxi is an active volcano and its status is what governs access. It has erupted 87 times on record, with major historical eruptions in 1742, 1744, 1768 and 1877 that repeatedly destroyed Latacunga, and phreatic eruptions in August 2015 that closed the park for a year. A further eruptive episode began on 21 October 2022. As of the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program report dated 4 June 2026, the observatory alert level stood at 1, "no alert or white", on a four-level scale — verified in August 2026. That can change, and when it does the park closes at short notice. Check the current position with Ecuador's Instituto Geofísico before you plan a day inside the park.
Latacunga, 31 km northeast of the volcano, is the practical overnight stop and the junction for the western loop.
The Quilotoa loop
West of Latacunga a road climbs into the western cordillera towards Quilotoa, a water-filled crater lake formed when the volcano collapsed after a major eruption around 1280. The caldera is three kilometres across, the lake is 250 m deep and green from dissolved minerals, and the rim reaches 3,810 m to the north, 3,894 m to the northwest and 3,915 m to the southeast. There is a small entry charge — two US dollars per person, Ecuador having used the US dollar as its currency since 2000.
The loop road that links Latacunga, Sigchos, Chugchilán, Zumbahua and Quilotoa is the best riding in this part of the country. It is narrow, high, frequently in cloud, and the surface alternates between good asphalt and rough patched sections. Zumbahua sits 17 km south of Quilotoa and is the usual approach from the main road. This is high páramo, so expect cold, wind and rapidly changing visibility even when Latacunga is warm.
Ambato, Riobamba and Chimborazo
South of Latacunga the corridor continues through Ambato to Riobamba, the base for Chimborazo. The mountain is surrounded by the Reserva de Producción Faunística Chimborazo, a protected area for the Andean camelids — vicuña, llama and alpaca — and the road that crosses the reserve between Riobamba, Ambato and Guaranda is one of the most striking rides in Ecuador: open, treeless, high, and with the mountain filling the view. The Carrel Hut at 4,850 m can be reached by vehicle from Riobamba, Ambato or Guaranda, which means you can ride to nearly 4,900 m on this mountain. Under clear conditions the summit is visible from Guayaquil, nearly 140 km away.
The reserve road is where the equatorial paradox becomes obvious. You are almost exactly on the equator, and you are cold. Vicuña graze beside the road, cloud arrives in minutes, and the wind at that altitude cuts through kit that felt like too much in Quito.
Altitude, season, fuel and paperwork
Altitude. Quito at 2,850 m is already high enough that flying in and riding straight out is a poor idea, and the routes in this guide take you to 3,900 m at Quilotoa and towards 4,900 m on Chimborazo. Give yourself two nights in Quito before going higher, ascend gradually, drink far more water than thirst suggests, and treat headache, nausea, breathlessness at rest, poor sleep or clumsiness as reasons to descend rather than continue. On a motorcycle the specific danger is that judgement degrades before you notice it. Engine performance drops noticeably above 4,000 m, so plan overtakes accordingly.
Sun. This is the one destination where the UV warning is not boilerplate. Quito's combination of altitude and equatorial position produces some of the highest solar radiation on Earth, with the index reaching 24 at solar noon under clear skies. Cover exposed skin, and expect the back of your neck and hands to burn on a cloudy day.
Season. Ecuador is on the equator, so there is no summer and winter — only dry and wet. Quito has a dry season from June through August, locally called summer, and a wet season from September through May, locally called winter, with annual rainfall over 1,000 mm depending on location. Temperatures barely move: an average afternoon maximum of 21.4°C, an average night minimum of 9.8°C, and an annual average of 15.6°C. For riding, June to August is the more reliable window, and the páramo roads are the ones most affected by wet-season rain and fog. Verified in August 2026. Landslides on mountain roads after heavy rain are routine here, so check specific routes locally on the day.
Fuel. Ecuador is comfortable on fuel by South American standards — the corridor is short, the towns are close together and stations are frequent along the E35. The lower-grade fuel sold at rural stations is a genuine consideration for a modern high-compression engine, so fill with the higher grade in Quito, Latacunga, Ambato or Riobamba rather than at a small station on the Quilotoa loop. Prices are in US dollars, which simplifies things. On the western loop and the Chimborazo reserve road, plan the full circuit on one tank.
Paperwork. Carry your passport, home licence with an International Driving Permit, the vehicle registration or title, the temporary import permit from your entry, and insurance valid in Ecuador. Checkpoints on the Panamericana are routine. Hired bikes need written authorisation from the rental company for any border crossing, which matters if you are continuing to Peru or north to Colombia.
Gear notes for the Avenue of the Volcanoes
Two things define the practical problem here: cloud and altitude change. The páramo roads sit in cloud for hours at a time, so having the loop stored in advance for offline route planning matters more than usual — you will not be searching for a diversion on a screen at 3,900 m in fog. A dedicated riding system display stays legible in that drizzle in a way a phone does not, and our comparison of screens versus phone mounts is worth reading before you rely on a handset on rough páramo tracks. Riding from 2,500 m to nearly 4,900 m and back in a day moves tyre pressure and temperature more than most touring does; our tyre pressure guide covers the mechanism and a TPMS sensor reports it live rather than at the next stop. Volcanic grit on the park tracks is hard on drivetrains, which is why our chain maintenance guide is the one to re-read after a Cotopaxi day. Long days away from power make a bi-directional fast charger useful. Heading north, our Colombian coffee triangle guide covers the next country; south, the Peruvian Andes guide picks up at Cusco. The best motorcycle roads in South America page covers the continent.
FAQ
What is the Avenue of the Volcanoes?
The corridor running south from Quito between Ecuador's two Andean ranges, flanked by high volcanoes on both sides. The name is credited to Alexander von Humboldt from his travels at the start of the nineteenth century, and it is still used in formal geographical descriptions — Chimborazo is described as lying within it.
Can you ride into Cotopaxi National Park?
Yes when the park is open, and a 4WD track climbs to a car park at about 4,600 m. Access depends on volcanic alert status: the park closed for a year after the 2015 eruptions and a further eruptive episode began in October 2022. As of the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program report of 4 June 2026 the alert level was 1, no alert. Check Ecuador's Instituto Geofísico before you go.
How high can you ride on Chimborazo?
The Carrel Hut at 4,850 m can be reached by vehicle from Riobamba, Ambato or Guaranda, so around 4,900 m is achievable on the mountain. Chimborazo's summit is 6,263 m and is the farthest point on the Earth's surface from the planet's centre.
When is the best time to ride in Ecuador's highlands?
June to August, Quito's dry season. The wet season runs September to May with annual rainfall over 1,000 mm. Temperatures barely change through the year — Quito averages an afternoon maximum of 21.4°C and a night minimum of 9.8°C — so season affects rain and visibility, not warmth.
Is the sun really a problem on the equator at altitude?
Yes. Quito's combination of altitude and equatorial position produces some of the greatest solar radiation in the world, with the UV index sometimes reaching 24 at solar noon under clear skies. Cover exposed skin even on cool or cloudy days.
