Antisana Volcano,The Guides Favorite Ecuador's Mountain to climb (5704 m)

This active volcano is the 4th highest peak in Ecuador. It is situated closer than any other glacier to the Amazon basin. Therefore it has richer flora and fauna than any other mountain in the Andes. The landscape is amazing with raw wilderness and several lagoons. The Andean Condor is well known in this area and you have a much better chance of seeing this legendary bird here than anywhere else in Ecuador. To reach Antisana Ecological reserve you must have special permission, which we can get.

 

 

Chusa Longo the mythological name of this volcano is very rarely visited or climbed. This is perhaps because it is harder to reach and climb than the famous Cotopaxi. The fact that it is also "just" the 4th highest, Probably does not help this fantastic mountain to gain reputation with climbers. Because it is rarely climbed and due to the movement of the glacier, there are only around ten professional certified Aseguim guides who we feel are sufficiently competent to guide safely up this glacier; during high-season four of them work with us full time.

We want our climbers to seriously consider Chusa Longo, and hope that we can give climbers a perspective of the Ecuadorian Andes that is rarely seen. When climbing this mountain it will normally be just you and your guides against the natural forces to reach the summit.

Edward Whimper and the Carrel brothers first climbed Antisana, they did so a couple of months after they made the first ascent of the mighty Chimborazo in 1880.