El Altar Hiking: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

The route to El Altar’s main attraction, the Yellow Lagoon, is at a height ranging from 3500 to 4300 meters. For this reason, you should acclimatize for at least one or two days in the city of Riobamba.

Capac Urcu Hut

After about 6 and 8 hours of hiking you will find this mountain hut, with good infrastructure and comfort. It is recommended that you check availability beforehand. The refuge offers several services such as mules, cooking and meals.

Yellow Lagoon

Legend has it that El Altar was higher than Chimborazo and that after its last eruption in 1490, its crater became a yellow lagoon. This lagoon is at 4300 meters and is one of the biggest rewards after a hard ascent.

Sangay National Park

The volcano is protected by this national park that is a World Heritage Site. It has more than 300 lagoons, two volcanoes in addition to El Altar and many forests where a great diversity of species survives without threats.

First, you must reach the city of Riobamba and from there, take a bus to the "La Candelaria". It is the only public transport that makes the journey to the beginning of the trail, which lasts 1:30 hours.

The best months are those that correspond to the dry season, which runs from June to November.