Riding Ecuador's Avenue of Volcanoes

But if you come to Ecuador with SpiceRoads this is exactly what happens! Stretching from the capital Quito to the edge of the Amazon basin, the “Avenue of Volcanoes” is a high-altitude world of giant cones, wind-swept ridges, sheer canyons, green valleys, and indigenous villages. This is a bucket list mountain bike tour designed for those who want to go remote without sacrificing comfort in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes.

We begin in Quito with an acclimatisation ride on a traffic-free Sunday to discover Latin America’s best-preserved Spanish colonial old town. Then it’s into the great outdoors for six back-to-back riding days on a mix of dirt, gravel, singletrack, and rural roads. Early highlights include the mighty Cotopaxi Volcano, lush Andean patchwork farms clinging to the mountainsides, and the sacred crater lake of Quilotoa. We then unwind in the colourful highland town of Salinas de Guaranda before an epic descent from Chimborazo Volcano, the closest point on the planet to the sun. A final transition leads into the subtropical cloud forests surrounding Baños, the “Gateway to the Amazon”, before returning to Quito for a final night.

The route is designed with an approximate 25/75 split between paved and unpaved surfaces. The condition of the unpaved sections varies widely, ranging from hard-packed and level to loose, bumpy terrain; meanwhile, paved roads are either tarmac or concrete and, though often smooth, can contain potholes and debris. Although much of the journey follows quiet countryside roads or dirt tracks with minimal traffic, we will occasionally share the space with cars, motorbikes and buses. There are a handful of unavoidable sections along provincial main roads, though these are few and far between. Rain is common in the Ecuadorian Andes year-round and the Avenue of Volcanoes, in particular, can be prone to fog, but heavy downpours are usually brief. We generally ride rain or shine, though at the guide’s discretion — or based on your own comfort level — modifications to the route can be made. Whether the roads are muddy from rain or dusty from the sun, it is all part of the Andean adventure!

Join us and ride Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes!