An exploration of the Avenue of the Volcanoes may include side jaunts to crater lakes, indigenous villages, and picturesque colonial towns perched atop rolling hills of the Andes. Journeying across the expanse means moving from dense forests to steep slopes and agricultural fields dotted with Inca ruins, traditional haciendas, and local markets. With each turn, the landscape changes dramatically, and adventures abound, including horseback riding, biking, and hiking.
Most tours leave from Quito and are two-day excursions, which is the minimum time needed. On the first day, hike Cotopaxi National Park up to the refuge and mountain bike your way back down. Before hunkering down at a sumptuous hacienda, journey to a beautiful lagoon at the base of the volcano. On the second day, visit the Saquisili or Pujili market before making the trek to Laguna Quilotoa, an astonishing emerald-hued crater lagoon.
Avenue of the Volcanoes begins at the southern limit of Quito, in Cotopaxi National Park and ends in the city of Cuenca. The best way to explore the route is by train or car. With a car, you can follow Panamericana Sur from Quito. There are also local buses that connect Quito and Cuenca and make several stops along the way.
Avenue of Volcanoes is a destination that can be visited anytime throughout the year. Although temperatures are consistently springlike year-round, the humidity is lower between September and November. Peak season in Quito runs from June to September, which coincides with the Ecuadorian dry season.
For part of your journey, take the bright red 100-year-old train along one of the most scenic routes in the world. Known as the Nose of the Devil (La Nariz del Diablo), the railway is an incredible engineering feat that begins in the town of Alausí and ends in Sibambe. The thrilling adventure makes a 45-degree descent along the ledge of the Condor Puñuña mountain, sharply zigzagging through mountains, over rivers, ravines, and through cloud forests.