Region
Most climbed route
Highlights
- Chimborazo, a massive, inactive stratovolcano, is Ecuador's highest peak.
- Its last eruption is thought to have occurred some time in the first millennium AD.
- Its summit is generally regarded as the spot on the surface farthest from the center of the Earth, at a distance of 3,967.1 miles.
- Chimborazo is a very popular climb and can be climbed year round with the best seasons being December-January and July-August.
- The easiest (Grade: PD) and most climbed routes are the Normal and the Whymper route.
- Both are western ridge routes starting at the Whymper hut and leading via the Ventemilla summit to the main (Whymper) summit.
- There are several other less used and more challenging routes on the other faces and ridges.
Latest summits
"Ascended the regular route from High Camp, which starts around 5,300m. The route was snow free so scrambling was easy, although very loose in some areas. Crevasses were visible and the few snow bridges we crossed were solid. 4 hours to Veintimilla, and another 30 minutes to Whymper (Chimborazo summit). I asked Chelsea to marry me at sunrise, with Sangay erupting on the horizon! " — ivo • Oct 7, 2023
"Ecuador. Trained two times on the blue line to 5400m. Attempted a summit with the guide Fabian from Andean Adventures, the company that operate the refuges. The weather on the night of the climb was ok, no precipitation, not much wind. Its the first time I climb with gear. We had to go fast after the second refuge because there were people on the ridge above us, risk of falling rocks. Scrambled on rocks on the ridge. We passed some people after it on the glacier. Had a bit of trouble keeping pace, went too fast and too slow at times. When we stopped to drink something I felt my tows were freezing, really aching like someone was hitting them with a hammer! Kept climbing just a bit further but I didnt want to risk losing tows and was really exhausted! Got to Punto Negro 5920m where the red normal ascent route crosses the black technical one. Went first going down, we picked up a german woman from another group. I had to vomit. Took longer orange route down to avoid risk of falling rocks. At a tent camp we saw 2 groups of 3 people who made it to the summit. Slept a couple of hours in the refuge before leaving the mountain that is closest to the sun. Didnt make it to the top but happy ..." — Pieter • Nov 8, 2017
"The ascent was made for people with certain medical situations not very happy. I did so first elevat for the city and county of Arad, this being achieved even my birthday. It was a long climb - 7:00 H bullish just being amazed that two teams dropped out half the route and one was withdrawn even close to the summit." — CODmunte • Jun 27, 2014
"Ascended via the Whymper Route and returned the same way. Easy going steady pull to the top and along the plateau to the summit. Fantastic view of an erupting volcano to the south. Beautiful sunrise and horizon views. Trip of a life time. " — chriskelshall • Mar 4, 2009