All 105 Ecuador Volcanoes: Active, Mainland, Galapagos (Charts/Map)

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How many volcanoes are in Ecuador? You would think that would be a pretty straightforward question. But as I was doing my research I found that the answers were very different depending on which website I was looking at. The statistics provided in this article are from the Geophysical Institute (Spanish site) in Ecuador. They are the official authorities on Ecuador volcanoes.

There are 105 volcanoes in Ecuador. 84 volcanoes are on continental (mainland) Ecuador. There are an additional 21 volcanoes in the Galapagos Islands Archipeligo. These numbers were current at the time of writing. And this post will be updated if/when these numbers increase.

The number of volcanoes may continue to grow. This is because of more exploration in the country. What looks like a mountain may turn out to be an extinct volcano. For example, 5 new volcanoes were discovered in 2009 (BBC news article in Spanish).

Ecuador Volcano Guide

In this article, we will cover the full list of all 105 volcanoes, including their name, altitude, and the date of their most recent eruption.

We’ll also discuss some common questions about volcanoes in Ecuador.

Time Epochs

Before you delve into the tables below, let’s quickly talk about time periods. Volcanoes were formed during different epochs of time.

Those from the Holocene period are the youngest, and most likely to be active.

However, some of the volcanoes from earlier time epochs may also still be active.

• Holocene: 11,700 years ago to the present day
• Pleistocene: 2.5 million to 11,700 years ago
• Pliocene: 5.3 to 2.5 million years ago
• Miocene: 23 to 5.3 million years ago

Active vs Dormant vs Extinct

We should also talk about the 3 different volcano statuses. These definitions vary depending on who you ask, as there is no real consensus among volcano experts.

• Active: An active volcano may be in the process of erupting, or show other signs of unrest (such as degassing or seismic activity). Some experts include dormant volcanoes in this category.
• Dormant: Not currently erupting (or showing other signs of unrest), but is likely to erupt at some point in the future. Some claim that for a volcano to be dormant, it must be inactive for at least 10,000 years. But for the purpose of this article, we’re saying a volcano is dormant if it is not currently active.
• Extinct: Unlikey to erupt again as the volcano no longer has an active magma supply. Some volcanoes that are thought to be extinct may actuay be dormant.

84 Volcanoes on Mainland Ecuador

Here are the names, altitude, status, and last eruption date for the 84 volcanoes on mainland Ecuador.

Below the chart, is a map showing the location of each of these volcanoes.

Map of Every Ecuador Volcano

Here’s a map of all 84 registered volcanoes on continental Ecuador from the Instituto Geofisico.

• Blue: Extinct or dormant volcanoes that last erupted more than 10,000 years ago.
• Yellow: Potentially active volcanoes that last erupted less than 10,000 years ago.
• Orange: Active volcano that last erupted less than 500 years ago.
• Red: Currently erupting (this map was created in 2011)
• Black: Main cities.

21 Galapagos Volcanoes

There are 21 emergent volcanoes in the Galapagos Islands. These are volcanoes that stick out above the surface of the water.

Here is the complete list of all Galapagos Islands volcanoes. It includes altitude, status, and last known eruption date.

6 Common Questions About Volcanoes in Ecuador

1. How many volcanoes are in Ecuador?

There are 105 volcanoes in Ecuador. 84 are on the mainland, and 21 make up the Galapagos Islands.

The ones on the mainland belong to the Nothern Volcanic Zone of the Andes Mountains.

2. How many active volcanoes in Ecuador?

There are seven active volcanos in Ecuador, four on mainland Ecuador (Sangay, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, Reventador) and three in the Galapagos Islands (La Cumbre, Sierra Negra, Wolf). These eight volcanoes have erupted in the past 10 years.

As stated earlier, some experts will only classify a volcano as being active if it is currently in some state of eruption or volcanic unrest.

Others include all dormant volcanoes in this category, as they are potentially active.

We’ll break it down into a few categories.

• Erupted in the last 500 years: 12 on mainland Ecuador, 8 in Galapagos (includes those that erupted in the last 100 and 10 years)
• Erupted in the last 100 years: 8 on mainland Ecuador, 7 in Galapagos (includes those that erupted in last 10 years)
• Erupted in the last 10 years: 4 on mainland Ecuador, 3 in Galapagos

3. What is Avenue of the Volcanoes?

Running north-south along the Andes mountains, you’ll find Avenida de los Volcanes. In English, this means Volcano Avenue (or Avenue of the Volcanoes).

It was named by Alexander von Humbolt, a Prussian naturalist, and geologist in 1802.

How long is Avenida de los Volcanes? This scenic route runs approximately 236 miles (380 km) by car. Cayambe Volcano is just 143 miles (230 km) from Sangay Volcano.

Along Avenida de los Volcanes, you’ll find nine principal volcanos.

1. Cayambe
2. Antisana
3. Los Illinizas
4. Cotopaxi
5. Quilotoa
6. Tungurahua
7. Chimborazo
8. Altar
9. Sangay

4. What is the highest volcano in Ecuador?

The highest volcano (and mountain) in Ecuador is Chimborazo. It is 20,564 feet (6268 meters) tall. The top of Chimborazo is completely covered in glaciers.

Chimborazo is categorized as a stratovolcano. It has not erupted in the last 1300-1600 years.

5. Which volcanoes are near Quito?

As shown in the map above, Quito is surrounded by eight volcanoes in relatively close proximity.

The measurements below are from the center of Quito to the summit of the volcano, not from the edge of the city to the edge of the volcano.

So while Quito actually borders the base of Rucu Pichincha, it is second on our list as the summit is slightly further than the summit of Ilaló.

• Ilaló (Extinct) 6.3 miles, 10.1 kilometers, Southeast
• Rucu Pichincha (Extinct) 6.8 miles, 11 kilometers, West
• Guagua Pichincha (Potentially Active) 10.3 miles, 16.5 kilometers, West
• Casitagua (Extinct) 10.5 miles, 17 kilometers, North
• Coturco (Extinct) 12.4 miles, 20 kilometers, East
• Carcacha (Extinct) 13.2 miles, 21.3 kilometers, Southwest
• Atacazo-Ninahuilca (Potentially Active) 15.8 miles, 25.4 kilometers, Southwest
• Pasochoa (Extinct) 17.8 miles, 28.6 kilometers, South

Take the cable car for the best view above Quito.

6. Can I hike up a volcano in Ecuador?

You absolutely can climb up a volcano in Ecuador, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The first should be a given, do not climb up a volcano that is actively erupting!

Another thing to keep in mind is what sort of hike you would like to do.

Snow Line: The snow-line in the Andes in Ecuador begins between 15,748 and 16,404 feet (4,800 and 5,000 meters). Anything above that is covered with snow and glaciers and will require specialized equipment.

Even Chimborazo, the tallest volcano in Ecuador can be climbed. But at that point, it is less hiking and more mountaineering. There are 2 huts along the climb. The climb is not without risks, as in 1993 10 climbers perished in an avalanche.

The hike to the summit of Quilotoa volcano has been labeled as the most popular trek in all of Ecuador, and for good reason. In the crater of this dormant volcano is a beautiful turquoise lagoon.

From Quilotoa town, the hike around the rim of the crater is around 4.7 miles (7.5 kilometers). It should be noted that due to the acidity of the water, and cooler mountain temperatures, swimming is not recommended.

Lots of the other volcanoes can be hiked as well. And don’t forget to explore the Galapagos Islands, as all the land there was created by volcanic activity.

Here is Bryan and Dena’s experience hiking Sierra Negra.

More reading: Summiting Antisana Volcano in Ecuador: What to Expect

Your Turn:

Did you learn something new about the volcanoes in Ecuador? Have you ever had the opportunity to hike up a volcano in Ecuador? Which one was it? Please share your experience in the comments below.