
Driving the road to Corazon Volcano is not a piece of cake
Ecuador, south-america
30 km
4,306 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in the Pichincha province of Ecuador, just southwest of Quito, lies Volcan Corazon, an old, snoozing volcano begging to be explored. Forget paved paradise, because you're gonna tackle a gnarly gravel road that winds its way up, up, up to a breathtaking 4,306 meters (that's a staggering 14,127 feet!). Seriously, this is one of Ecuador's highest roads!
Forget your fancy sports car; you'll need a 4x4 with some serious clearance for this slow-and-steady climb through the western Andes. Keep an eye on the sky, because those Andean weather patterns are wild! The rainy season often transforms the landscape into a snowy wonderland, but be prepared for anything – and pack warm clothes! Your starting point? The charming town of Machachi. Get ready for views that'll steal your breath (and maybe test your car's limits)!
Where is it?
Driving the road to Corazon Volcano is not a piece of cake is located in Ecuador (south-america). Coordinates: -1.4691, -78.4484
Road Details
- Country
- Ecuador
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,306 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -1.4691, -78.4484
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