From Guayaquil, when the sky is clear, one can see the majestic Chimborazo, the highest mountain in the country, with its 6,310 m of altitude is the King of the Ecuadorian Andes.

The Reserve of Chimborazo was created in October of 1987 to protect the extensive moors, the flora and the fauna of the region, and of the latter, mainly the llamas -a domesticated South American camel of pointed ears - that is in serious danger of extinction.

Whoever arrives to the lands of the Chimborazo will realize that the abrupt land and the low temperatures are no obstacle contemplating the pervading solitude of the moor or the noble stamp of the snowy volcanos and their dormant fury.

In the center of the Reserve, the Chimborazo and its neighbor the Carihuairazo -that at some time overcame it in highness- stand out. The thaw of these elevations forms creeks that supply water to the sub-basins of the Ambato, Chambo and Chimbo Rivers.

These are the places to visit:

Chimborazo,major attraction for the visitor. It is a gigantic volcanic rock covered with ice. The crater, although it sounds incredible, has a diameter of 20 km. It is calculated that its last eruption took place ten thousand years ago.

The ascent to the Chimborazo is not simple and it presents certain degree of difficulty for the andinistas that yearn to crown its snow-caped summit. The first refuge in this "fight against the mountain" is at 4800 ms altitude. A little above -at 5,000 m - a second housing is located, where those "adventurers" can recover forces and spend the night.
The more difficult side to climb it is the Oriental summit, called Nicols, Politcnica or Central.

History tells that Simon Bolivar -In a stop in his fight for freedom- saw the volcano, and being fascinated by its rural beauty wrote his notable rehearsal, "My delirium on the Chimborazo", document that made the world know this place in Ecuador. At the exit of one of the refuges a monument has been erected in memory of the Liberator.

Some "andinistas" that challenged the nature of the Chimborazo have been buried by the snow and the ice. Excursionists from the four corners of the world have left their remains here. Today one can see their tombstones, hear their useless admonition, and keep a respectful silent in their memory.

Apart from andinismo, the area is perfect for the practice of mountain cycling. The most taken route is the one that begins in the refuge and concludes at the Urbina and San Juan Towns.

Due to the irregular weather and the thick fog, the strolls of middle mountain should be carried out in company of a qualified guide. The visit to the Machay Temple is traditional, it is there that natives used to pray to the mountain.

Carihuairazo, volcano of smaller altitude (4900 m) has an enormous boiler of two km of diameter, covered with snow and ice. In 1873, the siblings Carrel and Whymper, were the first ones to crown this mountain. The splendid glaciers of Carihuairazo and Chimborazo can be seen in the walk Mocha-Mechahuasca that lasts two days if walking between 8 and 10 hours daily. These blocks of ice, used to be cut for the preparation of "paila ice creams."

La Chorrera,canyon formed by big vertical rocks of dangerous edges that has up to 100 m high. It exhibits a unique landscape where the river of the same name is born.

Flora and fauna

Although the reserve is formed by moors, in its lands romerillo, mortio and chuquiraguas (the flower of the andinista) bushes also grow; there are also quishuares, pumamaquis, piquilles and other species native to the Andes.

Animals that live in the reserve are typical species of the moors: deer, wolves and rabbits and vicuas, alpacas and llamas, the latter ones have in danger of extinction for several years, for which reason there have been carried out several projects for their protection and conservation.
The Fauna Reserve is also visited by indefatigable walkers, for whom there are cross country and middle mountain routes already prepared. Every visitor who goes into the Reserve, accompanied by the guide, will be amazed by the unique beauty of the mountains and the moors.