The Illiniza twin peaks of rock, ice and snow were once upon-a-time one massive volcano that shared the Páramo with neighbouring and still-intact Cotopaxi. Then one day a great magma explosion split the beast’s breast in two, creating the Illiniza sisters: North and South. The North Peak is the only 5000+ peak of Ecuador that has been climbed by Ecuadorian climbers first: Nicolas Martinez and Alejandro Villavicencio reached its summit in March 1912.
The Illinizas lay in the 1500/sq/km nature reserve “Reserva Ecologica Los Illinizas” in the western Cordillera of the Andes. Here you can enjoy an interesting non-technical climb that brings you over 5000m altitude – amazing views included!
