Reventador
El Reventador is a volcano with a bad temper. The name translates to "the Exploded" and for good reason as it regularly spews and fumes, causing much unease with local inhabitants. Its most recent eruption was in 2010 but the largest recorded eruption occurred in 2002, during which the plume from the stratovolcano reached a height of 17Km and pyroclastic flows could be observed at the slopes.
Although, it has since mellowed, fumaroles activity can still often be observed in the crater. Despite El Reventador’s relative dormancy, it remains a spectacular beast to be admired, as it’s 3485m symmetrical cone bursts out of the cloud forest with solid determination. The volcano’s main peak lies inside a U-shaped caldera which is open towards the Amazon rainforest to the east.
However, due to its location, it is prone to bad weather. Levels of rainfall reaching 5500mm per year have been recorded. Until recently, the combination of unfriendly weather and permanent volcanic activity has kept explorers at bay. Nowadays, intrepid explorers attempt El Reventador regularly, but not without difficulties: Rest assured that if you are looking for a challenging mountain to climb, this active volcano won’t disappoint you.
Your trip begins as you travel 100 km from Quito on the winding highway to Lago Agrio. When you reach the base of the volcano you do your packs and camp near San Rafael Waterfall, your rest place for the first night. Your next day begins at dawn. As you climb upward the vegetation remains dense and at times almost impenetrable; when necessary you will forge your way with machetes. You will also follow rivers and cross the Odalisque lava fields, screed and mudflows left behind by El Reventador cantankerous temper. If it is a clear day when you reach the summit you will be bedazzled by shockingly extravagant vistas: the great expanse of the Amazon basin, huge vegetated cliffs, gorges and waterfalls. Because of the difficulty of the terrain, we cannot use mules to carry baggage and groups cannot consist of more than 8 people. All participants must be in excellent physical condition.
