Tungurahua Volcano

At just over 5,000 meters (16,500ft), this volcano in Ecuador is not necessarily the tallest one, but it is definitely one of the most active. A massive eruption in 2018 lasted for weeks and completely changed the mountain. Before the eruption, the summit was covered by glaciers, but the volcanic activity melted them away entirely, turning it into a relatively straightforward non-technical climb.

That said, it is still a very strenuous mountain. From the bottom, it involves more than 2,500 meters (8,200ft) of elevation gain, and the final section is steep, loose, and slippery, with the occasional rockfall coming down from above.

I climbed Tungurahua at the end of my Ecuador trip in November 2025, and honestly, it became one of my favorite peaks I’ve ever done. I had the entire mountain to myself, and the views from the summit were absolutely stunning.

Looking down into the crater and seeing steam rising from cracks near the summit constantly reminded me that this is still a very active volcano. In some places, the ground was even warm to the touch from the volcanic activity below.