Volcano
Tungurahua
Volcano
Tungurahua
is
a
beautiful
active
volcano,
whose
topography
indicates
that
its
geological
formation
is
yet
to
be
completed.
There
are
two
possible
routes
of
access
to
the
volcano.
The
first
route
originates
in
Pondoa
near
Banos
from
where
it
takes
around
four
hours
to
reach
the
volcano’s
refuge,
situated
on
its
northern
slopes.
The
other
access
route,
more
demanding
than
the
first,
originates
in
Puela
from
the
Banos-Riobamba
highway.
El
Valle
de
Collanes
(The
Valley
of
Collanes)
Altar
is
a
snow-capped
mountain
housing
a
lake
in
its
crater.
This
has
earned
it
the
Quichua
nickname
of
Cupac
Urcu,
meaning
‘sublime
mountain’.
The
first
Spanish
to
arrive
in
the
area
named
the
mountain
el
Altar
due
to
its
majesty.
They
also
named
each
one
of
its
peaks,
from
north
to
south
El
Canonigo,
Los
Frailes,
El
Tabernaculo,
La
Monja
Menor
,
La
Monja
Mayor
,
El
Obispo
and
El
Acolito.
Lagunas
de
El
Altar
(El
Altar
Lakes)
This
beautiful
paramo
landscape,
which
houses
a
series
of
lakes,
is
definitely
worth
visiting.
Access
is
possible
from
Cubijies
(from
the
Riobamba-Banos
highway).
From
there
a
five-hour
walk
from
the
Inguisay
country
house
passes
hacienda
Puelazo
finally
reaching
the
lakes.
La
Laguna
Negra
and
las
Aguas
Termales
de
El
Placer
(
Black
Lake
and
El
Placer
Hot
Springs)
Access
is
possible
from
Alao
going
towards
Cugnipaccha
where
there
is
a
pathway
which
takes
around
two
hours
to
arrive
at
Laguna
Negra
and
three
hours
to
El
Placer.
The
route
principally
runs
through
paramo
and
typical
Andean
landscape.
In
both
Laguna
Negra
and
El
Placer
tourist
infrastructure
is
minimal
–
thermal
pools
are
somewhat
rustic
and
the
refuge
is
basic.
Volcano
Sangay
It’s
quite
difficult
to
reach
the
outskirts
of
the
volcano,
even
more
so
to
reach
its
crater.
Climbers
frequently
recount
stories
of
the
dangers
of
ascending
the
volcano
and
the
need
to
be
on
constant
alert
to
avoid
falling
debris
and
ashes
from
the
crater.
In
Riobamba
roofs
covered
in
the
volcano’s
ashes
is
frequently
seen
in
the
mornings.
Lagunas
de
Atillo
or
Colay
(Lake
Atillo
or
Colay)
The
name
‘Colaycocha’
means
‘punishment’
and
according
to
legend
the
Puruhaes,
ancient
settlers
of
these
territories,
used
to
punish
wrongdoers
by
bringing
them
here
and
leaving
them
to
die
of
starvation
or
thirst
or
to
drown
in
the
lake’s
icy
waters.
Access
proves
easy
from
Guamote
(from
the
Riobamba-Azogues
road)
proceeding
towards
Macas.
Lagunas
de
Osogoche
(Osogoche
Lakes)
Curiosity
surrounds
these
lakes,
especially
Lake
Atillo
,
for
as
yet
scientifically
unexplained
happenings.
For
instance,
every
so
often
hundreds
of
birds
swarm
the
lakes
for
no
apparent
reason,
submerging
themselves
in
the
waters
to
die.
This
is
perhaps
why
the
indigenous
communities
of
the
zone
equate
the
lakes
with
death
and
also
why
a
mountain
bush
clearly
visible
from
the
lakes
is
known
as
‘death’s
door’.
El
Pailon
One
of
the
zone’s
few
recreational
areas,
although
it
actually
falls
outside
the
Park’s
borders,
is
well
worth
the
visit
thanks
to
its
proximity
and
extreme
beauty.
Tapirs
and
other
large
mammals
have
reportedly
been
spotted
here.
El
Pailon
is
situated
close
to
Palora.
Last
Updated
19th
July
2006
