Cayambe: The Only Glacier-Covered Volcano on the Equator

We had just wrapped up a few relaxing days at Hacienda Zuleta, a beautiful historic hacienda tucked into the Andean highlands of northern Ecuador, not far from the town of Otavalo. Surrounded by green valleys and rolling hills, it's the kind of place where time slows down. As we were packing up to leave, nature saved one last surprise for us—Cayambe Volcano finally revealed itself.

After staying hidden behind thick clouds, the massive snow-capped peak appeared, rising above the landscape and standing tall against an overcast sky. It was one of those moments where patience, timing, and a little bit of luck come together.

Cayambe is an active volcano in northern Ecuador, east of Otavalo. At 5,790 meters, it's the third-highest volcano in the country—and the highest point anywhere along the equator. What makes it truly unique is its glacier. While other Ecuadorian volcanoes, such as Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, also have permanent snowcaps, Cayambe is the only place on Earth where a glacier crosses the equator. Standing on the equator, surrounded by ice—that's not something you see every day.

As we drove away, the landscape below the volcano was just as impressive. Fields of corn, potatoes, and quinoa stretched up the lower slopes—lush, cultivated ground in the shadow of a frozen summit. The contrast was striking.

Cayambe also has deep cultural roots. In Inca times, it was considered a sacred mountain, and it remains an essential landmark for local communities to this day. Despite being right on the equator, the extreme altitude brings freezing temperatures year-round—a rare phenomenon in this part of the world.