Cayambe & Its Majestic Volcano: A City Beneath the Equator’s Highest Peak

Yesterday, we left Mashpi Lodge, deep in the Chocó cloud forest, and returned to Quito. We stopped in Tulipe, an ancient settlement of the Yumbo people, a pre-Inca civilization known for its strategic trade routes and unique water temples. We also couldn’t resist a quick visit to Mitad del Mundo—because standing on the equator never gets old, does it?

From there, we headed northeast toward our next stop: Hacienda Zuleta, a 17th-century estate about 110 km (2 hours) north of Quito. Just before arriving, we were treated to a breathtaking view of Cayambe and its towering volcano. At 2,830 meters, the city sits at a noticeably higher altitude than the cloud forest we had come from—the drop in temperature was immediate and quite refreshing! 

Cayambe is a lively town known for dairy farming, flower plantations, and, most importantly, its famous biscochos.

Now, about that snow-capped giant in the top left of the image… That’s Cayambe Volcano, standing at 5,790 meters. Ecuador’s third-highest peak. What makes it extra special? Its south slope, at 4,690 meters, is the highest point on the equator and the only place on the equator with permanent snow cover.  

Olmedo, Cayambe Canton, Pichincha, ​Ecuador