What are the most spectacular roads in Ecuador?

Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America. The country hosts many of the most spectacular roads in the world, as the country has coastlines (along the Pacific Ocean), high mountains (the Andes Mountains), and challenging conditions in the Amazon rainforest. So, get ready to face some of the most challenging drives.

When travelling to the country, if you like unpaved mountain roads, try your luck climbing up to 2 mountain refuges: Cotopaxi Refuge, also known as Refugio José Rivas, sits at 4,639m (15,219ft) above sea level, on the boundary between Pichincha and Cotopaxi provinces. It's one of the highest roads in Ecuador. Or you can try the drive up to Edward Whymper Refuge, a high mountain hut at an elevation of 4.855m (15,928ft) above sea level.

Featuring 30 of the most spectacular roads in the world, it’s worth the drive through paved roads to Papallacta, the highest town in the country, situated at an elevation of 3,300m (10,827ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth. Or the climb up to Tres Cruces, a mountain pass at 4.161m (13,651ft) asl, in the province of Azuay.

Refugio José Rivas is a high mountain refuge on Cotopaxi volcano, at an elevation of 4,639m (15,219ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Pichincha and Cotopaxi provinces of Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Located in the Napo Province of Ecuador, Papallacta is the highest town in the country, situated at an elevation of 3,300m (10,827ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.

Tres Cruces is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.161m (13,651ft) above sea level, located in the province of Azuay, in Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

 

Refugio Edward Whymper is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 4,855m (15,928ft) above sea level, located in Chimborazo, a province in the central Ecuadorian Andes. It's one of the highest roads in the country. 

The challenging Pan-American Highway is one of the biggest adventures in the world. It’s a network of roads covering almost 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) from North America to South America. It’s said to be the longest road on Earth.

Cerro Atacazo is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 4.155m (13,631ft) above the sea level located in Pichincha province, in north-central Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

La Virgen pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.071m (13,356ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Pichincha and Napo Provinces, in north-central Ecuador.

Located in the Ecuadorian Andes, Quilotoa Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.914m (12,841ft) above the sea level.

Mirador Via Principal Parque Nacional Cajas is a high mountain overlook at an elevation of 3.807m (12,490ft) above the sea level, located in southern Ecuador’s Andes mountains.

Laguna de Cuicocha is a crater lake at an elevation of 3.133m (10,278ft) above the sea level located in the Cordillera Occidental of the Ecuadorian Andes.

Laguna Llaviucu is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.168m (10,393ft) above the sea level, located in southern Ecuador’s Andes mountains.

Volcan Corazon is an ancient and extinct volcano located in the Pichincha province of Ecuador. A gravel road leads halfway up the mountain, ending at 4.306m (14,127ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Volcan Pasochoa is an extinct volcano at an elevation of 3.234m (10,610ft) above the sea level located in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Refugio Chiles (Ángel Cerón) is an abandoned high mountain refuge at an elevation of 4.142m (13,589ft) above the sea level, located in the Carchi province.of Ecuador.

Located on the northwestern coast of South America, bordered by Peru to the south and east, Colombia to the north and by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Ecuador is one of the smaller countries in South America. Roughly the size of the state of Colorado, geography of Ecuador is quite diverse for a country and encompasses a wide range of natural formations and climates from the desert-like southern coast to the snowcapped peaks of the Andes mountain range to the plains of the Amazon Basin. The equator runs through the northern portion of the country.

Refugio Volcán Guagua Pichincha is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 4.557m (14,950ft) above the sea level, located in Pichincha province, in the country of Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Alto de Salinas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.344m (14,251ft) above the sea level, located in Bolívar province, in central Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Alto de Pasa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.123m (13,526ft) above the sea level, located in Tungurahua province, in Ecuador.

Abra El Arenal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.407m (14,458ft) above the sea level, on the boundary of Guaranda and San Juan, in Chimborazo Province of central Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Loma de las Antenas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.218m (13,838ft) above the sea level located in Pichincha province, in north-central Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Abra de Zamora is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.802m (9,192ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Zamora-Chinchipe and Loja provinces, in southern Ecuador.

Spondylus Route is a picturesque coastal route located in Ecuador. The road is fully paved, making it accessible for all kinds of travelers.

Troncal Amazónica is the easternmost major road in Ecuador. It's a scenic route that stretches almost the entire length of the country.

Cascada Milagrosa is a high mountain waterfall at an elevation of 3,806m (12,486ft) above sea level, located in the Napo Province of Ecuador.

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