Wawa Pichincha Volcano

Address: Wawa Pichincha area, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (near Quito)

Hours: Daylight hours; guided tours available year-round

Admission: Free to visit surrounding areas; guided climbs and tours vary

Wawa Pichincha (commonly referred to by its Spanish form Guagua Pichincha) is an active stratovolcanic complex immediately west of Quito, Ecuador, with a summit above the city at roughly 4,784 metres. It is part of the Pichincha volcanic group that dominates Quito’s western skyline.

The Pichincha complex has produced multiple eruptions in recorded history, with significant activity in 1999 that deposited ash on Quito. The complex includes an older summit (Rucu Pichincha) and a younger, more active summit (Guagua/”Wawa” Pichincha).

The volcano sits immediately to the west of central Quito in Pichincha Province, with the city center lying roughly 10 kilometres east of the volcanic summits.

• TeleferiQo access: The TeleferiQo cable car rises from Quito up the eastern flank to Cruz Loma at roughly 3,900 to 4,000 metres, shortening access to high-altitude trails.
• Recent activity: The volcano produced notable eruptive activity in 1999 that caused ashfall over Quito; it is considered active and monitored by Ecuadorian authorities.

What to See#

• Guagua Pichincha: Guagua Pichincha is the younger summit of the Pichincha volcanic complex and contains the active crater that has produced recent eruptions.
• Rucu Pichincha: Rucu Pichincha is the older, lower summit that is commonly climbed from the TeleferiQo/Cruz Loma area and offers panoramic views of Quito.

Wawa Pichincha is reached from Quito. The common access point is the TelefériQo cable car to Cruz Loma; from there hikers and guides continue to higher ridges. For more remote routes, local guiding services in Quito provide transport and logistic support.

• If attempting the ascent routes up Pichincha, acclimatize in Quito for 24-48 hours to reduce altitude sickness risk.
• Hire a local guide - trails can be poorly marked and conditions change rapidly with fog or rain.
• Start very early in the morning; afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Andes and can make ridgelines dangerous.