When looking for a vacation rental in Bucay, planning begins with the question of what kind of travel experiences you are seeking. The Chimborazo destination offers a range of focuses: high-altitude landscapes, lagoons, architectural history, and outdoor activities. You can explore nature and get active, as well as visit historic sites and discover local handicrafts.

Landscapes between volcanoes and lagoons

Chimborazo Volcano reaches 6,263.47 meters. Its glaciated, cone-shaped silhouette defines the Andean landscape. Mountaineering, hiking, cycling, and landscape photography are among the activities around the volcano. By contrast, the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve focuses on protecting páramo and puna ecosystems; it is also home to native camelids such as vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas.

At El Altar Volcano, glaciers and lagoons come together: Lakes formed by its glaciers include Amarilla, also known as Caldera, Azul, Verde, Pintada, and Mandur. A route to the lagoons is available for trekking and climbing. The Lagunas de El Altar wetland also lies south of the volcano, in Sangay National Park. It includes the Verde, Azul, Estrellada, Mandur, and Quindecocha lagoons.

Laguna de Colta offers a different focus. Visitors can take walks, take photographs, observe the landscape, and watch the flora and fauna. Native bird species and a wide variety of colorful fish are part of the lagoon’s natural environment. Those looking to compare landscapes and wildlife will find a different focus here than at the glacial lakes of El Altar.

Architectural history and cultural insights

Iglesia de Balbanera was founded in 1534 and is considered the first Catholic church built on Ecuadorian soil. Its colonial façade is made of limestone blocks joined with clay; Indigenous and Spanish workers took part in its construction. The building offers a way to explore both early church history and the combination of different building techniques and workforces.

Totora grows along Laguna de Colta and is used to weave mats and handicrafts. This traditional craft complements nature observation at the lagoon. Estación del Tren Sibambe also brings together travel and culture: It is the terminus of the railway line that runs via Nariz del Diablo between Alausí and Sibambe. The station includes a café, a small museum, and Plaza del Tren, where the community performs traditional dances for tourists. UNESCO declared Sangay National Park a World Heritage Site on December 7, 1983.

Choose activities to suit your interests

For active exploration of the landscape, El Altar Volcano offers trekking and climbing along a route to the lagoons; at Chimborazo, mountaineering, hiking, and cycling are among the main activities. If you would rather take in different types of scenery, consider the glacial lakes at El Altar, the birdlife of Laguna de Colta, and the view from the summit of Cerro Puñay. From there, you can see the Andean landscape and Ecuador’s coastal plains.

Desierto de Palmira offers yet another kind of landscape: This area in Guamote Canton covers ten hectares of sand dunes and pine forest. Activities there include camping, ecotourism, photography, hiking, and horseback riding on the dunes. These places differ not only in the activities on offer, but also in the landscapes described: high mountains and glaciers, lagoons, dunes, and pine forest each provide a distinct experience.

For your planning, it is worth choosing your focus first and then checking the specific activities. Conditions in the mountains and operations at Estación del Tren Sibambe may change, so check the current situation before visiting. This will help you tailor your travel plans to each place and the kind of experience you want.

Discover more destinations: Guamote, Cajabamba, Riobamba, Alao, Chunchi, Cacha, San Isidro, Pallatanga.

View the broader travel overview: Chimborazo.