Volcán Tungurahua eruption, Ecuador

Volcán Tungurahua began erupting on the 28th of February and continued through our entire

visit to Baños in March. The first five days were completely covered in clouds day and night.

Getting a clear view seemed unlikely. Seeing flowing lava was shocking.

A trip to the far side of town gave the first glimpse of the top of the volcano.

This is the Chiva party bus that brought us up to Bellavista, where we could see the volcano and Baños from above. The buses have wooden saloon style doors, and no windows. $3 paid for the ride, a delicious canelazo (warm cocktail with cinnamon, orange juice, star anise with rum or caña), and an additional drink ticket in town.

The sky cleared ten minutes after arriving at the viewpoint, just in time for an amazing show. Each eruption felt like a once in a lifetime experience. Totally surreal.

The next day we visited La Casa de Arbol. We hung out in total fog for hours. Tunguruhua only peaked through the clouds after we had hiked what turned out to be a loop trail, and not the way down.