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Tungurahua: Living Under an Active Volcano

Tungurahua — the 4,783m 'Black Giant' active since 1999 — is the world's most accessible active volcano experience; the ash falls, the lava flows, and the volcanic thunder create a constant reminder that Baños sits at the foot of one of South America's most active peaks

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Continuous eruption since 1999
Tungurahua has been in continuous low-level eruption since 1999 — the town of Baños was evacuated for 6 months but residents returned despite the danger; the volcano's constant activity (fumaroles, ash emissions and periodic lava flows) makes it a living geological spectacle
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Nighttime Lava Viewing
On nights when Tungurahua is active, the glowing lava channels on the volcano's flanks are visible from Baños and from the vantage points above the city; the combination of the dark sky, the glowing lava and occasional explosive eruptions are unforgettable
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Eruption History
Tungurahua's major eruptions - in 1916, 1944 and the period 1999-2016 - have sent pyroclastic flows and lahars into the valleys below; the city's survival through repeated evacuations and partial destruction is remarkable
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Guaranda Viewpoint
The viewpoint above Guaranda - on the opposite side of the Tungurahua massif from Baños - offers the most dramatic view of the volcano's full profile; the hour-long drive to the viewpoint is the best way to understand the scale of the volcano
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Volcano Monitoring Science
The Instituto Geofísico in Quito monitors Tungurahua continuously — the seismographs, GPS ground deformation sensors and gas emission instruments provide real-time data that guides evacuation decisions; the surveillance science is sophisticated and the data is publicly available
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The Cultural Significance of the Volcano
The volcano Tungurahua – Mama Tungurahua in the indigenous Quichua people – is a female spiritual being in the local cosmology; the eruption of the volcano is interpreted as an expression of her power; the combination of scientific monitoring and indigenous cosmological understanding creates a rich cultural relationship with the active peak