We arrived in Banos on Friday Dec 14. On the 15th there was the start of seismic activity, we have pictures from the treehouse about 2Km below the summit, clear day with wisps of smoke coming from the volcano. On Sunday the 16th we woke to ash and went to a viewpoint outside of Banos (over the new bridge and up the mountain directly across from the volcano Tungurahua to watch the ash plume and listen to the constant thundering. All the events scheduled for the celebration that day were cancelled.
Left Banos with our guide that day as it was clear that the ash and activity were continuing. From news reports we understand that the activity continues and some areas are possibly being evacuated.
ecuador volcano alert, especially travel to Banos area
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Too bad your stay was cut short. There are some great activities in the Banos area.
It seems that an orange alert was issued on the eve of the eruption as were additional precautions such as school closures and now the evacuations.
When we were there in September, a month after the August eruption, Banos was still under orange alert. With the increasing frequency of activity, I wonder if the town ever has a chance to come out of that cautionary state.
Thanks for the first hand report and enjoy the rest of your trip.