The Imbabura is a type of volcanic structure , known as "strato-volcano compound", is characterized because its crater has a fairly weathered end, but still shows its crater open to the east and is commonly covered with snow. Adventitious cones dominate its slopes, the most important being: Azaya or Huarmi Imbabura with 3, 926 m located to the west and bordering Lake San Pablo; Loma Artezon with 4, 030 meters to the north and heading towards the city of Ibarra. There are also other adventitious cones located to the northwest such as Zapallo Loma with 3,842 m and Angaraloma with 4,136 m located to the southeast.
It is an inactive volcano, but it is monitored and currently does not register seismic, fumarolic, or thermal activity. There is only brief microseismic activity.
It is a type of strombolian volcano, its last eruption was recorded 14000 years ago. Andesites outcrop on the surface. It belongs to the Quaternary period of the Pliocene, with volcanic strata and domes consisting of dacitic to andesitic lava flows and pyroclasts.