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"Climbing Cotopaxi: Ecuador's Most Famous Summit Awaits"
Acclimatization and high-altitude climbing experience, leading to the summit of Cotopaxi (5,897 m)
🏔️ Overview
This itinerary is designed to optimize acclimatization and safety while exploring some of Ecuador’s most breathtaking peaks. With expert ASEGUIM-certified guides, high-quality technical equipment, and well-planned logistics, you will progressively build altitude experience, ensuring a safe and enjoyable climb.
✔All meals and accommodations included throughout the expedition.
✔Private transportation for all transfers between destinations.
✔Acclimatization-focused program with progressive altitude gain.
✔Safety as a priority, with pre-climb briefings, weather monitoring, and high-quality equipment.
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Itineraries
🗓️Día 1:
Arrival in Quito – Acclimatization Begins
🏔️ Altitude: (2,800 m / 9,186 ft)
🏨 Accommodation: Comfortable hotel in Quito
🍽️ Meals: Dinner
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- Arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, where you will be greeted by your Trip Advisor and transferred to your hotel in Quito, Ecuador's capital, located at 2,800 meters above sea level.
- Spend the rest of the day acclimatizing to the altitude and relaxing.
- If you're up for it, enjoy a leisurely walk around Quito’s historic
- center (UNESCO World Heritage site), or relax in your hotel.
- Overnight in Quito to rest before the adventure begins.
🗓️ Day 2:
Transfer to Iliniza Mountain Lodge & Acclimatization Hike to Saquihua Hill
🏔️ Altitude: (3,900 m / 12,795 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge (3,300 m) https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- After breakfast, private transport will take you from Quito to Iliniza Mountain Lodge, located at 3,300 meters. The drive takes approximately 2 hours, passing through rural landscapes and picturesque villages.
- In the afternoon, you'll begin your acclimatization hike to Saquihua Hill, which is 3,900 meters high. This easy-to-moderate trek offers a fantastic opportunity to get accustomed to the altitude.
- Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains as you hike through lush valleys and rugged terrain.
- Return to Iliniza Mountain Lodge for dinner and a comfortable night’s rest.
- Distance: 4 km (round trip)
- Duration: 2-3 hours
🗓️Día 3
Hike to El Corazón Volcano
🏔️ Altitude: (4,788 m / 15,708 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- Today’s adventure takes you to the El Corazón Volcano, located at 4,788 meters. This challenging yet rewarding day hike will test your endurance and provide stunning panoramic views of the surrounding volcanoes and valleys.
- Early start with a transfer to the trailhead, followed by a hike to the summit of El Corazón. The route is steep and involves some sections of scrambling, but the views from the top are absolutely worth the effort.
- From the summit, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of Cotopaxi, Iliniza, and other volcanoes in the region.
- After the hike, return to Iliniza Mountain Lodge for a well-deserved dinner and rest.
- Distance: 10 km (round trip)
- Duration: 4-6 hours (including summit time)
🗓️Día 4
Hike to Nuevos Horizontes Refuge
🏔️ Altitude: (4,700 m / 15,420 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Nuevos Horizontes Refuge (4,700 m)
- Today, we begin the journey toward Nuevos Horizontes Refuge, a popular high-altitude base for mountaineers aiming to climb Iliniza Norte and Cotopaxi.
- A private transport will take you to La Virgen Parking Lot (3,300 meters), the starting point for the hike.
- From here, you will begin your steep ascent toward the refuge, located at 4,700 meters.
- As you ascend, the landscape becomes more rugged and exposed, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
- At Nuevos Horizontes Refuge, you’ll receive briefing and go over mountaineering techniques and safety protocols with your guide.
- Enjoy a warm dinner and rest overnight at the refuge, preparing for the next day's climb.
- Distance: 5 km
- Duration: 2-3 hours
🗓️Día 5
Summit Iliniza Norte
🏔️ Altitude: (5,126 m / 16,818 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- This is a big day as you attempt the summit of Iliniza Norte, which stands at 5,126 meters.
- You’ll begin early in the morning to make the most of the daylight hours and summit safely. The route involves technical climbing with rock scrambles and some exposed sections.
- After summiting, enjoy a moment of achievement and panoramic views of the central Andes.
- Return to Iliniza Mountain Lodge for a celebratory dinner and relaxation.
- Distance: 10 km (round trip)
- Duration: 4-6 hours (including summit time)
🗓️Día 6
Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park & Hike to Refuge
🏔️ Altitude: (4,864 m / 15,953 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Jose Ribas Refuge (4,864 m)
- Private transfer to Cotopaxi National Park, a 1-hour drive from EL chaupi .
- Once at the park, you'll begin the short but steep hike to Jose Ribas Refuge, situated at 4,864 meters.
- The rest of the day is dedicated to preparing for the Cotopaxi summit. Your guide will conduct climbing briefing, and you’ll review the proper use of mountaineering gear such as crampons, ice axes, and ropes.
- Have an early dinner and get some rest as you prepare for the ascent tomorrow.
- Distance:5 km (from parking lot to refuge)
- Duration: 1 hour
🗓️Día 7
Summit Cotopaxi
🏔️ Altitude: (5,897 m / 19,347 ft)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, lunch, celebration dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Hotel in Quito
- Early morning (around midnight), begin your summit attempt of Cotopaxi, Ecuador's second-highest volcano and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
- The ascent includes glacier travel, requiring you to be roped up most of the time. The ascent to the summit is physically demanding, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding volcanic peaks and high-altitude glaciers.
- After reaching the summit, you will descend to Jose Ribas Refuge for a quick breakfast.
- Private transport will return you to hotel in Quito.
- Distance: 10 km (round trip)
- Duration: 5-6 hours to the summit (including breaks)
🗓️Día 8
Departure – Fly Home
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
- After a hearty breakfast, your private transport will take you to Mariscal Sucre International Airport for your departure.
- We hope that your stay with us has been the best and all that remains is to tell us that you have a good trip back home.
Services included in the tour cost:
- Mountain Climbing Insurance
- Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
- Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
- Land transportation and transfers
- Accommodation:
- 3 nights in Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- 1 Nuevos Horizontes hut
- 1 night at Jose Ribas Refuge
- 2 nights at hotel in Quito
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
- Insurance of any kind
- Tips
- Travel accident and health insurance
- Other non-specified expenses
The cost of climbing Cotopaxi varies depending on the tour package and inclusions. Cotopaxi Summit 2 Days: $290 – $590 Cotopaxi Summit + Acclimatization Package: $845 – $1,280 Climb Cotopaxi & Chimborazo (9 Days): $1,350 – $2,890 These packages typically include: ✔️ Certified ASEGUIM mountain guide ✔️ Accommodation at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge for acclimatization ✔️ Technical gear (crampons, harness, ice axe, helmet, etc.) ✔️ Meals during the climb ✔️ National park permits ✔️ Transportation to and from the trailhead
Yes, beginners can climb Cotopaxi, but proper preparation is crucial. Unlike trekking peaks, Cotopaxi requires basic mountaineering skills, such as using crampons and an ice axe. Many first-time climbers train for weeks in advance and complete an acclimatization program with hikes to lower peaks like Iliniza Norte (5,126 m) or Corazón (4,788 m). Hiring a certified ASEGUIM guide ensures a safe and guided introduction to high-altitude climbing.
The best months to climb Cotopaxi are: ✔️ June to August (Dry Season) – Cold but with stable weather and clear skies. ✔️ November to February – Less crowded and excellent climbing conditions. While Cotopaxi can be climbed year-round, April-May and October tend to be rainier, making the ascent more challenging.
