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Climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
Cotopaxi is regarded as the most beautiful volcano in the world, as well as one of the most active volcanoes in the world and the second highest volcano in Ecuador. The climb up to the summit of Cotopaxi is not highly technical, but it does require a pre-climb glacier travel course. In this program we will Climb Chimborazo Volcano Summit Ecuador’s Highest Mountain, and the Highest Point from the Center of the Earth. Really with this program you will enjoy the best adventure offered by the Ecuadorian Andes.
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Itineraries
Day 1
Rucu Pichincha 15,695ft. /4784m
The hike to Rucu Pichincha is very popular for acclimatization purposes. The volcano and its peaks are visible from the city of Quito. Guagua Pichincha, the other peak, is the active caldera. This walk will take us 5 hours in total. First, we will head to the western side of the city. Once we are there we will ride a cable car for about 15 minutes up to the trail starting point (4100 m). This is one of the highest cable cars in the world!. From this point, a long ridge will take us to the base of the summit of Rucu Pichincha (4698 m). We will also stop at some point to have lunch. Then, we will continue our hike walking on sandy terrain, and after a while we'll get to the top! and finally we will drive to El Chaupi village.
Included meals: Box Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 2
Corazón Volcano Summit 15708.66 ft./ 4788 m.
From El chaupi village. We will start early in the morning after breakfast 7:00 We will be driving up to the trailhead (13,120ft/4.000m), where we start our hike. The first part of the hike takes us up through the small Andean grass. Then we will get on the sandy and scramble section, which leads to Corazon summit (15,702ft/4788m). We will have lunch during the hike that is about 6-hour long. Return to the hostel.
Included meals: Breakfast/ Box Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 3
Summit Iliniza Norte 16,818 ft. / 5126 m.
We start early in the morning after breakfast 7:30 We will be driving up to the “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3.900m). Once there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4.750m). We will relax for couple of minutes and we took the opportunity to put our helmet and harness for continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between both peaks and then head up to Illiniza north summit; it will take us between 2 to 3 hours to get to the summit (5126m), the way back to the parking lot it will take us between 2 hours. drive back to El Chaupi. Overnight at the Hostel .
Included meals: Breakfast/ Box Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 4
Quilotoa Lagoon Rest day 12841.207 ft. / 3914 m.
We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning and will drive the Quilotoa Lagoon; during the tour we will stop at an Indian hut. After we will visit the Tigua community to observe the leather crafts that people make in these places. The tour will take us about 4 hours later, we’ll arrive the viewpoint where you can observe the magnitude of the crater and its lagoon background. We will descend along an irregular road; the walk will take us one hour until arrived bottom of the lagoon, there we will have taken photos and rest. After lunch we will back to El Chaupi in about 3 hours driving.
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Andes Alpes hostel
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 5
Tambopaxi Lodge
From El Chaupi will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until getting to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m) then we’ll hike up for around an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge (4,864m). Then we will have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Tambopaxi Lodge
Day 6
Cotopaxi Summit 19347.11 ft. / 5897 m.
Midnight will be our wake-up time and the departure to the top (19,347ft/5.897m) will be around 01h00, not before having a light breakfast and get our stuff ready for the ascent, the climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit we’ll take our time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head down back the refuge, which it will take us 2 to 3 hours. Once at the refuge will pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take us to Baños city. Overnight in the hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7
Baños City Free day 5905,512 ft. / 1800 m.
This is a relaxing day; in this beautiful town you can do it different activities that can be purchased on behalf of the passenger. It's a free day its surroundings offer many possibilities like: the route of the waterfalls, hikes inside the “cloud forest”, besides, depending on our interest, with an extra cost, we could try rafting, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc. Night in hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8
Chimborazo High Camp 17388.45 feet / 5300 m.
In the morning at 9:00 am we will meet with the guides to drive to the Chimborazo wildlife reserve. We will arrive at the refuge Hermanos carrel from there we will start the hike to the High camp in approximately 2 to 3 hours we get to camp once here, we will accommodate in our tents. In the afternoon we will prepare and double check all the gear for the climbing. Where we’ll have dinner and get some rest until 23h00. There will be an early light breakfast served just before getting ready with our gear and start heading up.
Included meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in 4-season tents
Day 9
Chimborazo Summit 20,702 ft. / 6.268m.
At midnight we will start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest volcano, Chimborazo, which will take us about 8 to 9 hours. We’ll get to the summit (20,702ft/6268) in the early hours the perfect spot for resting and pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Then we’ll start our descending to the refuge; it will take us from 3 to 4 hours. Once in refuge we’ll pack our gear, where our transportation will be ready to drive up to Quito.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
- Acclimatization Climbing Program
- Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
- A registered and fully licensed Tour Operator
- Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
- Land transportation and transfers
- Accommodations:
- 4 nights in Hostel and Café Andes Alpes
- 1 night at Jose Ribas Refuge
- 2 nights at Chimenea Hotel
- 1 night in tents (Chimborazo High Camp)
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
- Porters, tents, and camping utensils for high camp
- Personal mountain gear (warm cloths, sleeping bags, sunglasses, head lamp, etc.)
- International flight tickets
- Hotel in Quito
- Tips
- Insurance of any kind
- Travel accident and health insurance
- Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
- Other non-specified expenses
We kindly refer to our Terms and Conditions page which can be found in the footer of our website.
In Ecuador you can hike all year, but these are the seasons:
- High Season: June to August / December to January
- Low season: February to May / September to November
No prior climbing experience is required. Climbers should be in good physical condition and it is highly recommended that they have some backpacking experience.
