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🌟 Cotopaxi Flash Summit Expedition 2024 🌟
Climb Cotopaxi in Just Five Days!
🏔️ About Cotopaxi:
- Reopened for Climbing: After a hiatus, Cotopaxi is now open for adventurers in 2024!
- High-Altitude Glacier: Within a mere two days, you’ll find yourself standing on a pristine high-altitude glacier, surrounded by breathtaking ice and snow.
- Ecuadorian Guides: Our team of highly experienced Ecuadorian guides will lead the expedition. Their expertise ensures your safety on the mountain.
- Authentic Andean Experience: Beyond the climb, immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Andes. Discover local traditions, cuisine, and folklore.
- Optional Chimborazo Extension: For those craving more adventure, we offer an optional 4-day Chimborazo extension. Explore another majestic peak!
🌄 Why Choose Cotopaxi?:
- Swift Ascent: In just five days, you’ll conquer Cotopaxi’s rugged slopes and reach its awe-inspiring summit.
- Thin Air, Rugged Beauty: Feel the exhilaration as you ascend through thin air, where the sky meets the earth in a dramatic display of nature’s grandeur.
🌟 Book Your Adventure: Ready to embark on this unforgettable journey? Contact us now to secure your spot on the Cotopaxi Summit Expedition. Let the mountain call you! 🗻
Note: Actual bananas are not included in this expedition, but the memories will be just as sweet. 🍌😉
Safe travels! 🌟
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Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival Quito
Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Quito. If you arrive early in the morning, you will have the afternoon free to explore Quito.
- Included meals: (-)
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2
Skills Practice on Cotopaxi’s Glacier 16.404ft/5000 m
We will leave Quito early in the morning around 8:30 a.m. and we will drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we reach the town of El Chaupi. This town is the location of Cotopaxi-Summit’s home base, there we will prepare all the necessary equipment for the skills practice on Cotopaxi´s Glacier. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m/14,763 ft) then we’ll hike up for around an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge, after a short break we will continue to the glacier for learning and reviewing basic glacier travel skills, ice axe and crampon technique, and self-arrest. After spending the day on the ice, we return to the comfort of our lodge and discuss our plan for summit day.
- Included meals: Breakfast/ Box Lunch/ Dinner
- Accommodation: TamboPaxi Lodge
Day 3
Tambopaxi Lodge – Rest Day 12,204 ft./3720m
Today we will enjoy a day of rest at the base of Cotopaxi enjoying a beautiful views and comfortable mountain lodge. In the afternoon also prepare all of our equipment for the climb.
- Included meals: Breakfast/ Box Lunch/ Dinner
- Accommodation: Tambopaxi Lodge
Day 4
: Summit Cotopaxi 19,347 ft /5897 m
Midnight will be our wake-up time, not before having a light breakfast and get our stuff ready for the ascent. Then we will drive until to the parking lot. From there we start the ascent, the climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Finally 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. and then continue our descent all the way to our lodge where our transportation will be ready to take us to Quito.
- Included meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5
Flight Home
Transfer from the hotel to the airport
- Included meals: -/-/-
- 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 Rivas Refuge
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
- International flight tickets
- Tips
- Insurance of any kind
- Travel accident and health insurance
- Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
- Other non-specified expenses
It’s a 2-day express ascent to the Cotopaxi Volcano (5,897 m / 19,347 ft), designed for climbers with limited time who want to reach one of the world’s most beautiful active volcanoes.
The Cotopaxi Flash Expedition lasts 2 days:
Day 1: Drive to Cotopaxi National Park, reach the refuge, and rest.
Day 2: Midnight summit push and descent back to El Chaupi or Quito.
Anyone in good physical condition can join. Previous glacier experience is helpful but not required — our ASEGUIM-certified guides provide technical instruction and safety briefings before the climb.
You need personal mountain clothing and hiking boots. All technical gear (ice axe, crampons, harness, helmet, ropes) is provided or available for rent at Andes Alpes Mountain Gear Rental in El Chaupi.
The expedition starts in El Chaupi (3,300 m / 10,826 ft) — Cotopaxi Travel’s home base — where you’ll stay at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge before entering Cotopaxi National Park.
Yes. Climbers should ideally spend 1–2 days above 3,000 m before attempting the summit. Short acclimatization hikes to Rumiñahui or Corazón are recommended.
Professional guide service, transportation, meals during the climb, park fees, refuge accommodation, and all technical gear are included in the expedition cost.
All guides are ASEGUIM/UIAGM certified, equipped with oxygen, radios, and first-aid kits. We monitor weather and glacier conditions closely to ensure a safe climb.
The best months are June–September and December–February, when conditions are clearer and wind speeds lower on the upper glacier.
You can reserve directly through Cotopaxi Travel
or our WeTravel booking platform. Both private and group options are available year-round.
