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Cotopaxi Summit with Hike, Camp and Climb
This tour is an excellent trip for the people love hike, camp and climb, these experiences are suitable for all experience levels: from beginners and amateur enthusiasts to professionals. The tour is organized in the Ilinizas Ecological Reserve where will enjoy the spectacular views of Cotopaxi volcano and the Ilinizas peak. This adventure is unique in the area, due to its easy ascent to reach a good height that will help you to continue climbing the highest mountains in Ecuador such as Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
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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
Hike and camp at La Virgen 12,795ft/3900m
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-Travel’s home base, there we will prepare all the necessary equipment for the hike, camp and climb. After take everything we start the hike until to the La Virgen this hike takes around 3 hours where our tents are ready for relax and enjoy the views. Overnight at the camp .
Included meals: Box Lunch/ Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in 4-season tents
Day 3
Summiting Iliniza Norte 16,818 ft. / 5126 m.
We start early in the morning after breakfast 4:30. 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 the north peak; it will take us between 2 to 3 hours to get to the summit, 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
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 4
Cotopaxi Shelter 15,951 ft. / 4862 m.
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/14,763 ft) then we’ll hike up for around an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge. 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: Cotopaxi Refuge
Day 5
Summit Cotopaxi 19,347 ft. / 5897 m
Midnight will be our wake up time and the departure to the top 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 Quito.
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6
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:
- 2 nights in Hotel in Quito
- 2 nights in a Hostel
- 1 night in 4-season tents
- 1 night at Jose Rivas Refuge
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
- Personal mountain gear (warm cloths, sleeping bags, sunglasses, head lamp, etc.)
- International flight tickets
- 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.
