The Chimborazo Express

From 1,250.00USD

Climb the highest mountain in Ecuador in just 7 days!

Trip Type

CS Express Climbs™
Activities

Mountaineering
Group Size

2 Pax
Reviews

0 Reviews
Trip Duration

7 Day(s) 6 Night(s)

Trip code WT-CODE 259

Climb Cotopaxi Summit in a 7-day tour. This program offers the full Ecuadorian mountain climbing experience, with the opportunity to summit many of the gorgeous volcanoes that lie in Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes, such as Pasochoa, El Corazón and Iliniza Norte. These hikes are also important in preparing your body to summit Cotopaxi, as each hike aids in acclimatization. In preparation for the 2-day Cotopaxi climb, climbers enjoy a relaxing day at Quilotoa Lagoon, hiking around an amazing volcanic crater filled with water tucked into the Ecuadorian highlands. Finally, the trip concludes with Cotopaxi, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world, and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The climb up to the summit of Cotopaxi is not highly technical, but it does require the use of crampons, ice axes and ropes. Leaving from the refuge around midnight, climbers begin ascending the volcano and will arrive at the top of Cotopaxi after sunrise at 6 a.m.!

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Itineraries

Day 1

Flight to Quito

You will be taken from Quito Airport to the accommodation where we will meet each other and get ready for the following day.

Included meals: /
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2

Summit Iliniza Norte

We will leave from Quito in the morning (7am) and drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we get to the village of “El Chaupi”. We will continue driving up until we get to “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3900 m). Once there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4750 m). After relaxing for 15 minutes we will continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between both peaks and then to Illiniza Norte summit (16,818ft/ 5126 m). The approach to the top involves an easy 3-hour scrambling. Once at the summit, we will enjoy and admire the beautiful surroundings. It will take us around 7 hours round trip. Lodging in the Hostal Andes Alpes .

Included meals: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Hostal

Day 3

Hike to Cayambe Refuge

Cayambe is a massive glaciated extinct volcano. It is located about 95 km Northeast of El Chaupi and is the highest point on the surface of the earth through which the Equator directly passes. Cayambe is the third highest mountain in Ecuador. It is characterized by good climbing opportunities and impressive glaciers. With easy access from the comfortable hut Ruales Oleas Cayambe Refuge. We will arrive at the shelter after about 3.5 hours of driving and rest for a couple of hours at the Refuge, until dinner time.

Included meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Ruales Oleas Berge

Day 4

Summit Cayambe

We will wake up at midnight, eat a light breakfast, put our gear on and start our climb around 01:00 in the morning; the ascent takes about 6 to 7 hours. The route to the summit follows a safe glacier terrain to the summit. A gaping bergschrund sometimes presents a challenge in route finding and an exciting extra obstacle. Once at the summit (18,996ft/5790 m) we will take our time for pictures of the surroundings, and then we will head back to the refuge in 2 to 3 hours. At the Refuge we will rest for a while, then pack our belongings and drive to Quito.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 5

Baños free day

We will drive south to the town of Baños de Agua Santa. The town and its surroundings offer many possibilities like: the route of waterfalls, hikes inside the “cloud forest”, or, depending on your interest and budget, rafting, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc. Night in hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 6

Chimborazo High Camp

We will drive south towards the city of Ambato (8,858ft/2,700m) through the Avenue of the Volcanoes for about 4 hours until we get to the Chimborazo`s reserve. There are two options here: Stay at Hermanos Carrel refuge (15,744ft/4,800), where we will have dinner and get some rest until 11 pm. There will be an early light breakfast served just before we get our gear ready and start hiking up. The other option is for an extra cost, we can hike up to (5,300m./17388 ft.) and set up a high camp there. (We are currently using this high camp because the shelter is closed)

Included meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in 4-Season Tent

Day 7

Summit Chimborazo

At midnight, we will start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo, which will take us about 6 to 8 hours. We will get to the top (20564,3ft/6.268m) early in the morning. It is a perfect place for resting and taking pictures of the beautiful Andean surroundings. After some rest, we will start our descent back to the Refuge. It will take us 3 to 4 hours. Then we’ll start our descending to the High Camp, which will take us from 3 to 4 hours. Once in the High Camp, we will pack our belongings and then, we will still need to go down 2 hours to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to drive us down to Quito.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: /

Qualified and experienced Ecuadorian local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM - max 2 climbers per guide)
Registration in the System SIB (System Information of Biodiversity)
Technical mountain equipment (Mountaineering Boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
Land transportation and transfers to Cotopaxi National Park
Accommodation as described in the itinerary
All meals during the hikes and climbs

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