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Mountain biking in Ecuador: 14 days around Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Otavalo

Mountain biking in Ecuador: 14 days around Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Otavalo | undefined

Join a local certified guide on a one-of-a-kind mountain bike tour in Ecuador during 14 days around the impressive Cotopaxi and Chimborazo peaks.

Andes

14 Days

Apr - Dec

High

Advanced


Description

All the exuberant nature displays itself magnificently in the surroundings of Quito, in Ecuador. Exotic birds and dense rainforests, impressive volcanoes, relaxing hot springs and a unique wilderness are perfect settings for the exciting rides scheduled in my program.

I suggest a 14-day mountain bike tour around those amazing spots, stopping to recharge our energy in relaxing thermal waters or walking around the famous Otavalo Indian market, the biggest of South America. We will enjoy the hospitality of the locals at lunch and also, stay in comfortable places during the night.

We will start in Quito and get to immerse ourselves in exciting rides downhill and uphill, crossing altiplanos, valleys and roads,  until we get to the highlight of this trip: the impressive Chimborazo volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador.

10This is the trip for you, and you know it. Book it, save it and go for it!

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Transport during the trip
  • Transportation start and back
  • Permit and entrance fees

Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from your country

Day 2: Arrival at Quito Airport

Arrival at the Quito Airport. Pick up and transfer in Embassy Hotel.

Day 3: Quito to Cloud forest – Bellavista

Ride up and downhill reaching at 3,300 and then, 5 more km (on a vehicle or on your bike) until we reach the Bellavista hotel. We overnight there.

Day 4: Cloud forest, Tabacundo to Otavalo

We hike around Bellavista. We ride to Tandayapa Pass and then to Tabacundo on a vehicle. From there, we ride around the lakes and craters of the Fuya Fuya region. We end the day with a long descent to the Indian market town of Otavalo, which will be our home for the next couple of nights. Overnight at Hostal Cabañas El Rocío.

Day 5: Cuicocha Lake & Otavalo Market

We ride to the Cuicocha lake, a flooded volcano crater with two islands above it. Afterwards, we enjoy the Otavalo market. We overnight at the Hostal Cabañas El Rocío.

Day 6: Otavalo to Papallacta resort

We go up for about an hour and a half (on a minibus) into Ecuador’s East Andes. Reaching the highest point we saddle up for one of the longest and perhaps one of the most challenging rides of our tour.

Then, we relax at the Papallacta hot springs and rest at the Papallacta hotel.

Day 7: Papallacta to Cotopaxi National Park

Reaching the eco-road at the top of the Guamani Pass (4,200 meters) we begin a 45 km, hugely enjoyable and picturesque descent towards Peñas Blancas. As we reach the suburbs of Quito we will come to a disused railway, now a designated cycle route. We end the ride at Tumbaco town. Then, we head to Cotopaxi National Park where we spend our evening in the delightful Cotopaxi Base Camp hostal (shared bunk-house facilities) at the foot of the famous mountain.

Day 8: Cotopaxi to Lasso

Our day begins with a short transfer from the hostal, although anyone itching to get on the bikes can opt to ride. Reaching 4,550 meters we leave the minibus and the bikes in the parking lot at the entry point to the ascent of the volcano. We can take a quick hike to the edge of one of the mountain´s glaciers and pay a visit to the first of the mountain refuges situated at 4,800 meters.

We take our bikes and ride downhill to Limpiopungo Lake. Then we go downhill towards the Paramo. Leaving the National Park we make our way through the Avenue of Volcanoes. Eventually we reach and cross the Pan-American Highway, cycling the last few kms to our accommodation in a grand 470 year old hacienda.

Day 9: Lasso to Chugchilan

Heading west we drive through the everyday, no frills, Andean town of Toacaso. Then, we will ride the eastern rim of the Toachi Canyon.

We’ll break for lunch in the bottom of the canyon and a Skedaddle Challenge awaits the super fit immediately afterwards. The rest of us however will take a transfer up the other side of the canyon and conserve ourselves for the rest of the day.

A few kms beyond the town of Sigchos we can get back on the bikes and continue along an undulating and stunningly beautiful dirt road which leads us through more green valleys and mountain villages. We overnight at Hostal Mama Hilda.

Day 10: Chugchilan to Baños

We ride out of the village, heading south. For the first hour or so the road undulates. Then, it gets a little tougher as we proceed and depending on our progress, we may load the vehicle and transfer to Quilotoa village. We leave the bikes with the vehicle and hike down to the emerald green lake in the bottom of the crater. Hiking back to the rim or taking advantage of a local donkey taxi, we have lunch in the village, prepared for us by local Indian Jorge Latacunga. Back on the bikes after lunch, we descend on tarmac to Zumbahua where the road once again rises steeply. Back in the vehicle we climb to 4,300 meters and then it’s back on the bikes for a long descent on a dirt road to Pujilí, where we end the riding for the day. We overnight at La petit Auberge, in Baños city.

Day 11: Rest Day – Baños

This day you can relax as you please.

Day 12: Baños, Patate & Chimborazo Mountain Lodge

We take the main road out of town. It’s not long before we arrive at the bridge over the Pataza river. The dirt road over the river begins to rise immediately. Reaching the top of Loma Grande, we stop to admire the stunning views before we descend to the town of Patate. Depending our arrival time in Patate we may continue on the bikes to Ambato. Eventually, however, we must board the minibus and transfer to the highest point of the tour. We will spend the night 4,200 meters above sea level at the base camp of Ecuador’s biggest volcano, the Chimborazo. We overnight at Estrella del Chimborazo Mountain Lodge.

Day 13: Chimborazo to Quito

A short takes us to 4,800 meters. While the guides prepare your bikes for your final ride you can hike a little further up Chimborazo to the Whimper Refuge Hut, at 5,000 meters. Our ride of the day begins with two options, some will choose to take the mountain road, others will pick their way slowly through the altiplano. Both routes converge at the edge of the paramo where we will regroup and ride as one party again along 45 km of the Ambato river valley. Eventually  we are back in Quito in time to shower, pack our gear and have one final celebratory night  at Embassy Hotel.

Day 14: Transfer out and departure

Check out of the hotel after breakfast for the international flights home (arrival next day).

 

About the guide

Guide profile image

E-S Latam Adventure Guides

5.0

(9)

Mountain Guide

Tomás and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides, leaders and rock climbing instructors (Alvaro, Juliana, Merlin, Rodrigo, Armin, Alfredo, and Camila) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Latin America.

Whether you wish to climb some of the most stunning mountains in the Andes or discover the vibrant peaks of Central America, among other amazing options, you will find yourself in good hands with this lively team of professional local guides that will not only show you the top spots in Latin America for outdoor adventures but also, bring you closer to the colorful local cultures of the places that you visit with them.

Tomás will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.

Pick one of the E-S Latam Adventure Guides' programs and start planning an unforgettable experience in the beautiful mountains of Latin America!

Languages

French | English

Certificates

AAGM | IFMGA

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What people are saying about E-S Latam Adventure Guides

Christopher

We wish we could have Simon as our guide on every trek we do. His mountaineering experience and extensive knowledge of the area was impressive and definitely enhanced the trek for us. On top of this, we got along great with Simon and appreciate his easy going personality and sense of humor. We will definitely request Simon as our guide for the next hike we do from El Chalten!

Jim

Thoroughly recommended. Daniel is an excellent guide and we had a great day out.

Pranav

Chase

This was a fantastic mountaineering trip to Ecuador. The altitude was a bit of a challenge, but Ramiro did a great job with the acclimatization schedule leading up to the taller mountains. Overall, this was a challenging experience given the altitude of the climbs as well as the back-to-back climbing of four mountains. I would highly recommend this excursion for anyone who wants to experience a fantastic country/culture as well as someone who wants to gain some nice experience mountaineering!

Kally

Fredy Tipan is like a superhero of the outdoor world. He knows absolutely everyone, has climbed and guided in the most epic of locations all around the world, knows the mountains like old friends, and really loves what he does and who he does it for. Our trip was completely messed up after an issue with our airline tickets. We weren't going to be able to leave until a week after our planned departure which jeopardized our entire trek with Fredy. We didn't expect him to take any sort of responsibility in replanning as it was our mistake that caused the airline issue but he absolutely did. Within days he rearranged the entire trek so that we would be able to summit all our desired peaks without cutting the days down and without changing the cost. He is a class act and an incredible guide and I'd say my husband and I both consider him a friend as well. We will definitely be booking another trip with Fredy Tipan and recommend him to anyone looking for the real deal in outdoor Guides. Thank you, Fredy!


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