2-day Cotopaxi Volcano ascent

Join one of the guides on ASEGUIM certified guide Fernando's team on this 2-day Cotopaxi Volcano ascent. And reach to the amazing crater of this active volcano!

Andes

2 Days

All year

Fit

Intermediate

Description

This 2-day Cotopaxi Volcano ascent will take you to one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world.

The Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 m) is one of the most active on the planet. It's located 50 km south of Quito, in the Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador. Its name means moon neck in the Aymara language.

This ascent is not a technically difficult one, but you'll need some glacier climbing experience.

One of the most amazing features of this trip is that we'll get up at midnight of our second day of traveling to get to the summit at 6 am, shortly after the sunrise. This will give us incredible views of the surroundings with a magical golden light.

I’ll be happy to guide you through this 2-day Cotopaxi Volcano ascent. So send me a request and if you specify all your needs we’ll embark on this amazing ski touring project!

And if you're looking for another mountaineering adventures in Ecuador, please check my Antisana Volcano climb in 2 days or my Chimborazo Volcano 2 Day Guided Tour.

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito (2800 m) - José Ribas mountain hut (4862 m)

We will leave Quito early in the morning around 11:30 a.m. and drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we arrive at the village of El Chaupi. There we will prepare all the necessary equipment for the ascent. We will have lunch at Andes Alpes Restaurant, and then we will continue to the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4500m) then we’ll hike for around an hour to the José Rivas Refuge (15,951 ft. / 4862 m.). We will then have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point, we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Jose Ribas Refuge

Day 2: José Ribas mountain hut (4862 m) - Summit Cotopaxi (5897 m) – Quito (2800 m)

Midnight will be our wake up time and the departure to the top (19,347ft/5897m) will be around 1 am, after having a light breakfast and getting our stuff ready for the ascent. At the entrance of the glacier, your guide will explain all necessary tips needed for using crampons and ice axe if needed. The climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours and once at the summit we’ll take our time for pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head back down the refuge, which will take us 2 to 3 hours. Once at the refuge we will pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take us back to Quito (9,186ft/2800m).

Meals: Light breakfast pre-ascent and full breakfast after the climb

Details

Accommodation

Jose Ribas mountain hut.

More info

You can rent equipment.

Meeting point

Quito.

Photos

About the guide

Fernando

4.67

(15)

Mountain Leader

ASEGUIM Guide from Ecuador.

I was born and raised in Cotopaxi Province – Ecuador and know the country’s peaks intimately. I have great mountaineering experience of more than 12 years of climbing in all Ecuador, and I also climbed in South America, Switzerland, and France.

I worked for the Nuevos Horizontes refuge on Ilinizas Volcano from a young age and have professional Guide Training, and I am officially Licensed as a Nature guide organized by the Ministry of tourism.

Some of the guiding courses I attended are:

* Mountain Guides Course by ASEGUIM (Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides),
* Mountain Guides Evaluation by ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme) in October 2006. An event organized by the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador and ENSA of France
* Pre-Course UIAGM an event organized by ASEGUIM and ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme)
* First Aids course, Ecuadorian Red Cross

I live and manage a hostel and lodge in El Chaupi, a beautiful mountain village an hour south of Quito, just in between Illinizas Ecological Reserve and Cotopaxi National Park. It looks like a typical Swiss town in the Alps, and has everything to become a great mountaineering center, the ‘Chamonix or Zermatt of South America’!

I speak fluent Spanish, English, and little German, French, Hebrew, and Quichua.

The guiding team I lead is committed and experienced. Contact me to help you organize an unforgettable adventure.

Languages

German | French | English

Certificates

ASEGUIM

Residence

El Chaupi

What people are saying about this trip

Benjamin Stewart

5.00

June, 2022

Fernando was a fantastic guide who got me to the summit despite extremely difficult weather conditions! I would highly recommend him to anyone hoping to climb Ecuador's big peaks.

Pavel Janecek

4.00

June, 2021

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Bryan McBride

5.00

July, 2018

Fernando was a wonderful guide. Even though we didn't make it to the top we had a great experience. We plan to return in the future and make it to the top! We hope to have Fernando guide us again.

Mike Burkus

4.00

July, 2018

Fernando is a wonderful guide who understands the Cotopaxi route well. I recommend the climb for anyone looking for a tough mental and physical challenge.

Prices per person

Group of 1	USD 656 Each
Group of 2	USD 389 Each
Group of 3	USD 461 Each
Group of 4	USD 341 Each

Want a different number of travellers?

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transport during the trip

- Permit and entrance fees

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

Price details

Not included: personal mountain gear (warm clothes, sleeping bags, sunglasses, head lamp, etc.), international flight tickets, hotel in Quito, tips, personal insurance, luggage insurance and trip cancellation, oher non-specified expenses.

For booking assistance

Our experienced outdoor adventure team is ready to help you boost your experience and will assist you throughout the whole process, from the moment you choose a program until you return from your trip.

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