9-day Climbing to Chimborazo and Cotopaxi

9-day climbing in Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 1

9-day climbing in Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 2

9-day climbing in Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 3

9-day climbing in Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 4

Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are the highest peaks in Ecuador. Climb them on this 9-day expedition led by Rafael, an ASEGUIM certified mountain guide.

Private and Group

Andes

9 Days

All year

Fit

Intermediate

Highlights

Climb the highest peaks in Ecuador.
Enjoy a 9-day adventure in the famous "Volcano Avenue" of the Andes.
Discover the unique and colorful Ecuadorian Andean culture.

Description

Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are the first and second highest summits in the Ecuadorian Andes. Chimborazo (6,263 m) is the highest mountain in the country as well as the furthest point from the center of the Earth. As for the Cotopaxi (5,897 m) it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

This 9-day trip starts in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. During the expedition, we will also summit North Iliniza (5,116 m), a mountain that works perfectly as an acclimatization peak before trying Cotopaxi. In addition, I’ll guide you to the Pasochoa and Pichincha volcanoes. You will get to see a great variety of wildlife and plants as well as beautiful landscapes and snow-covered peaks.

Although the climbs are not technically difficult, it will be a physically demanding adventure. For this reason, it is mandatory to have a very good fitness condition.

So are you ready for a fantastic climbing adventure across the highest peaks in Ecuador? Send your request to book this trip. It will be an amazing experience!

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transport during the trip

- Permit and entrance fees

- Breakfast

- Dinner

Price details

Not included: Meals in Quito, El Chaupi, Machachi and Baños, personal equipment, tips, additional beverages, travel insurance.

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito - Pasochoa

In the morning, we’ll go from Quito to the Pasochoa protected area. After a 4-hour hike, we will be enjoying beautiful views of all nearby snow picks. Throughout its paths, we can watch colorful butterflies and other small wild animals. We’ll return to Quito in the afternoon.

Day 2: Guagua Pichincha

We’ll drive for a while and then start a 4-hour climb to Guagua Pichincha (4,784 meters). We’ll contemplate Quito from the summit. Afterwards we will go to El Chaupi where we will spend the night.

Day 3: El Chaupi

After breakfast, we will have and easy 3-4 hour hike. Afterward we will return to the refuge, have dinner, and rest for the night.

Day 4: Iliniza Summit

After a very early breakfast, we will hike to the summit of Illiniza North, following the normal route. The hike should take approximately 6-7 hours. Afterwards, we will transfer to Machachi for the night.

Day 5: Cotopaxi refuge

After breakfast, we’ll go to the Cotopaxi National Park and we'll continue driving to the parking area at 4.600mts. A short hike will take us to Jose Ribas Refuge at 4.800mts. Briefing about basic climbing techniques outside the refuge. Dinner and rest at the refuge.

Day 6: Cotopaxi Summit

We get up around midnight, have breakfast, and depart to the summit following the normal route. Reaching the summit may take us 6 to 7 hours. Descend to the refuge and then to the parking area. Then we’ll return to the hut and move to Baños.

Day 7: Baños

Today is a well-earned rest day. After breakfast, we will head to the waterfalls and to the Pailon Del Diablo. Overnight in Baños.

Day 8: Baños - Chimborazo Refuge

Departure after breakfast, heading to Riobamba and continue to Carrel Refuge 4800mts. Dinner and rest at the refuge.

Day 9: Chimborazo Summit

Before midnight, we get up have breakfast and start climbing to the summit. Following the standard route, it may take us from 8 to 9 hours to reach the summit, with good weather we will enjoy a great view of the surrounding peaks. Return to the refuge 2 to 3 hours then, transfer to Quito. End of our services.

Details

Accommodation

1 night in a hotel in Quito 1 night in Laso 1 night in El Chaupi mountain lodge 1 night in Machachi 2 nights in Baños 1 night in Cotopaxi refuge 1 night Chimborazo refuge

Meeting point

Quito

Equipment you will need to bring

Other gear: Personal clothes, warm clothes, Rain jacket, sunglasses, sun cream, gloves, hiking boots, sleeping bag, headlamp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperatures can I expect during the trip?

What is the guide-to-client ratio to climb this mountain?

Is it necessary to have previous experience?

Where will we meet at the start of this trip?

How will accommodation be handled on this trip?

What is the level of difficulty?

What's the current situation to climb Cotopaxi?

Will I need to bring any equipment of my own?

What is NOT included in the price?

How will we acclimatize for this program?

Can I join a group?

About the guide

Rafael

4.88

(24)

Mountain Guide

Rafael was born in Quito and grew up in the Andean Region. Since childhood he Ioved hiking and climbing the mountains.

In the 80 ' He participated in expeditions in Peru, Bolivia South America. In the Alps and Pyrenees and also in the Pamir Pick Communism of 7500mts.
In the 90 ' He was the founder of the School of Guides ASEGUIM, President for 7 years of the Guides Association and promoted and formed the mountain rescue group GRA.

He graduated as Mountain Guide and Guides Instructor at the ENSA in Chamonix–France.

Since 2000 he have been advising, training and participating in 16 expeditions around the world: Alaska, Aconcagua, Alps, Pyrenees, Cordillera Blanca. He has also trained and counseled Ecuadorian climbers who managed to make the 14 eight thousands without auxiliary oxygen, the 7 highest peaks of the world and Big Walls. Since 2001 he started his Adventure Tour Company which operates successfully up to the present under the name of CLIM BIKE HIKE.

Since 2010 he has been training and participating in the project EVEREST without auxiliary oxygen in one day. He has climbed the EVEREST 2 times, and he has reached the summits of: Manaslu, Shisha Pangma, Aconcagua 7 times, Denali 5 times and the summits of the Alpes Materhorn, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Agille. Vert, Zugs Pitze among others.

During his 27 years of experience as a professional mountain guide Rafael has guided more than five hundred times to Cotopaxi volcano and more than one hundred times to Chimborazo, sharing with clients the culture and wonderful mountains of Ecuador.

Languages

French | English

Certificates

ASEGUIM

What people are saying about this trip

Scott Bradley

5.00

July, 2023

Rafael is a pro. Serious and funny. He knows what he is doing and I felt comfortable under his leadership. Great experience

Boris Naydich

4.00

July, 2023

The strongest part of the program are excellent guides. I worked with Pat and also meat with Rafael. They are Super. Couple suggestions for Explore Share Service. Cotopaxi is closed due to ongoing eruption activities. This segment was replaced by climbing Cayambe, which was fine, but even in this e-mail you continue to call the program "9 day Climbing to Chimborazo and Cotopaxi. It might be a good idea to improve on nutrition, providing dinners and lunch boxes while staying in the towns (with adding cost to overall price of the program). As it stands now, breakfasts provided by hotels as normal and all other meals are on climbers themselves, which is inconvenient for them and for the guides. I would also add 1 extra day between climbing Cayambe and Chimborazo to allow recovery from physically involved climbing prior 5,760 m mountain. That would increase a chance for success on Chimborazo. While it is not necessary, but it would be nice to have a certificate with documentation of outcome (summiting such a such mountains) as many other companies do. I would appreciate such certificate as a souvenir and memory about time spent in Ecuador with good people. All in all the program is very good, particularly work of the guides on the mountains, which is the single most important thing. Pato did an excellent job, providing pace, safety margin and teaching technical elements. Big thank you to him and Rafael, who was in touch during the whole expedition.

Victoria Butler

5.00

March, 2023

Rafael was amazing the trip takes you all over Ecuador and the hikes were amazing with very professional guides, safety is #1 the whole time!

Samuel Poe

5.00

March, 2023

Such a great, well-organized program. Not only do you get acclimatized for the mountains faster but you also see a lot of Ecuador, which was a huge plus. Amazing guide, highly recommend.

ADAM ANOZY

5.00

November, 2022

This was a very well organized tour. Although Rafael was unable to continue after day 4 (due to unforeseen circumstances) he made sure l was able to continue with another guide. The acclimatization program worked wonders and l had no altitude issues in Chimborazo or Cayambe (back up as Cotopaxi was closed). I’d highly recommend this program if you are looking to get into mountaineering. I would climb with Rafael again.

Renata Fialho de Oliveira

5.00

February, 2021

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Kateryna Deputat

5.00

February, 2021

Rafael was an amazing guide with many years of experience. The trip was planned very well from the begging till the end as well as acclimatisation. I get well prepared for high altitude. Highly recommended.

John Irish

5.00

December, 2019

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Alec

5.00

November, 2018

The traveller did not leave a comment.