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Climb Cotopaxi, 4 volcanoes in 5 days (Ecuador)
Let Fernando, an ASEGUIM certified mountain leader, guide you across mesmerizing landscapes of Ecuador. Join him on this 5 days ascent to the summit of Cotopaxi, Pasochoa, Corazón and Illiniza.
Highlights
Stand at the top of Cotopaxi with a local and expert guide.
Reach the summit of Pasochoa, Corazón and Illiniza too.
Enjoy some of the most breathtaking sceneries in the country.
Description
Ecuador guards majestic places, enchanting towns, vibrant cities, warm people, exquisite food and colorful traditions. But one of the most marvellous places in this country is the Cotopaxi National Park, home of Cotopaxi (5,897 m).
Join me on this 5 days expedition and reach the summit of this stunning volcano along with other equally magnificent ones such as Pasochoa, Corazón and Illiniza.
Cotopaxi is regarded as one of the most beautiful volcanoes on Earth. This active volcano is also the second highest in Ecuador. Reaching its summit is not a highly technical ascent. However, it requires participants to take a pre-climb glacier travel course. But worry not, as the itinerary I propose includes this course, the afternoon before our ascent. It includes the use of ropes, crampons and ice axes, along with some basic techniques.
Everyday will be a unique and marvellous adventure. Nonetheless it will be the day in which we reach Cotopaxi‘s summit, one of the most unforgettable ones. We’ll leave the refuge around midnight. Then, around 6 am we will be arriving to the top with a hypnotizing sunrise accompanying us.
Due to the altitude of this expedition we highly recommend our Acclimatization Packages. So you can truly enjoy this mountaineering experience.
Also, please note this is a private trip. Therefore, I will take into careful consideration your requests and expectations.
Are you up for this mountaineering trip to the summit of Cotopaxi? Just send me a request and prepare to live an exciting adventure in Ecuador.
I also guide this Quilotoa Lake guided hiking day, if you want to further explore the region.
Accommodation Hostels, mountain refuges and hotels |
Meeting point Quito |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito 2800m - Pasochoa 4200m - El Chaupi 3300m
Around 8 am we leave Quito. After that we’ll drive through the Avenue of Volcanoes until the Pasochoa Parking Lot. Thereupon we’ll hike and ascend steep slopes to reach the summit of Pasochoa. And at the end of the day we’ll return to El Chaupi. A box lunch and dinner are included.
Day 2: El Chaupi - Corazón Volcano 4788m
After breakfast we’ll drive to the trailhead where we’ll begin our hike, which will take us through small Andean grasslands. Later, we’ll reach a sandy scramble section that leads to the summit of Corazon. Finally, we’ll return to the hostel for dinner and to rest. The meals included on this day are breakfast, a box lunch and dinner.
Day 3: El Chaupi - Iliniza North 5126m
Early morning, after breakfast, we’ll drive to the La Virgen parking lot, from where our hike to the Nuevos Horizontes Refuge begins. Here, we’ll rest, gear up and head towards the summit of Illiniza Norte. Then, we’ll drive back to El Chaupi, and stay at the hostal Andes Alpes. The meals included are a box lunch and dinner.
Day 4: El Chaupi - Refugio Jose Ribas 4862m - Glaciar School 5100m
We’ll depart from El Chaupi, driving through the Avenue of Volcanoes until we reach the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. Then, we’ll drive to the Jose Ribas Refuge. Later that afternoon we’ll have our glacier training course. On this day the meals included are breakfast, a box lunch and dinner.
Day 5: Refugio - Summit Cotopaxi 5897 m – Quito/Latacunga
At midnight we’ll leave to the summit of Cotopaxi, having breakfast on the way. After 6-8 hours we’ll reach the top. Then we’ll begin our descent, back to the refuge and the parking lot, where our private transportation will be waiting to drive us back to Quito.
About the guide
ASEGUIM Guide from Ecuador.
I was born and raised in Cotopaxi Province – Ecuador and know the country’s peaks intimately. I have a 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 a professional Guide Training, and I am officially Licensed as Natural guide organized by 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 hostal and lodge in El Chaupi, a beautiful mountain village an hour south from 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 kichua.
For booking assistance
Have any doubts? Talk directly with an Explore Share assistant.
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Prices per person
Group of 1 | USD 1485 each |
Group of 2 | USD 743 each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
• Guiding fee
• Accommodation
• Transport during the trip
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Price details
• The price includes: the fee of an ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide; registration in the System SIB (System Information of Biodiversity); Technical mountain gear (mountaineering Boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet); private transportation throughout the trip; 4 nights accommodation at the Hostal Andes Alpes; 1 night accommodation at the Cotopaxi Refuge Jose Rivas; all meals during the hikes and climbs; glaciar school. The price does not include: personal mountain gear (warm cloths, sleeping bags, sunglasses, head lamp, etc.); international flight tickets; accommodation in Quito, tips, insurance of any kind Travel accident and health insurance, luggage insurance and trip cancellation; other non-specified expenses.
What people are saying about Fernando Iza
Adam Burrage
5.00
December 2019
Dick Fields
5.00
December 2019
The traveller did not leave a comment.
Barbara Matter
5.00
July 2019
The traveller did not leave a comment.
The Reality Twister
4.00
March 2019
Fernando is an excellent and knowledgeable guide, and the itinerary is a nice balance of climbs and recovery time, including time to explore a couple of cities. He also made sure we were well-equipped for the climbs. The guides are geared more toward getting you up and down than toward building any technique. It\'s not billed as an instructional course, so that\'s not a complaint -- just pointing it out for those who like to use one experience to build to another rather than just reach the summit.
Chase Taylor
4.00
March 2019
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.
Gareth Treharne
5.00
June 2018
The traveller did not leave a comment.
Luis E Valdes
5.00
February 2018
It was a great experience. Everything was very well arranged and taken care of. The guide (Fernando Iza) was extremely professional, safe, and friendly. I was very happy about everything, and would recommend booking with Fernando Iza for any hiking trip on Ecuador.
Marcela Hronesova
5.00
January 2018
The traveller did not leave a comment.
Great experience climbing with Fernando: Well organised and we made the summit with him on Chimborazo. I\'d recommend him for guiding in Ecuador.