Climb Cotopaxi and 3 other volcanoes in 8 days

Details

Highlights

Price per person

Price includes

• Guiding fee
• Accommodation
• All meals during trip
• Transport to the start of the trip
• Transport during the trip
• Luggage transfer during the trip
• Group equipment
• Permit and entrance fees

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Quito (2800 m)

  I will await your arrival in Quito. If you arrive in the morning, we can visit the equator line and the Intiñan museum. You’ll spend the night in your hotel.

• Day 2: Quito to Pasochoa (4320 m)

  We’ll leave Quito early and drive for about 2 hours southeast through the Andean highlands until we get to the Pasochoa trailhead (3300 m). The hike to the summit goes through an amazing primary Andean forest that is great for birdwatching. We’ll arrive on the summit (4230 m) and if we have good weather we’ll be able to see the surrounding mountains of Antisana, Cayambe, Illinizas, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. The roundtrip hike will take about 6 hours. We’ll be back in Quito by the late afternoon and spend the night in the hotel.

• Day 3: Quito to Rucu Pichincha (4698 m)

  Rucu Pinchincha towers just above Quito, so it will only take us 15 or 20 minutes to get to the parking lot (3300 m). From there, we’ll take a cable car for 15 to 20 minutes up to the trailhead. The trail follows a long ridge that takes us to the base of the summit. After traversing north, we’ll continue gaining altitude by hiking on sandy terrain to the summit (4698 m). The total hiking time will be around 6 hours. We’ll return to the hotel by late afternoon.

• Day 4: Quito to Nuevos Horizontes Hut (4750 m)

  We’ll leave Quito in the morning and drive through the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” until we get to the village El Chaupi. We’ll keep driving up to the Illinizas parking lot. From there, we’ll hike 3-4 hours to the Nuevos Horizontes Refuge (4750 m). We’ll spend the rest of the day and night relaxing and eating at the hut.

• Day 5: Hut to Illiniza Norte Summit (5126 m) to La Estación

  We’ll start early in the morning, having a light breakfast and packing our climbing equipment. We’ll hike up to the saddle formed between Illiniza North and Illiniza South. Our rout to the top of Illiniza North involves 3-4 hours of easy scrambling. Once at the summit (5126 m), we’ll enjoy the beautiful surroundings. It will take around 7 hours to complete the hike. We’ll spend the night at Hacienda La Estación.

• Day 6: La Estación to Cotopaxi Refuge (4800 m)

  We’ll get up and drive from the Hacienda to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. We’ll park at the parking lot (4500 m) and then hike up for around an hour to the Jose Rivas Refuge (4800 m). In the afternoon we’ll head up the glacier to practice our ice climbing skills. We’ll learn some basic techniques with crampons, ice axes, and rope. We’ll return to the refuge to have dinner and rest.

• Day 7: Refuge to Cotopaxi Summit (5897 m) to Quito

  We’ll wake up at midnight to start our hike to the top. We’ll have a light breakfast and get our stuff ready for the 6-8 hour climb. Once at the summit, we’ll take our time taking pictures of the crater and surroundings. Then we’ll head back down to the refuge, which will take us about 2 or 3 hours. At the refuge, we’ll pack our things, eat, and head down to the parking lot where our transportation will be ready to take us back to Quito. You’ll sleep that night in your hotel in Quito.

• Day 8: Flight back home

  I’ll pick you up from your hotel in Quito and take you to the airport.

Other details

About the Guide