A local certified mountain guide will take you to the summit of Cayambe, Chimborazo and the highest active volcano in the world, the Cotopaxi!
Andes
16 Days
Jun, Jul
High
Intermediate
Have you ever wondered how it is like to climb 5 volcanoes in two weeks, surrounded by an extraordinary collection of glaciers, valleys and picturesque houses? You can know how it is like if you sign up for this 16-day program.
We will start with an acclimatization, achieved thanks to the first 2 goals of the trip: the Guagua Pichincha peak at 4794m and the Rucu Pichincha, at 4627m. Afterwards, we will try their three ‘big brothers’: Cayambe (5790 m), Cotopaxi, which is the world’s highest active volcano at 5897m, and Chimborazo, at 6310m, which is the furthest point from the center of the Earth.
Climbing Cayambe first will give the participants the abilities and fitness to reach the other two peaks, because they will require a high level of fitness and experience.
On 16 days, we will also get to visit cultural spots such as the famous Otovalo Indian Market, to relax submerged in the Oyacachi hot springs, and to visit Baños, a quiet colonial city.
Sign up and get to live it! I am waiting for your request.
Transfer to the hotel from the airport of Quito.
We will visit the Indian market of Otavalo, hike one hill above the town of Otavalo and San Pablo lake, the biggest in Ecuador. After an hour and a half, we will stop to enjoy a typical Otavaleño and Ecuadorian meal. We’ll take an afternoon drive back to Quito, stopping at the Equatorial Monument or Equatorial line.
We will make our acclimatization ascent on the Guagua Pichincha or Rucu Pichincha volcano at 4,800m.
We will make a scenic tour across Quito, and also will visit the national ethnological museum and other interesting places.
We’ll depart from Quito at 9:00 A.M., and arrive at the Cayambe volcano refuge by 3:00 P.M. (4,700m).
We will go on the glacier at 8:30 A.M to continue our acclimatization. We will engage in the moderate glacier section to familiarize ourselves with the climbing techniques and equipment. I will train you on glacier skills, all necessary techniques for climbing the high peaks like Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and other mountains. We’ll learn rope-handling, glacier travel, snow climbing, basic crevasse rescue skills and safety techniques. After 6 hours training, we go back to the refuge for a delicious lunch and early dinner. We will get prepared for a midnight departure to Cayambe.
We’ll get up at midnight for breakfast and final equipment check up. We will leave the refuge at 1:00 A.M. and climb with headlamps for the first 4 hours. We’ll reach the final Cayambe summit at about 9:00 A.M. We will return to the hut around 2:00 P.M.
We will spend our day swimming in the hot pools of Oyacachi. After a relaxing afternoon, we will drive to La Cienega hotel near the Cotopaxi volcano.
We will drive into the Cotopaxi National Park. From here we will have a 45 minute hike with full packs up to the Jose Rivas hut. We will enjoy a hot tea and a short rest before heading out to the glacier for an afternoon review of technical training and equipment preparation.
We will climb for 7 hours to the summit of the Cotopaxi volcano. We will overnight at Hosteria La Cienega.
We will arrive at the lower refuge of Chimborazo “Carrel” at 4,800m around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon and continue with our acclimatization.
We will walk 40 minutes with full packs up to the Whimper hut on the Chimborazo flank, located at 5,000m. There, we will rest and prepare ourselves for the early morning departure.
We will climb for 8 or 9 hours to the summit of the volcano. We will first traverse moderately angled ice slopes, climb through a series of icefalls and up to the steep ice ramps, climbing simultaneously on moderate grounds belaying up the steep pitches. Our team will rope together in order to cross crevasses and finally make it to the summit.
We will spend the day at the colorful town of Baños.
We will drive back to Quito and have a farewell dinner at our hotel.
5.0
(1)
Mountain Guide
20 years climbing
8 years mountaineering
I am a sports climbing coach
I like trekking guides and mountains
Languages
Portuguese | English
Certificates
ASEGUIM
Paul
5
Had an amazing time with my guide Ramiro. He selected the perfect mix of mountains in order to properly acclimatize so I could achieve the summit of Cayambe. With his vast experience of more than three decades he was able to teach me a lot of skills and know-how along the way so I’d always feel safe on the mountains. I can only recommend a trip with Ramiro. You’re definitely in good hands and going to make wonderful experiences.
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