Climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo in Ecuador

If you land in **Quito (2800 m)** in the morning, we will visit the Equator line and the Intiñan museum. Night at a hotel.

We’ll leave Quito early in the morning and drive southeast for about 2 hours through the Andean highlands until we get to the trail head (3300m). The hike goes through an amazing primary Andean forest, great for bird watching. We arrive to the summit of **Pasochoa** (4230 m). If the weather is good, we’ll have a panoramic view of snow capped mountains, such as **Antisana, Cayambe, Illinizas, Cotopaxi** and even **Chimborazo** far away to the south in clear days. The round hike will take us about 6 hours. Return to Quito by late afternoon. Night at a hotel. Includes breakfast and box lunch.

**Rucu Pichincha** is one of the closest mountains from Quito and also one of the favorite peaks for acclimatization purposes. It towers up just above Quito, so it will take us 15 to 20 minutes to get to the parking lot by car (3300 m). From here we’ll ride on the cable car (one of the highest in the world) for another 15 to 20 minutes up to the trail head (4100 m). From this point, we’ll follow a long ridge which will take us to the base of the summit. After traversing north, we’ll continue gaining altitude by hiking on sandy terrain which will lead us to the top (4698 m). The total hiking time will be around 6 hours. Return to Quito by late afternoon. Night at a hotel. Includes breakfast and box lunch.

We leave Quito in the morning and drive through the **Avenue of the Volcanoes** until getting to the village of ‘**El Chaupi’**. We’ll continue driving up until getting to ‘La Virgen parking lot’ (3900 m). Once there we’ll start around 3 to 4 hours hike up to the **‘Nuevos Horizontes Refuge’** (4750 m), where we’ll have something to eat and relax the rest of the afternoon. Dinner will be served by late afternoon. Night in the hut. Includes breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

Our climbing day starts early in the morning. We’ll have a light breakfast, pack our climbing equipment and leave the refuge. We’ll continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between both peaks. The approaching to the top involves an easy 3 to 4 hour scrambling. Once at **Illiniza Norte summit (5126 m)** we’ll enjoy and admire the beautiful surroundings. It’ll take us around 7 hours round trip. Night at in the old Hacienda. Includes breakfast and box lunch.

From the Hacienda we’ll drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until getting to the **Cotopaxi National Park** entrance. From here we’ll drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4500 m). Then, we’ll hike up for around an hour to the **Jose Ribas Refuge** (4800 m). In the afternoon we’ll head up to the glacier for ice practices and training. We’ll learn some basic techniques which will include how to handle climbing equipment (crampons, ice axe, rope, etc). We’ll go back to the Refuge for dinner and rest. Includes box lunch and dinner.

Midnight will be our wake up time. The departure to the top of Cotopaxi (5897 m) will be around 01 AM, after having a light breakfast and getting our stuff ready for the ascent. The climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit we’ll take our time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head down back to the refuge, which it will take us 2 to 3 hours. Once at the refuge we’ll pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take us to Baños town (1800 m). Night at the hotel. Includes breakfast and box lunch.

Rest day in the small town of Banos (1800 m); optional visit to waterfalls along the Pastaza River Canyon. Night at a hotel. Includes breakfast.

From Baños, we’ll drive southwest to the **Chimborazo’s Reserve** entrance for about 4 hours, until getting to the Hermanos Carrel refuge (4800 m). From here we’ll walk up for about an hour to the **Whimper’s Hut** (5000 m), where we’ll have dinner and get some rest until 23 PM. There will be an early light breakfast served just before getting ready with our gear and start heading up. Includes box lunch and dinner.

At midnight we’ll start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest mountain, **Chimborazo**, which will take us about 8 to 10 hours. We’ll get to the summit (6310 m) in the early hours, the perfect spot for resting and taking pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Then we’ll start our descending to the refuge; it will take us from 3 to 4 hours. Once in Whimper’s refuge we’ll pack our gear and go down to Hermanos Carrel refuge, where our transportation will be ready to drive back to Quito. Night at a hotel. Includes breakfast and box lunch.

Transfer from the hotel to the Airport. Includes breakfast.