Corazón summit 1-day guided trek

This 1-day Corazón summit guided trek is a great opportunity to visit an untouched mountain pretty close to Machachi!

Corazón Volcano gets its name from a heart shape that some claim to see in two gullies. This view is only appreciated from the northwest. And it's a fun fact, interesting to check if you are in the area. Also, unlike other Ecuadorian mountains, Corazón Volcano holds some pre-Columbian ruins in the northeast slopes, that remain undisturbed by humans.

It's located on the western side of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. So the drive from Machachi will go through this wonderful valley until we get to El Chaupi. This small and cozy village is the port of entry to the Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve. Corazón lies north of the Ilinizas Mountain -which tends to steal all the looks because its higher altitude.

We'll start walking at 4000 m. At the beginning we'll hike through grass. But soon it will become sandy and scrambled. We'll get to the summit, at 4786 m., where we'll go to the southern portion of the crater rim, which is the highest. So we'll enjoy a beautiful scenery while we rest and eat lunch!

The Corazón summit guided trek is perfect if you want to do a familiar acclimatization climb, preparing for higher 5000m or 6000m summits ascents. But it's also a great option to spend a day outside Quito, enjoying great views! It is an 8 hours round trip. So you'll be back at Machachi by late afternoon.

So please contact me if you're interested in reaching the Corazón summit and spend some quality time enjoying nature! And if you have a bit more time to spare and you want to try something longer, check out some other trips: 3-day Cotopaxi trek and 16-day climbing in Avenue of the Volcanoes.