Climb 5 different and impressive volcanoes in 7 days, including Cotopaxi, guided by Fernando, an ASEGUIM mountain leader, and his team. Let him share with you his passion for mountaineering and his love for Ecuador.
Private
Andes
7 Days
Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec
Fit
Intermediate
Each one of the volcanoes we’ll visit has their own personality and wonderful sceneries. So each day, we will live a completely different adventure.
To reach Pasochoa we’ll drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a scenic route that crosses the ecuadorian mountain range. Then, our next goal will be the summit of Corazón, which translates to heart in english. Corazón has two summits, and a hill in the shape of a heart, thus its name. Also, it is home of a dazzling green turquoise lagoon. Thereupon we’ll visit the equally mesmerizing Quilotoa Lagoon, and Illiniza Norte, a stratovolcano that stands out for its beauty. Moreover, it is the perfect ascent to acclimatize for our main goal during this expedition: Cotopaxi.
Cotopaxi is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful volcanoes on Earth! It is one of the most active volcanoes as well. And it’s the second highest one in Ecuador. We’ll attempt to reach the summit departing at midnight. We will stand at the top of Cotopaxi right after sunrise, around 6:00 am. So we’ll get a hypnotizing view of the area, hard to compare.
Would you like to come with me on this journey? Request to book this trip and let me guide you to these marvellous places in Ecuador.
Looking for a shorter trip? Check this full day trek in Cotopaxi National Park.
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transport during the trip
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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 and transfers to Cotopaxi National Park; 4 nights accommodation at the Andes Alpes café; 1 night accommodation at the Cotopaxi Refuge Jose Rivas; all meals during the hikes and climbs. 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.
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.
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.
Early morning, after breakfast, we’ll head towards the Nuevo Horizontes mountain hut, located between Illiniza Norte and Sur. The ascent to the hut will help us acclimatize for our next target: Illiniza Norte.
Once more we’ll start our day early. After a light breakfast we’ll pack up and head towards Illiniza Norte. Upon arrival to the top, we’ll descend and trek towards El Chaupi.
We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning. Then we’ll drive towards the Quilotoa Lagoon. On the way there, we’ll stop at the Tigua community. Then, we’ll reach a viewpoint to observe the crater and its lagoon. Thereupon we’ll descend to the lagoon. Finally, after lunch, we’ll return to El Chaupi.
We will depart from El Chaupi, driving through the Avenue of Volcanoes until we reach the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4500m) then we’ll hike for around an hour to the José Rivas Refuge (15,951 ft. / 4862 m.). We will then have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.
At midnight we’ll leave to the summit of Cotopaxi, having breakfast on the way. At the entrance of the glacier, your guide will explain all necessary tips needed for using crampons and ice axe if needed. 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.
Accommodation Mountain refuges and hostels. |
Meeting point Quito |
ASEGUIM Guide from Ecuador.
I was born and raised in Cotopaxi Province – Ecuador and know the country’s peaks intimately. I have great mountaineering experience of more than 12 years of climbing in all Ecuador, and I also climbed in South America, Switzerland, and France.
I manage a guiding company, so sometimes I'm the one guiding the trips, but sometimes I'm focused on company management, and one of the certified guides of my team will be guiding you. All the guides with whom I work are professional and certified guides.
I worked for the Nuevos Horizontes refuge on Ilinizas Volcano from a young age and have professional Guide Training, and I am officially Licensed as a Nature guide organized by the 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 hostel and lodge in El Chaupi, a beautiful mountain village an hour south of 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 Quichua.
The guiding team I lead is committed and experienced. Contact me to help you organize an unforgettable adventure.
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