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Fuya Fuya, Illiniza, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 15 day climb

Tatras
Guided ascent of Mt Khan Tengri on the Tian-Shan mountains 1
Huayhuash Trekking
Huayhuash

Join Rafael, an ASEGUIM certified guide, on this 15-day mountaineering experience, and summit the highest volcanoes of Ecuador while visiting wonderful places.

Andes

15 Days

All year

High

Intermediate


Description

Let me show you the way up to the highest peaks in Ecuador with this 15-day mountaineering expedition to Pichincha, Illiniza, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi.

Ecuador is home of some of the best volcanos to climb in the world. So I’ve designed a 15-day program to guide you to as many peaks we can reach, so you make the most out of your experience.

That’s why this trip we’ll start with some city tours of Quito and simple walks at 3000 mts, for you to acclimatize before going higher. Then, on the fourth day of our expedition we’ll go to our first summit, the Fuya- Fuya  (4220 m). And after that it we’ll be higher mountains every day: Guagua Pichincha (4784 m), Iliniza North (5116 m), Cotopaxi (5897 m).

And to finish this amazing trip we’ll summit the amazing Chimborazo (6310 m), the highest peak of Ecuador and the furthest point from the center of the earth!!

This is a challenging climb even for some of the most experienced mountaineers in the world. It is a technically easy climb, but the long approach to the summit will certainly test your physical limits. Proper acclimatization is necessary, as is good physical condition, that’s why our previous climb are so important.

So please send me a request if you want to this amazing 15-day mountaineering expedition to the highest peaks of Ecuador.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

- Permit and entrance fees


Itinerary

Day 1: Quito

Transfer from the airport and short briefing about the program. Overnight in Quito.

Day 2: Quito city tour – Old town - Panecillo - Equatorial Line

This is a relaxed day to start the acclimatization. In the afternoon you’ll have free time to wander around. Overnight Quito.

Day 3: Quito - Otavalo

Early in the morning we’ll transfer to Otavalo, on the way we will pass by Indian villages and enjoy a beautiful view of the San Pablo Lake and Peguche’s Waterfall. Car drive will finish at 3100 mts where we will start our hike. Walking around the edge of the crater will take us approximately 4 ½ hours. We will end our hike at the same place where we started. Lunch on the way. Overnight in Otavalo.

Day 4: Otavalo – Fuya Fuya (4220 m)

Departure after breakfast. Hike to the summit of Fuya- Fuya will take us approximately 4 hours.  Lunch on the way. In the afternoon, we will return to Otavalo.

Day 5: Otavalo - Guagua Pichincha (4784 m)

After breakfast, transfer to the slopes of Guagua Pichincha. The summit is reached in approximately 4 hours of a steady hill climb. This slow trek will provide you the first stepping-stone for high peak acclimatization. The views of Quito from the summit are spectacular. Lunch on the way. Transfer to el Chaupi (3300 m) in the late afternoon. Overnight in La Llovizna.

Day 6: El Chaupi - La Llovizna

We will go for an easy hike after breakfast. We will hike on the slopes of the Illinizas for around 3 hours, lunch and rest. Overnight la Llovizna.

Day 7: Iliniza Summit

Very early breakfast followed by a hike to the top of Iliniza North following the normal route. Usually this summit has very little snow and it is easy to reach without crampons just good hiking boots. Approx. 6 to 7 hours hiking up and down to La Virgin. Transfer to Machachi. Overnight.

Day 8: Machachi - Quilotoa Lagoon

We will hike down to the Lagoon for approximately 50 minutes. Inside the crater, we can swim or kayak for a while. Here we will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Lake and admire its changing colors. For the return we can climb up or rent a mule. We will have lunch before visiting an Indian community. Overnight in Latacunga.

Day 9:  Latacunga - Cotopaxi National Park

After breakfast, we’ll depart from Latacunga to the parking area. The hike up to the refuge takes about 1 hour. Then we will have a glacier ice briefing and techniques practice outside the refuge, return, dinner and rest at the refuge.

Day 10: Cotopaxi Summit (5897 m)

We get up around midnight, have a light breakfast and depart to the summit following the normal north route. This should take us around 6 – 7 hours, with good weather as the sun rises we will enjoy some exceptional views. Once we reach the summit we’ll return to the refuge, rest for a while and transfer to Baños where we’ll spend the night.

Day 11: Baños City tour

Today is a well-earned rest day. After breakfast, visit to the waterfalls and Pailon Del Diablo.
Overnight in Baños.

Day 12: Baños - Riobamba

We will depart from Baños taking the Pan-American Highway passing Ambato city and continue driving towards Chimborazo’s refuge. From the parking area, a very short trek will take us to the second refuge, the Whimper Hut at 5000 mts. Refuge dinner and rest.

Day 13: Chimborazo Summit (6310 m)

Depart to the summit before midnight after a very early breakfast. We will follow the standard route to the top, which will take us from 8 to 10 hours.  Return to the refuge 3 hours +-, rest and transfer to Riobamba. Overnight.

Day 14:  Chimborazo’s Reserve Day

This will be an extra day in case of bad weather. In the afternoon return to Quito.

Day 15: Quito – Transfer out  

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

 

Details

More info

What to bring: Personal clothes, warm clothes, Rain jacket, sunglasses, sun protector, gloves, tennis shoes or hiking boots, sleeping bag, head lamp.

Price does not includes Meals in towns: Quito, Otavalo, Machachi, Baños and Riobamba,

Meeting point

Quito.

About the guide

Guide profile image

Rafael

4.8

(31)

Mountain Guide

Rafael was born in Quito and grew up in the Andean Region. Since childhood he Ioved hiking and climbing the mountains.

In the 80 ' He participated in expeditions in Peru, Bolivia South America. In the Alps and Pyrenees and also in the Pamir Pick Communism of 7500mts.
In the 90 ' He was the founder of the School of Guides ASEGUIM, President for 7 years of the Guides Association and promoted and formed the mountain rescue group GRA.

He graduated as Mountain Guide and Guides Instructor at the ENSA in Chamonix–France.

Since 2000 he have been advising, training and participating in 16 expeditions around the world: Alaska, Aconcagua, Alps, Pyrenees, Cordillera Blanca. He has also trained and counseled Ecuadorian climbers who managed to make the 14 eight thousands without auxiliary oxygen, the 7 highest peaks of the world and Big Walls. Since 2001 he started his Adventure Tour Company which operates successfully up to the present under the name of CLIM BIKE HIKE.

Since 2010 he has been training and participating in the project EVEREST without auxiliary oxygen in one day. He has climbed the EVEREST 2 times, and he has reached the summits of: Manaslu, Shisha Pangma, Aconcagua 7 times, Denali 5 times and the summits of the Alpes Materhorn, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Agille. Vert, Zugs Pitze among others.

During his 27 years of experience as a professional mountain guide Rafael has guided more than five hundred times to Cotopaxi volcano and more than one hundred times to Chimborazo, sharing with clients the culture and wonderful mountains of Ecuador.

Languages

French | English

Certificates

ASEGUIM

Request more information

What people are saying about this trip

Kim

5

Rafael was an amazing host! He provided all our accommodations and guides. Every detail was well planned out. He was very accommodating and flexible. He put a lot of thought into the acclimation hikes and logistics. I can not say enough good things about Rafael and ClimbBikeHike!!!


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