Ascents of Ecuador’s Majestic Peaks: Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo

Day 1 : Quito Airport

Welcome to Ecuador !

A proverb says *Traveling leaves you speechless at first, before turning you into a storyteller*

… Let the adventure start in the country of the middle of the world ! Chulla vida ! Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide. Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel. Night in the Casa Rocafuerte guest house in Standard room.

Day 2 : Quito Historic Center

English-speaking guide in a private transport. Quito stands out for its topography spread out from north to south, in an Andean corridor flanked by the Pichincha volcano and the valley where the airport is located. But it is above all the largest and most preserved colonial city on the continent.

Then you will visit the colonial and republican center of Quito :

– the Panecillo, the statue of the Virgin of Quito, located on top of a hill overlooking the city;
– the Church of the Society of Jesus (of the Jesuits), the most gold-laden church in South America;
– the Church of San Francisco (of the Franciscans) and its convent/museum;
– the Plaza Grande where the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and the Cathedral of Quito are located;
– the district of La Ronda for its craftsmen;
– the Basilica of the National Vow of Quito, designed by a French architect;
– the Museum of Alabado, of archaeology with its classification of pieces according to the worlds of the indigenous cosmovision. Night in the Casa Rocafuerte guest house in Standard room.

Day 3 : Quito

English-speaking guide in private transport. You will get out of Quito direction to Otavalo, passing through one of the regions where they grow the famous ecuadorian roses and you will appreciate a beautiful landscape made of numerous summits of the northern Andes. Hiking in Cuicocha :

you will discover the sparkling blue waters of one of the most beautiful high altitude lakes in Ecuador. In the center of an ancient crater at 3064m of altitude, it is the meeting place for nature lovers with an extremely varied flora (orchids, elephant ears…), more than 400 species have been recorded there. You will be impressed to discover the two islets of the crater from different view angles all along the loop.

Difficulty: Easy Trek: Sunday sportsmen, welcome!

Estimated duration: 4 to 5 hours around the lagoon. – Elevation: +300m/-300m – Max. altitude: 3300m – Distance: 14.5 km. Night at Doña Esther hotel in Standard room.

Day 4 : Mojanda

English-speaking guide in private transport. Ascent of Fuya Fuya:

You will go to the Mojanda Lagoon. This lake is located in a peaceful place at about 3700m. It is surrounded by sloping meadows with the Fuya Fuya volcano as a backdrop. You will climb to the top of Fuya Fuya from the lagoon, which will allow you on a clear day to have a view of the snow-capped peaks of the volcanoes Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Antisana and the craters of the volcanoes Cotacachi and Imbabura.

Difficulty: Easy ascent: experience the challenge!

Estimated time: 3 to 4 hours – Elevation: +510m./-510m. – Max. altitude: 4279m. – Distance: 5 km.

Dinner and overnight in the Karanqui indigenous community of San Clemente. You will be hosted in a family where you will share the meal.

This stay is one of the most genuine exchange experiences within an indigenous community.

Day 5 : San Clemente

English-speaking guide in private transport. Ascent of Imbabura:

This morning you will make the ascent of Imbabura with your guide of the San Clemente comunity. It offers magnificent views of the peaks and valleys of the northern part of the Sierra. The hike starts at about 3200m. in the middle of the paramo and ends at about 4600m in a rocky landscape where you walk around the crater to reach the highest point.

Difficulty: Moderate ascent: technical summit, be in shape!

Estimated duration: 7 to 8 hours – Elevation: +1400m/-1400m – Max. altitude: 4557 m – Distance: 18 km. Cayambe is awaiting for you at a short distance from Ibarra. Night at hacienda Guachala close to Cayambe, in Standard room.

Day 6 : Cayambe

Ascent of Caymbe:

Today, you will head to Cayambe National Park, the third highest mountain in Ecuador after Chimborazo and Cotopaxi.

Located north of Quito, its ascent is a good alternative because it is not very crowded.

You will reach the Oleas Ruales refuge at 4600m. where you will be accommodated. Enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding peaks and its productive valleys. Meals will be served at the refuge.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.*

Day 7 : Cayambe

English-speaking guide in a private transport. Ascent of Cayambe:

Departure at midnight with your headlamp.

The ascent will be done in rope. After an ascent through a rocky field for about 1h30, you will put on your crampons and then start with 4 to 5 hours of walking in the ice on a constant slope of 25 degrees. The ascent is not technical but requires a good acclimatization and an excellent physical condition for this continuous climb in the middle of the glacier.

You will reach the summit at dawn to discover an amazing panorama. Descend then to the refuge (3 hours) for breakfast.

Difficulty: Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m.!

Estimated duration: 9 to 10 hours – Elevation: +1190m./-1190m. – Max. Altitude: 5790m. – Distance: 8 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.* Night at Ikala hotel in Standard room.

Day 8 : Quito

English-speaking guide in a private transport. *Suggestion of visit: the Guayasamín Museum*

*Where you can find the Human Chapel , ultimate artwork of the most famous of Ecuador’s modern painters, Oswaldo Guayasamín. This chapel was designed by the artist as a tribute to humanity and was partly painted by himself.*

*Several of his works are on display here.*

*Guayasamin is internationally renowned and, among other things, gave Unesco a fresco which still adorns the entrance to the Executive Board room in Paris.*

*NOTE: Entrance fees is 10 USD per person, free for children younger than 6 years old.* You will participate in a chocolate tasting organized in partnership with one of the most famous Ecuadorian chocolate manufacturers, Pacari.

You will be explained the process of chocolate elaboration, the origin of the cacao fino de aroma and the history of cocoa in the world.

You will have the privilege of tasting 10 different chocolates and learn how to smell, crunch and savor it to appreciate all its facets.

*NOTE: Pacari works directly with farming families and provides them with a good remuneration for pure and organic cocoa, thus preserving the genetic diversity of cocoa in Ecuador. This initiative has been rewarded many times at the international level both for the quality of the products and the social commitment.* Night at Ikala hotel in Standard room.

Day 9 : North Iliniza

Ascent of North Illiniza:

The North Illiniza is the eighth highest mountain in Ecuador. The difference with the South Illiniza is that is not normally covered with ice so it does not need any particular equipment. It takes a very strong physical condition.

In the morning you will go to The Virgin from where you’ll start the climb. You will arrive in two to three hours to the refuge New Horizons . The climb will take approximately three to four hours. You can find some places that are full of snow but predominantly stone and sand. Then you will return to your vehicle.

You will spend the night at the Huerta Sacha Lodge (2900m.).

Difficulty: Moderate ascent: technical summit, be in shape!

Estimated duration: 7 to 9 hours – Elevation: +1075m./-1075m. – Max. altitude: 5126m. – Distance: 10 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner included. One guide for three persons.*

Day 10 : Cotopaxo

Ascent of Cotopaxi:

Ascent by car up to 4500m. of altitude where the vehicle will be left before walking to the José Rivas refuge (4864m.) where you will rest before the ascent foreseen around midnight.

Difficulty: Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m.!

Estimated duration: 30 to 45 minutes – Elevation: +350m. – Max. altitude: 4860m. – Distance: 1 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.*

Day 11 : Cotopaxi Park

Ascent of Cotopaxi:

You will wake up around 23h., you need to eat something and then you will start the journey at midnight for the ascent of the volcano. This ascension is almost exclusively done in the glacier, but there is no major complications. The cliffs are not very numerous and are very visible. Weather conditions are those that can make a difficult ascent. It will be some hours uphill before admire the top of the volcano, you will return to the refuge at 10h., have something to eat and return to the vehicle.

You will rest at the Rumipamba Lodge (2900m.).

Difficulty: Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m.!

Estimated duration: 8 to 10 hours – Elevation: +1030m./-1400m. – Max. altitude: 5897m. – Distance: 5 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.*

Day 12 : Salcedo

Chimborazo trekking:

We will have a quiet breakfast and head south to the Chimborazo nature reserve. In a landscape of paramo with high wild grasses typical of this Andean region, we will certainly come across a group of vicuñas composed today of 2300 individuals following their reintroduction in 1990.

Afterwards, you will do a wonderful acclimatization and recovery hike to the Whymper Needles refuge at 5300m. After this short hike, we will head to the lodge. Today we rest, the big challenge will be tomorrow!

You will spend the night at Chimborazo Lodge (4000m.).

Difficulty: Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m.!

Estimated duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour – Elevation: +200m. – Max. altitude: 5300m. – Distance: 1km.

Day 13 : Chimborazo Park

Ascent of Chimborazo:

You will go by car to the shelter Carrel to 4850m. altitude. You will prepare your material for the ascension and start your day. You will go to the Whymper refuge at 5060m. altitude, which is the world’s highest shelter, or to the Chimborazo high camp. Depending on the mood of each person you can have a walk towards the points that you will follow next morning or you could rest and walk around the shelter for the night will be short and you have to keep energy for the next day.

Night at the Whymper refuge (5060m.) or at the Chimborazo high camp (5300m.).

Difficulty : Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m.!

Estimated duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour – Elevation: +200m. – Max. altitude: 5060m. – Distance: 1 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.*

Day 14 : Quito

Night at Ikala hotel in Standard room. Ascent of Chimborazo:

You will leave the refuge at midnight for the ascent. You will ascend the glacier Thielman to the peak Veintemilla. From here depending on the weather, you will have a wonderful view of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. You will return to the shelter by the same path where your car will be waiting to continue the adventure. It requires a good physical condition.

Difficulty: Difficult ascent: walking on glacier and altitude >5000m. !

Estimated duration: 10 to 13 hours – Elevation: +1210m./-1410m. – Altitude max.: 6268m. – Distance: 9 km.

*NOTE:* *helmet, harness with carabiner, ice axe, crampons included. One guide for two persons.*

Day 15 : Quito Airport

Transfer with your Spanish-speaking driver from your hotel to Quito airport. Free connection for your international flight from Quito. According to your flight schedule, you will dispose of more or less free time.