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HIGHLIGHTS
• Good first approach to climbing in the Andes.

• Guiding ratio of 1:2 on Cotopaxi.

• Good first high altitude experience.

• A short and compact expedition with lots to do and enjoy.

• Local guides with international experience.

• Updated knowledge of the local conditions.

• Great accommodation in typical "Haciendas".

 

COMPLIMENTARY
EXTENSIONS
Galapagos Islands
A naturalist's paradise!
 
These are the legendary islands that inspired the father of the theory of "The Evolution of the Species", Charles Darwin.
There is few places on Earth as overwhelming and powerful for the profound experience of interacting with wildlife and nature as you will do here!
If you are in Ecuador, visiting Galapagos is a must.

Amazon Jungle
As unique as the jungles are, the Amazon is the single most important forest in our planet. Not only it has the largest concentration of species ever imagined, but it holds the secrets of a world so mysterious and rich, that we are still at the brink of revealing a small part of it.

Bellavista
Cloud Forest Reserve

Less than two hours away from Quito lies one the 25 "biodiversity hot spots" in the World. It is the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena Hot Spot which runs from northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and southern Panama.

Located on the edge of this area is the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, a 700 hectare private reserve that holds 10 km of paths to explore. Home to hundreds of species of wildlife and flora it is a distinct vision of a tropical rainforest.

 

OTHER CLIMBING EXPEDITIONS
 
 

"The volcanoes of Ecuador have given the country universal fame among the geologists of the world. They are the terror of the indians, the admiration of the conquistadors, the study of the naturalist and the plague of the people who live near them."

Edward Whymper, Travel Among the Andes of Ecuador, 1890.

This is a 13 day itinerary, where you find high altitude climbing combined with moderate easy hiking and cultural visits to historical places. Between the climbs you will stay in countryside farms or "haciendas" which have been converted into hostels.
Not only is this an excellent mountaineering experience, but you will also see the real life of the Ecuadorian countryside.
Please note that Chimborazo, due to its difficult conditions, is not included in the program. On request, it can be added as an extension to the expedition.
Day 1
Middle of the World Monument
and Pululahua Crater.

As this is your first day in Ecuador at an altitude of 2.800 m / 9,184 ft, we will take you to do some easy walking and to visit some interesting places, such as the Middle of the World 23 kilometres North of Quito. There we will visit the Mitad del Mundo Equatorial Line Monument, at an altitude of 2.480 m / 8,134 ft.
You can visit a very interesting ethnographic museum and a typical colonial town, with restaurants, gift shops and a post office.
Charles- Marie de la Condamine and his French expedition of 1736, were the first to the determine the Equator line.
A few kilometres further on is the Pululahua crater, which is one of the few inhabited in the world. Nowadays it is a geo botanical reserve due to its dramatic contrasts in vegetation. If there is time and especially if you have the energy - on your very first day - we will walk down into the crater.
Day 2
City Tour.

Few cities in the world can match the setting of Quito, the second highest capital in Latin America after La Paz. Quito lies in a narrow valley running North to South. It is wedged between the slopes of Pichincha Volcano to the West, and a steep canyon formed by the Machangara River to the East. Quito is very much a city of two halves.

The Old City is the colonial centre, where pastel-coloured houses and ornate churches line a warren of steep and narrow streets. During the morning we will visit some of the colonial churches in the old town as well as the hill of El Panecillo where there is a museum. From there we will have a wonderful view of the whole city.
At the end of the day there will be a slide show, which will give you a bit of a flavour of what to expect during your trip.

Day 3
Hike around Cuicocha Lake. Night at Los Pinos (www.lospinosdecuicocha.com)

Cotacachi volcano and Laguna de Cuicocha are located 60 km North of Quito. Cuicocha is a collapsed volcanic crater. Inside there is now a deep lake. Its diameter is approximately 4 km and the lake is more than 200 m deep. The islands in the middle of the lake are resurgent volcanic cones. The name Cuicocha means guinea pig, as one of the islands resembles this animal.
The hike around the lake will normally take around 5 hours.

Day 4
Otavalo Market. Night at Aya Huma Hostel (www.ayahuma.com)

Otavalo has one of the biggest indigenous markets of Ecuador. You will have a chance to buy local textiles and hand crafts. There is a market on every day of the week. However Saturday is the best. We recommend you visit first the animal market as it starts early in the morning.
Due to its wonderful colours, Otavalo is a paradise for photographers.

 
Day 5
Drive and hike to the Pucaras of Pambamarca 3.900 m / 12,792 ft. Night at Hacienda Guachala (www.guachala.com)

Today we will drive for one and a half hours and hike to the ruins of the pucara at Pambamarca. The Quichua term ‘pukara’ means "fortress" or "castle". A pukara is characterised by its form of concentric circles of walls and pits. Pucaras are a feature of the Andean landscape in the North of Ecuador. The most important fortress was at Pambamarca. The hike will take no more than three hours.
Day 6
Drive to Hacienda La Carriona (www.lacarriona.com)

Today is a driving day from the Cayambe region to Hacienda la Carriona. On the way there will be a chance to stop at a local supermarket.
La Carriona is located within the valley of Los Chillos, close to the Pasochoa volcano. It was constructed as a hacienda more than two hundred years ago and represents Ecuador’s colonial history. Nowadays it has been converted into a beautiful hostel. It has a sauna, swimming pool, bubble bath etc.

Day 7
Hike up Pasochoa volcano 4.200 m / 13,776 ft. Night at Hacienda La Estación.

Having had a few days to begin the acclimatisation process in Ecuador, we now go for the first summit of a volcano. After a short drive we hike out into the countryside towards Pasochoa. This mountain is an ancient and heavily eroded volcano that has been inactive since the last Ice Age. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this excursion is that Pasochoa is one of the few volcanoes where we may see condors flying - the largest flying birds in South America. We spend the night in a delightfully distinctive hacienda, La Estación.

Day 8
Iliniza: Hike to la Virgen 3.800 m / 12,464 ft. Camping.

From the village of El Chaupi, located in the foothills of Iliniza, we hike up to the entrance of the Iliniza Ecological Reserve. From there we head towards our base camp, hiking through several the fields of the Hacienda El Refugio. This is the first night we spend at high altitude and therefore it plays a very important role in our acclimatisation process.

Day 9
North Iliniza Summit day. Camping at La Virgen.

North and South Ilinizas are located about 55 km south-west of Quito. Originally, there was one volcano, which exploded in a massive eruption that split the mountain in half a very long time ago. The two peaks are separated by a saddle and are about 2 km away from one another. South Iliniza is icy and therefore difficult. North Iliniza is rocky and a lot easier. 50 years ago North Iliniza had a glacier, but it has completely melted in the last few decades.
We will climb North Iliniza and during the climb you will gain a lot of altitude. The route is from the west side of the mountain, with some easy scrambling below the summit. From the summit, there are spectacular views of Iliniza South, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo, the highest volcano in Ecuador. After the climb we go back to our camp to rest.

Day 10
Drive to Hacienda El Porvenir 3. 600 m / 11,808 ft.

On the North side of the Cotopaxi Park there is the Hacienda El Porvenir. It is one of the largest farms in Ecuador with almost 5.000 hectares. It can be used as a base for excellent hikes within the Cotopaxi National Park. Located at 3.600 m / 11,808 ft, El Porvenir is surrounded by four volcanoes: Cotopaxi, Sincholahua, Pasachoa and Rumiñahui. Here you will be able to enjoy your stay in a comfortable, functional and beautiful traditional Andean hacienda. The "casa de hacienda", or farmhouse, is built with materials such as brick, straw, wood and adobe that have been used for centuries.
Day 11
Cotopaxi. Night in the refuge 4.800 m / 15,744 ft.

We drive to 4.600 m / 15,088 ft and then walk to the Cotopaxi Refuge at 4.800 m / 15,144 ft.
Having arrived at the refuge at lunchtime, we rest in the afternoon and evening, preparing for a night time climb. This is a must in Ecuador because the conditions of our snow and ice are not as stable as in other parts of the world, due to the direct sunlight that we receive in the Equator line.

Day 12
Cotopaxi summit day.

We leave the refuge at around 1 a.m. in the morning. First we will climb to the top of a triangular scree slope above the refuge. A large featureless glacier is then followed, weaving between large, obvious crevasses. Bearing right, we pass below a large black rock before cutting back left to reach the ice encrusted crater rim. The final section is quite steep. The true summit lies along the crater rim to the right. Cotopaxi's crater is a spectacular feature and the proximity of ice and steam vents is particularly impressive.
During the climb ropes will be used to protect the team from crevasses and also to provide protection on the steeper sections.
The ascent normally takes between five to seven hours up and two hours down.

Day 13
Cotopaxi summit day # 2.

Should the weather not allow us to climb, the ascent can be delayed one more day. Drive back to Quito.

Important Note: Please note that this itinerary is a guide line only. We will do every effort to follow it, but in case of unforeseen circumstances we may have to make changes.

 

 

Prices
 
2 pax $ 1.800 per person
3 pax $ 1.700 per person
4 + $ 1.600 per person

What the price includes
• All transport by private vehicles during the program.
• Accommodation:3 hotel nights in Quito on B&B type, haciendas and huts. All in double basis.
• All the food once out of Quito.
• Camping gear.
• Permits and park fees.
• One guide for the acclimatisation hikes.
• One bilingual qualified mountain guide per every two climbers on Cotopaxi.
• Climbing gear: Boots (up to 46 EU / 11 1/2 U.S.), crampons, harness, ice axe and group gear such as ropes.

The Price does not include
• International flights.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals while in Quito.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Extras, laundry, tips.

Logistics
Duration 13 days
Access Drive in and drive out, trekking some places
Seasons All year round
Pre-requisites Backpaking experience
Equipment
Accommodation Hostels and mountain refuges
 
Difficulty Level / (Explanation)
Pululahua Easy
Cuicocha Easy
Pambamarca Easy
Pasochoa Easy
North Iliniza Intermediate
Cotopaxi Intermediate
 
Map / Explore Ecuador's Interactive Map
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