| HIGHLIGHTS |
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Unique route and itinerary to trek into Cotopaxi National
Park. •
An excellent gradual acclimatisation process.
•
Great opportunity to see the rural life in the Ecuadorian
Andes.
•
Hike from the Limpiopungo Plateau to the refuge of Cotopaxi;
a 1.050 m / 3,444 ft climb.
•
Highest altitude reached on the trek is 4.800 m / 15.740
ft.
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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.
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| OTHER
TREKKING EXPEDITIONS |
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Cotopaxi
is without a doubt one of the most beautiful
peaks in the world. A perfect conic volcano.
It is the most popular mountain of Ecuador
and perhaps the most frequently climbed
in all the Andes. Being there, so many times,
made us think of an alternative way of approaching
the mountain.
Unlike all the commercial
trips to Cotopaxi in which you drive to
the mountain refuge, we would like to offer
a different way of approaching this spectacular
volcano. We propose a challenging trekking
all the way up to the refuge. This offers
you a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the
beautiful, peaceful countryside around the
mountain, whilst putting yourself to the
test.
We will hike for 4 days until we get into
the Cotopaxi National Park. On the way we
will climb Pasochoa 4.200 m / 13,776 ft
and hike along the grasslands of the Andean
"paramo". Once we are in the park
we walk up to the Central Summit of Rumiñahui
at 4.600 m / 15,088 ft, have a rest day
and later continue towards the Jose Rivas
Refuge on Cotopaxi at 4.800 m /15,744 ft.
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Day
1
Hike to Hacienda Santa Rita.
After a short drive of only one hour from Quito,
we start hiking from the village of Santa Clara
located in the Valley of Los Chillos at 2.750 m
/ 9,020 ft. The trek follows cobble stone roads
on the side of the Pita River, which comes from
Cotopaxi National Park.
Close to the Hacienda Santa Rita we will pass in
front of a shrine, where locals come to worship
the "Virgen de la Piedra", the Virgin
of the Rock. The reason why people worship this
rock is because a lightning struck it leaving a
figure of a Virgin on its surface, and they consider
it as a holy sign.
Today’s hike will take around 5 hours. When
we reach the hacienda our campsite will already
be set up. You will spend your first night at an
altitude of 3.280 m / 10,758 ft. |
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Day
2
Hike to Pasochoa 4.200
m / 13,776 ft.
Today we leave in the
morning around 8 a.m. for a six hours hike
to the Pasochoa volcano. We will be crossing
the fields of Hacienda Santa Rita.
Pasachoa is an ancient and heavily eroded
volcano that has been inactive since the last
ice age. If the weather permits, from the
summit we will be able to take a good look
at the crater. Inside you will see the Pasochoa
Protected Forest Reserve, a humid Andean Forest
with more than 110 species of birds and 45
species of trees, located between 2.700 m
/ 8,856 ft and 4.200 m / 13,776 ft. On a sunny
day there are good chances of observing condors,
the largest birds on the planet. Then we return
to Santa Rita campsite for the night. |
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Day
3
Hike to Hacienda El Porvenir
3.600 m / 11,808 ft.
Today we hike towards the
Hacienda El Porvenir. Part of the hike goes trough
humid Andean Forest where there are some varieties
of hummingbirds.
El Porvenir is one of the largest farms in Ecuador.
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. |
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Day
4
Central Summit of Rumiñahui
4.600 m / 15,088 ft.
From Hacienda El Porvenir
we start hiking towards the central ridge
of Rumiñahui, leading to the middle
summit. The rock on Rumiñahui can be
a bit loose underfoot, so we have to take
care, but the views from the summit are worth
it. The volcano is located only 13 km North
West of Cotopaxi. Rumiñahui is named
after a well known Inca General who in 1520
fought against the Spanish when they were
looking for the Inca treasure. We will spend
the night at Tambopaxi. |
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Day
5
Rest day at Tambopaxi
3.750 m / 12,300 ft. Visit Inca ruins.
Tambopaxi is a beautiful
new lodge located inside the Cotopaxi National
Park. It is a great place where you can rest
and acclimatise at the same time. It has excellent
facilities such as good showers, including
the luxury of warm water! (www.tambopaxi.com)
In the afternoon we will visit the nearby
Inca ruins or if you prefer, just rest and
delight yourself with the views. The telescope
in the lodge will enable you to follow the
progress of any climbers on Cotopaxi.
Day 6
Hike to the Jose Rivas
Refuge.
After breakfast we
start hiking towards Cotopaxi Volcano. Cotopaxi
is the highest active volcano in the world
and its refuge is as high as the highest
mountain in Western Europe. The hike will
take 4 hours uphill until we reach the refuge
at 4.800 m / 15,744 ft. The hut stands at
the highest altitude reached during our
trip. With luck we will be able to enjoy
the sun setting over the surrounding peaks.
Later we return 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. |
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| Prices |
2
pax $ 900 per person
3 pax $ 800 per person
4 + $ 750 per person
What
the price includes
• All transport by private
vehicles during the program.
• All the food once out of
Quito.
• Accommodation: Hacienda
Porvenir and Tambopaxi lodge.
• Camping gear.
• Permits and park fees.
• Bilingual guide.
The
Price does not include
• Travel insurance.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Extras, laundry, tips.
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| Duration
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6
days |
| Access |
Drive
in and drive out |
| Seasons
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All
year round |
| Pre-requisites |
Backpaking
experience |
| Equipment |
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| Accommodation |
Hostels
and mountain refuges |
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| Pasochoa |
Moderate |
| Rumiñahui |
Moderate |
| Cotopaxi |
Intermediate |
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