Mountaineering regulations in Ecuador

1. Do I need a guide and a permit to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo?

• In order to climb the highest peaks of Ecuador you need to access national parks with a park permit, a guide certified by ASEGUIM (Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides) and a reservation from the refuge or camp
• The National Park Authority (MAE) requires that guides must be locally certified by ASEGUIM and work under the umbrella of a legal Tour Operator.
• You can hike to the Cotopaxi Jose Rivas refuge (approx. 4,800m) without a guide, but not to the summit.

2. Can a foreign guide or an experienced climber climb without a local mountaineering guide?

• There has been cases when the national park office has allowed experienced climbers to climb in Ecuador without local guides. For that, climbers need to send a climbing CV to prove their experience, their club or organization ID to the following national park offices and at the same time, request the weaver form to the emails below:
• Parque Nacional Cayambe: cayambe@ambiente.gob.ec
• Reserva Ecologiaca Antisana antisana@ambiente.gob.ec
• Reserva Ecologiaca de los Ilinizas: ilinizas@ambiente.gob.ec
• Parque Nacional Cotopaxi cotopaxi@ambiente.gob.ec
• Reserva Chimborazo chimborazo@ambiente.gob.ec