Go back to Mountain Climbing tours menu, or select from the options below to compare:     -- Easy -- Cayambe Glacier School - 12 Days -- Moderate -- Cotopaxi Summit in 5 Days Muerte Pungo & Cotopaxi - 5 & 7 Days Ecuador Climbing Special - 12 Days Ecuador's Best Expedition - 15 Days

Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Level of difficulty: Moderate

Introduction:

Our two-week program offers a unique combination of cultural encounters, acclimatization and three coveted mountaineering ambitions: Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. We’ll have a chance to visit Quito’s colonial old town and South America ’s most famous indigenous market, Otavalo. Before each climb our accommodation will be in the mountain huts, and afterwards we’ll stay in country estates which have been converted into hotels, haciendas which are wallowing in history.

Our week-long acclimatization period begins with ascents of Pasochoa and Guagua (Baby) Pichincha, after which we will head on to Cayambe. There we’ll have time to revise our snow and ice climbing techniques, glacier travel and crevasse rescue before attempting to summit Cayambe, ’s third highest mountain.

The itinerary includes ample rest and recuperation days after the Cayambe and Cotopaxi summits, which improve our chances of success on the big climbs, especially at the end of our expedition, our main objective – Chimborazo. Careful scheduling and pain-staking planning right down to the last detail have earned this tour high regard as the Best Expedition in Ecuador.

Team Composition: Client to guide ratio 2:1 for the climbs on Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: Arrive to Quito. Transfer to our hotel to rest after the flight whilst our bodies start to get used to the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital (2.800 m / 9.000 ft).

DAY 2: City tour. We will visit the beautiful colonial churches and explore the interesting sites of Old Quito. Equipment check and relax in the afternoon.

DAY 3: We will continue our acclimatization process with an ascent of Pasochoa (4.200 / 13.776 ft), this old volcano provides a great opportunity to see condors flying, observe the native polilepis forest and admire the impressive north face of Cotopaxi. Return to our hotel in Quito.

DAY 4: We acclimatize further by ascending Guagua Pichincha (4.794 m / 15.728 ft). Great views down into the active crater await us while following the summit ridge. Return to spend the night in Quito.

DAY 5: Travel to Otavalo town to visit its colorful and famous Indian market where you will have lots of opportunities to get souvenirs to take home. Overnight at Otavalo.

DAY 6: Today we travel to the climber’s hut on Cayambe (4.650m / 15.250 ft). Hike up to the beginning of the glacier (4.900 m / 16.075 ft) in the afternoon after which we return and spend the night in the hut.

DAY 7: Skill development on the glaciers of Cayambe. We will spend the day practicing snow and ice climbing techniques, roped glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Return to the hut in the afternoon to prepare the climb.

DAY 8: Staring before midnight, we will climb the crevassed glacier and after 8-10 hours we will arrive to the summit of Cayambe (5.789 m / 18.993 ft). From the summit of the third highest Ecuadorian mountain we will be rewarded with incredible views of Antizana and Cotopaxi. We will descend to Quito.

DAY 9: Drive to the Cotopaxi National Park. This day is oriented to sightseeing, rest and recovery. We will spend the night at Chilcabamba, a very pleasant lodge located at foothills of an old volcano called Rumiñahui. The scenery is spectacular.

DAY 10: After breakfast, we drive up to the parking land (4.600 m / 15.100 ft) and then walk to the Cotopaxi hut (4.800 m / 15.750 ft) where we rest and prepare our midnight departure for the summit of one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

DAY 11: We start the climb at around one a.m. from the refuge and hike to the top of the triangular red scree slope to reach the glacier. From here we ascend moderate snow slopes, zigzagging between obvious crevasses to reach the steep final section below the crater rim. After surmounting this section, we arrive to the top from where we can enjoy magnificent views of the active crater, its steam vents and the surrounding mountains. After descending to the hut, we will pack and travel to Machachi.

DAY 12: Our private transport will take us to Riobamba to spend the day in the nearest traditional market.

DAY 13: Today we move to the Chimborazo refuge where we prepare for our climb of the highest mountain in Ecuador.

DAY 14: We leave the hut at midnight and climb up the scree slope to get to the glacier. We have to overcome a few steep sections along the icy ridge to arrive to the Veintimilla summit and then traversing across a snow basin get to the farthest point from the center of earth. The ascent to the Whymper summit takes 8 to 10 hours and 4 hours on average time to descend back to the refuge. Drive back to our hotel in Quito.

DAY 15: Depart Quito for home or extension to the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon rainforest.