Cayembe (18,996ft) and Cotopaxi (19,347ft) (with optional Chimborazo (20,548ft) Add-On) Our Ecuador Volcanoes expedition is hugely popular because it offers serious bang for your buck, with excellent climbing in a relatively short time frame. We will tackle two high altitude gems, Cayembe and Cotopaxi during our regular program, with the added ability to tack on another Ecuadorean giant, Chimborazo. We start with an acclimatization peak before moving on to the picturesque Cotopaxi in the south, then in a gradual altitude progression, heading North to Cayembe as our next ascent. This program is of moderate difficulty and is great for those with previous experience with crampons, ice axe and rope travel on peaks such as Mt. Rainier and Mt Blanc Top 5 Reasons to Climb in Ecuador (Expedition Highlights)
- While your friends think you are "suffering" in the mountains, you'll actually be staying in luxurious haciendas (think 400-year-old estates) boutique hotels, and well-appointed mountain huts. Not a tent in sight.
- Hard to get time away from the family to go climbing? Bring them along! You don't need to be a climber to enjoy the amazing hospitality, culture and landscapes of Ecuador. The luxury accommodation on this trip isn't a hard sell either!
- Post-climb, recover by relaxing in the healing waters of Termas Papallactas' natural hot springs and by dining at Zazu Restuarant
- This is the perfect excuse to finally tick the Galapagos off your bucket list. With the trip finishing in Quito, it's a hop, skip and a jump over to this famous archipelago, which is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Abundant with wildlife, it is known as the foundation of Darwinian evolution.
- Oh yeah! Did we forget to mention the world-class climbing alongside incredible local guides? There are not many places in the world where you can summit 3x classic high altitude peaks in just 2 weeks!
Expedition Itineraries
The following is a sample daily schedule of our Ecuadorean Volcanoes Program:
Day 1 - Arrive in Quito
Day 2 - Gear Checks/Equator Visit/Old Town Tour
Day 3 - Climb Pasachoa
Day 4 - Travel to Cotopaxi for training
Day 5 - Hike to the hut on Cotopaxi
Day 6 - Climb Cotopaxi
Day 7 - Drive to the refuge on Cayembe
Day 8 - Acclimatization Day/Possible summit day
Day 9 - Climb Cayembe
Day 10 - Drive to Quito and Celebration Dinner
Day 11 - Fly Home/Chimborazo Add-On climbers travel to Whymper Refuge
Day 12 – Chimborazo Add-On climbers climb Chimborazo/Return to Quito
Day 13 – Chimborazo Add-On climbers fly home
- Guides
- Accommodations at double-occupancy
- Transportation: All group transportation while on the expedition. If you depart early then the added expenses for transport, lodging, rescue, and evacuation is your own responsibility. (Please note this doesn’t include airport transfers)
- Food: While we’re on the mountain dinners and breakfasts will be provided but it’s best to supplement as usual with a few pounds of your favorite snack and climbing food. Make sure it’s palatable up high.
- All Group Gear: Four season tents, cooking gear, group duffels, stoves, etc.
- Satellite Phone: Available to clientele at $3/min
- Flights to and from Ecuador
- Airport transfers (to & from the hotel at the beginning and end of the trip)
- Any extensions prior or post the specified itinerary (however we can help you plan these add-ons). Please inform us if we need to book extra accommodations for you.
- All restaurant meals: We will just split the bill at the end of each meal, please note meals at mountain huts are included
- Personal gear: all personal climbing gear is the responsibility of the client
- In the event of a rescue, evacuation, or early departure from the group, any rescue expenses incurred or excess expenses above and beyond our normal trip costs including transport, hotels, evacuation, flight changes, and gear shipping are the responsibility of the client.
- Guide Tip (Customary but optional)
- Required trip insurance policy (for trip cancellation, interruption, rescue & evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation, etc.)
- Single Occupancy rooming: If you would like single rooms you may add this on by paying a fee with your application or balance. Please inform us if you would like single occupancy rooming
- Snack food: We recommend bringing about 3lbs/1.5kg of snack food that you know you like and will be able to eat at altitude when you’re not hungry.
- Bar tabs, mini bars, hotel internet bills, laundry etc
My expectations were exceeded because I felt CTSS put together a strong international guiding team, with a safety-first mindset, complimented by local experts that are very familiar with the mountains. I felt my Lead Guide listened extremely intently to any questions or concerns that arose and answered in great detail. Current gear to bring in my backpack was my biggest concern, but his quick answers to questions keep me feeling confident and organized the entire trip. Pre-trip questions from the back office were always answered rapidly and I felt supported with all the information CTSS provided pre-expedition, which was the perfect crutch to lean on to ensure all required items were in hand prior to trip and I was ready to go. Aside from the climbing, I wanted to ensure that I was able to experience as much of the Ecuadorean culture as possible while on this trip and my expectation was completely exceeded with the restaurants and places we stayed in an already perfect itinerary. Thank you CTSS for a perfect trip of a lifetime!!
The entire process from signing up, prepping to climb and execution of the climb was detailed, fun and safety was always a priority.
I climbed Cayambe and Cotopaxi in Nov 2018 with CTSS. Not my first climb with Mike Hamill as guide but my first climb with his company. Right from the start Mike was available to answer any and all of my questions which I really appreciated. The logistics of the trip were also seamless. Accommodations and food both on and off the mountains were outstanding and the local guides that CTSS partners with are amazing. Ecuador is a beautiful country that should be on everyone's bucket list and the climbs of Cayambe and Cotopaxi, while not technical, were sufficiently challenging to make for rewarding summits. I would highly recommend CTSS - 5 star all the way!
- $3,495
- November 11 - 14 Days
- $3,495
- November 11 - 14 Days
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