The combination of challenging volcano climbs, charming haciendas, amazing food, and great Ecuadorian and American guides makes this one of our most enjoyable adventures and one of the best introductions to high altitude mountaineering for advanced beginners. Before climbing Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo you'll explore the city of Quito and the Indian village of Otavalo, where shoppers delight in the variety of handmade goods. After a skills review, we’re off to climb.
Ecuador’s famous “Avenue of the Volcanoes” offers some of the finest beginner-intermediate mountaineering in the Andes, set amid a fascinating cultural backdrop. While climbing Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo we’ll encounter crevassed glacier travel, 35-40 degree snow and ice slopes, and beautiful ridges. This trip offers the very best of a wonderful country, spectacular mountains, and diverse climbing opportunities.
Day 1: Arrive Quito, overnight in Hacienda Rumiloma
Day 2: Quito city tour, equipment check, and hotel night Hacienda Rumiloma
Day 3: Acclimatization hike. Overnight at Hacienda Rumiloma.
Day 4: Travel to town of Otavalo to visit its colorful markets, afternoon hike to Lake Cuicocha, overnight at Hacienda Pinsaqui.
Day 5: Review skills on Cayambe. Overnight in Hacienda Tupagachi.
Day 6: Return to hut on Cayambe. Rest and prepare for our climb.
Day 7: After an early morning departure, we will climb up the crevassed slopes of the glacier. After 9 to 10 hours we will come to the summit of Cayambe. We then descend to the Hacienda Los Mortiños.
**Substitute Illiniza for Cayambe if you are joining the May-Aug trips; days five and six will be spent approaching Illiniza where we spend three nights in the hut. Skills will be reviewed here before our ascent on day seven.
Day 8: Today we will take the scenic drive to Cotopaxi National Park and overnight at Tambopaxi.If Cotopaxi is closed due to volcanic activity, we will use this day to either drive to Antisana base camp or for Illinizas; or organize for the climb and rest at the hacienda.
Day 9: After driving to approximately 15,092 feet we take a short 45 minute hike to Jose Ribas Hut where we rest and prepare for our climb. If Antisana is the objective the group will either make an ascent today or prepare fro the climb at base camp.
Day 10: We will depart at 1 a.m. and hike up the scree slopes until we arrive at the glacier. From here we ascend moderate snow and ice slopes until reaching a steep section just below the crater rim. After ascending this short section, we arrive at the summit where we can peer into the mountain's crater or enjoy the views of the countryside and Chimborazo, our final objective. Tonight we return to Quito and overnight. Those continuing enjoy the night at Hacienda La Cienega.
Climb Antisana if this is the objective.
Day 11: (Cayembe and Cotopaxi only) Climbers return home.
Day 11: (For Chimborazo Climbers) Drive to lower hut on Chimborazo and prepare for climb.
Day 13: Hike to high camp. Rest and prepare for summit attempt.
Day 14: Leaving at midnight we will hike up the scree slopes until reaching the glacier. After a couple of steep sections on the glacier, we will arrive at the false summit. From there it is about an hour climb to the highest point in Ecuador. After enjoying the views we descend to vehicles and return to Quito.
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to follow the schedule listed, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. In the event that the conditions on Chimborazo are unfavorable, climbers will have the option to summit Antisana or the Illinizas.
- Guide(s) and staff
- Climbing permit fees
- Four scheduled hotel nights in Quito(double occupancy)
- One additional hotel night in Quito (double occupancy) for the Chimborazo extension
- Four scheduled hacienda nights (double occupancy)
- One additional hacienda night (double occupancy) for the Chimborazo extension
- Scheduled restaurant meals in Quito
- All food while on the climb
- All group climbing gear, tents and cooking gear
- All expedition staff including porters and pack animals
- Airport transfers
- International airfare
- Ecuador entry visa and airport fees
- Meals on Day 1 and extra summit days not used
- Lunch on Day 4
- Alcoholic and bottled beverages
- Personal climbing gear and clothing
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, extra hotel nights, extra meals, etc.)
- Travel insurance with trip cancellation, medical and evacuation policy
- All expenses associated with non-scheduled departure
- Guide/Staff gratuities
- $3,575 - $4,300
- January, February, June, November, December 11 - 15 Days
- Mountaineering
- $3,575 - $4,300
- January, February, June, November, December 11 - 15 Days
- Mountaineering
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