Andes Ecuador · climb
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Reviewed by Blake Penson, Expedition Advisor. Two decades in the mountains, the Seven Summits, two Everest expeditions.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026
Ordered by each guide's verified reviews on Cayambe: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones. Ties go to the guide with more reviews on Cayambe. ERTI reflects a company's trustworthiness, reputation and ratings across the industry, and more. Out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. Not a rating for this place. Prices not updated in over a year are marked. These are starting prices, not quotes.
ERTI 4.90 overall
Based in United States
★ 4.9 · 6 reviews on Cayambe · Last review: Feb 2025
Price: From $4,995 USD · guide-listed price for this location · last updated Dec 2025
Counted by matching keywords in the 6 reviews for this route; a review counts once per theme.
Pro guides who run trips here but have no reviews for Cayambe yet.
ERTI 4.82 overall
Based in New Zealand
First ascent by Edward Whymper in 1880. At 5,790m, Ecuador's third highest peak and the highest point on the equator. The only place on the equator with permanent snow. Located in Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve.
Normal Route/Southwest Face (1-2 days): Standard glacier route. Northwest Ridge: More technical option. Summit via Cayambe Refuge at 4,600m. Midnight start typical for stable snow conditions. Less crowded than Cotopaxi.
Weather: Cayambe is well-known for having poor weather. The summit is frequently enshrouded by clouds, even during the dry season. Average daily temperatures at the base of the peak are usually around 13 ºC (55 ºF). These drop to well-below freezing as you ascend the volcano. The climbing season is also the driest time of year., Best Time to Visit: June to August, December to January, Average Expedition Length 2 days
US Dollar (USD) is Ecuador's official currency. ATMs in Cayambe town. Reserve entrance fee required. Refuge accommodation available. Budget $300-500 for guided climb.
Official: Spanish. Regional: Kichwa spoken in Cayambe area communities. English with guides. The Kayambi people are the traditional inhabitants of the region.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
This has been an outstanding experience at all levels, from excellent planning to a warm team atmosphere and the top of three challenging mountains with a complete sense of security and support.
By Antonio B.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Posting this again. Ended up setting the anonymous box by mistake in my previous review. " I signed up with CTSS for their 3 Volcanoes Ecuador Climb after having a couple of informative briefing calls with Dani. CTSS delivers an impressive and well-structured plan, with…
By Rajesh P.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 4.6/5 · Reviewed
I signed up with CTSS for their 3 Volcanoes Ecuador Climb after having a couple of informative briefing calls with Dani. CTSS delivers an impressive and well-structured plan, with every detail aimed at ensuring your success on the expedition. Once you sign up, you gain access to…
By R P.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Tha Avenue of the Volcanoes in Ecuador is an incredibly beautiful high-altitude scenery filled with iconic volcanic peaks along the Andes. I feel blessed that I was able to play in its beauty with mostly perfect weather. OMG This Is my first ever poem - (please be…
By Danny B.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
The entire process from signing up, prepping to climb and execution of the climb was detailed, fun and safety was always a priority.
By Nabil K.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cayambe · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
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…
By Maureen B.
Rating: the average star rating of the guide's verified reviews for Cayambe, with the number of reviews. Order: by those reviews: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones; ties go to the guide with more reviews on Cayambe. Unclaimed: the company has not claimed its ExpedReview profile. Every review is checked by our team before it's published, and guides cannot pay for a better rating.
Technical essentials picked for glaciated mountaineering. Recommended by our expert team.
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The ranking is built from verified client reviews for Cayambe, and recent reviews count more.
The ERTI badge beside each name is a company-wide score out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. It is not a rating for this route.
Last updated 30 December 2025 (newest review or price update for this route).
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As of 23 October 2026, 1 operator has 6 verified client reviews for Cayambe on ExpedReview.
Climbing The Seven Summits (4.9★ from 6 reviews, latest February 2025).
1 operator shows a "from" price: $4,995 USD (Climbing The Seven Summits, updated December 2025). These are starting prices supplied by the operators, not quotes; check the current price with the operator.
Every review is checked by hand by our team before it's published. Critical reviews stay up, and paying ExpedReview never changes the ranking.
The latest verified review for Cayambe is from February 2025. 4 of 6 reviews were published in the last 24 months.