Glacier School
full day trip
Accommodation in Tambo paxi
Shared room in Tamb paxi lodge
This full-day technical training experience begins with an early morning departure at 8:00 AM from your accommodation, heading deep into the heart of Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. After entering the park and ascending through paramo landscapes and rugged volcanic terrain, we arrive at the José Rivas Refuge, located at an elevation of 4,864 meters (15,953 ft). Here, we gear up for a hands-on day of glacier skills on the lower glacier of Cotopaxi.
Led by ASEGUIM-certified mountain guides, the glacier training focuses on essential alpine techniques used for high-altitude ascents. Activities include ice axe arrest, crampon walking techniques, rope management, self-rescue practice, and basic crevasse rescue systems. Whether you're preparing for your first summit attempt or looking to sharpen your skills, this intensive course provides the perfect environment to learn in real mountain conditions, surrounded by Cotopaxi's breathtaking icefields and panoramic views of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Around midday, we descend back to the refuge for a hearty, high-altitude lunch and a well-earned break before continuing our descent. By late afternoon, after wrapping up the course and reviewing the day’s key techniques, you’ll be transferred to Tambo Paxi Lodge, a cozy high-altitude acclimatization base nestled just outside the park. The lodge offers warm showers, hot drinks, and peaceful mountain views – the ideal place to rest and recover before your next adventure.
This glacier training day is not only a cornerstone of preparation for climbs like Cotopaxi or Chimborazo but also an unforgettable alpine experience on its own.