DAY 1: Departure from Quito at 9 am in private transportation. You drive north for about 2 hours to an altitude of 4400 m. If the weather is clear, the beautiful peak from the Cayambe can be already seen from a distance. Then you hike up to the refuge with all your equipment at 4600 m, where you will have a rest and lunch. After that you have some exercise at the glaciers nearby. Back to the refuge you will have dinner and then rest until midnight.
DAY 2: You get up at midnight, have breakfast and get ready for the climb. Around 1:00am you leave the refuge. The first hour is easy rock climbing before reaching the glacier.As soon as you reach the glacier, you put on crampons and rope up in teams. Each guide will take one or two persons. If all goes well, you reach the summit a 5790 m between 5:00am and 7:00am after a 4 to 6 hours climb. On the top you have about 20 minutes to take a rest, take some pictures and enjoy the spectacular views towards the Amazonian basin. The return to the refuge takes about 2 to 3 hours. When all groups have returned, you leave for Quito. Return around 2 pm.
Meals from Lunch day 1 until breakfast at 12 pm
waterproof pants and jacket
fleece pants and jacket
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