Cotopaxi is regarded as the most beautiful volcano in the world, as well as one of the most active volcanoes in the world and the second highest volcano in Ecuador. The climb up to the summit of Cotopaxi is not highly technical, but it does require a pre-climb glacier travel course. In this program we will Climb Chimborazo Volcano Summit Ecuador’s Highest Mountain, and the Highest Point from the Center of the Earth. Really with this program you will enjoy the best adventure offered by the Ecuadorian Andes.
Mountain Climbing Local Insurance
Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
Land transportation and transfers
National parks fees and permits
Registration in the System SIB (System Information of Biodiversity)
4 nights at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge ▪ 1 night at Jose Rivas Refuge ▪ 2 nights at Hotel in Baños City ▪ 1 night at High Camp
All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
Tents, and camping utensils for high camp.
International flight
International Insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for guides or local staff
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Additional activities not listed in the itinerary
Alcoholic beverages (unless specified)
The costs of delays or changes to itinerary that are beyond the control of Cotopaxi Travel, or its agents are not included.
We will pick you up at 8:00 am.Then we will drive for two hours to get to Pasochoa parking lot. We will then hike through a large forest and when we are in the middle of it, the 4230-meter summit will appear. There is a steep sloop on the ascent, but once there we will have beautiful views. We will drive to El Chaupi village. Overnight at Lodge.
Altitude: 4,200 meters (13,779 feet)
Meals: (-/Box Lunch/Dinner)
Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge
From El Chaupi village, we will start early in the morning after breakfast at 7:00 am. We will drive up to the trailhead (13,120ft/4.000m), where we start our hike. The first part of the hike takes us up through the small Andean grass. Then we will get on the sandy and scramble section, which leads to Corazón summit. The hike is about 4-6 hours long. Return to the Lodge.
Altitude: 4,788 meters (15,708 feet)
Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge
https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
Meals: Breakfast/Box Lunch/Dinner
Distance: 10 km (round trip)
Duration: 4-6 hour (including summit time)
We start early in the morning after breakfast 7:30 We will be driving up to the “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3.900m). Once there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4.750m). We will relax for couple of minutes and we took the opportunity to put our helmet and harness for continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between both peaks and then head up to Illiniza north summit; it will take us between 2 to 3 hours to get to the summit, the way back to the parking lot it will take us between 2 hours. Drive back to El Chaupi. Overnight at the Lodge.
Altitude: 5,126 meters (16,818 feet)
Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge
https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance: 10 km
We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning and drive the Quilotoa Lagoon. During the tour we will stop at an Indian hut and visit the Tigua community to observe the leather crafts that they make here. The tour will about 4 hours, then we’ll arrive the viewpoint and admire the size of the crater and its lagoon. We will then descend along a varying road which will take us an hour until we arrive at the bottom of the lagoon. There we will take photos and rest, then after lunch we will be back in El Chaupi after 3 hours driving.
Altitude: 3,914 meters (12.841 feet)
Accommodation: Iliniza Mountain Lodge
https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
Meals: Breakfast/Box Lunch/Dinner
Distance: 108 km Transfer
Duration: 2 (hours hike)
From El Chaupi will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until getting to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m/14,763 ft) then we’ll hike up for around an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge. Then we will have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.
Altitude: 4,864meters (15,953 feet)
Accommodation: Cotopaxi Refuge
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance: 1.5 km (from parking lot to refuge)
Duration: 1 hour hike
Midnight will be our wake-up time and the departure to the top (19,347ft/5.897m) will be around 01h00, not before having a light breakfast and get our stuff ready for the ascent, the climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit we’ll take our time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head down back the refuge, which it will take us 2 to 3 hours. Once at the refuge will pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take us to Baños city. Overnight in the hotel.
Altitude: (5,897 meters / 19,347 feet)
Accommodation: Hotel in Baños City
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Distance: Climb 10 k (round trip).
Duration: 5 to 6 hours to the summit (including breaks) 2-3 Hours Back Down
Transfer: 3 hours Drive to Baños
This is a relaxing day; in this beautiful town you can do it different activities that can be purchased on behalf of the passenger. It's a free day its surroundings offer many possibilities like: the route of the waterfalls, hikes inside the “cloud forest”, besides, depending on our interest, with an extra cost, we could try rafting, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc. Night in hotel.
Altitude: (1800meters / 5,905 feet)
Accommodation: Hotel in Baños City
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
In the morning at 9:00 am we will meet with the guides to drive to the Chimborazo wildlife reserve. We will arrive at the refuge Hermanos carrel from there we will start the hike to the High camp in approximately 2 to 3 hours we get to camp once here, we will accommodate in our tents. In the afternoon we will prepare and double check all the gear for the climbing. Where we’ll have dinner and get some rest until 23h00. There will be an early light breakfast served just before getting ready with our gear and start heading up.
Altitude: (5,300 meters / 17,388 feet)
Accommodation: Overnight in 4- season tents or Domes
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance: 2.5 km hike.
Duration: 2 to 3 hours (hike including breaks)
Transfer: 110 Km - Drive from Baños
At midnight we will start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest volcano, Chimborazo, which will take us about 8 to 9 hours. We’ll get to the summit (20,702ft/6268) in the early hours the perfect spot for resting and pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Then we’ll start our descending to the refuge; it will take us from 3 to 4 hours. Once in refuge we’ll pack our gear, where our transportation will be ready to drive up to Quito.
Altitude: 6,268 meters (20,702 feet)
Accommodation: Overnight in 4- season tents or Domes
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Distance: 9 km (Round Trip)
Duration: 5 to 7 hours to the summit (including breaks)
Transfer: 230 km - Drive to Quito
