High mountaineering in Ecuador

Three weeks to explore Ecuador and its high mountains such as Chimborazo 6310ms (20702feet), Cotopaxi 5897ms (19347feet) and other summits from 3800ms (12467feet)to 5200ms (17060feet.  Enjoy also the Indian Markets, local people and the diversity of the country.
 

Highlights • High mountaineering in Ecuador. • Two summits, the highest in the country. • Excellent acclimatization.

Itinerary

D 1   Colonial Quito - Cuicocha lake

uito lies in a long narrow plateau of Pichincha Volcano.  A city rich in colonial art and architecture.  A UNESCO world cultural heritage site is a delightful place to explore.  You visit today the main plaza, the cathedral, La Compañia church, San Francisco Plaza and Panecillo hill (a viewpoint).  You will enjoy a tour of the rich colonial heart before heading out to Cuicocha,  2 1/2  hours drive from Quito.

D 2   Cuicocha - San Pablo - Zuleta - La Esperanza

This morning you will hike by a flooded volcanic crater of Cuicocha.  The trail offers you a variety of Orchids, flora and birds, you might also meet some lizards on the walk.  You have magnificent sights of the Imbabura Volcano, Otavalo and surroundings.  The highest point you reach during the trek is 3486ms (11437ft).  In the afternoon you will be driven to San Pablo village to start a hike through cultivated fields and magnificent mountains such as Cayambe, Imbabura and Cusin.  You end up in Zuleta a very popular village for the embroidery done by local women.  Night in La Esperanza.

D 3   Cubilche - La Esperanza

Rising early to start an awsome trek to Cubilche Volcano, just on one side of the magnificent Imbabura.  A trek charachterized for its surroundings, indian communities, farmed fields and paramo grasslands, as well as for the views when reaching the summit.  Return to La Esperanza

D 4   Imbabura volcano - Otavalo

After breakfast and 20 minutes drive from Otavalo you will find yourself at the foot of Imbabura volcano.  A love story will be unwrap  for you, by the guide, about Imbabura and Cotacachi.  Mama Cotacachi rule the west of Otavalo and Taita Imbabura takes care of the Province.  Local people believe that Imbabura visits Cotacachi every night and from this love a baby-volcano was born, Yana Urcu.  The trek today is uphill up to the summit of Imbabura at 4630ms (15190ft) and, for about 6 hours.  Transfer to Otavalo known as the sunrise valley.

D 5   Otavalo market - Lechero - Otavalo

Today you spend the morning browsing the busy Otavalo market.  Throughout the hiistory of the region there has been trade between regions, but the market now sells almost as many handicrafts as they produce.  Although the market is on everyday, the big day is saturday and you find crafts from all over the country. In the afternoon a mild hike to Lechero (a very meaningful tree for indian people) where there is a 360º view around. Return to Otavalo.

D 6   Fuya Fuya - Quito

An early rise to head up to Mojanda Mountain.  You trek up for 2 hours (approximately) to one of the peaks known as Fuya Fuya 4263m (13986ft), the summit offers you a spectacular view of Cayambe volcano, the lakes of Mojanda crater and other hills.  Back to Quito.

D 7   Pichincha trekking - Guagua (Camp)

A very early rise to drive to the foot of Rucu-Pichincha in a 4 x 4 car.  Today you will be trekking the whole day and on Pichincha Mountain.  You begin in Rucu (old), an extincted volcano, continue by Padre Encantado (the enchanted priest) with an option to get to the summit at 4600ms (15091 ft) and after finish the day by Guagua Pichincha "baby Pichincha" 4784ms (15695ft ).  This last volcano is an active one so you can see the fumes coming out from the crater, the sulphur deposits and the bubbling water.  You will camp at the foot of this volcano.   

D 8   Guagua Pichincha - Iliniza (Camp)

Early rise to climb to the summit of Guagua Pichincha by its crater of 1,5km of diameter, 700m (2296ft) of depth and releasing a permanent smoke. The walk is moderate with a very steep trail.  The summit offers you a spectacular view of other volcanoes and some snow-capped ones.  Soon  after al walk down to a Hacienda located at 3750ms (12303ft) where the transport will be waiting for you to head off to The Virgen  forest at the foot of Ilinizas and where you will camp, 

D 9   Climbing Iliniza - Lasso

Rising early to climb North Iliniza 5116m (16,784ft),  The first part of your ascension will take you to a coil between the two ilinizas and where the refuge 4750m (15,584ft) is located.  The second part is going up to the summit of north Iliniza at 5116ms (16784ft).  This rocky mountain does not represent any particular technical difficulty but it is one of the stages in your accllimatization.  In the afternoon transfer to Lasso.

D 10   Cotopaxi trekking - Limpiopungo (Camp)

After 2 hours drive to Cotopaxi National Park you will start your trek starting at Pita River, which cross through the Park.  5 to 6 hours walk enjoying the herds of wild horses on the way and a vegetation common in volcanic valleys.  You reach Limpiopungo lake where you will set out your tents to camp. 

D 11   Chaupi - Rumiñahui - Limpiopungo (Camp)

Today you will climb this beautiful rocky peak that dominates Limpiopungo lake.  Part of the trek is on paramo grasslands until you get to the foot of Rumiñahui mountain where you start climbing its peaks.  If the weather allows you will have a magnificent view of the avenue of the volcanoes and Cotopaxi.  Back to the camp in the afternoon.

D 12   Limpiopungo - Cotopaxi refuge

A bit of a lazy morning in Limpiopungo plain.  You will gather and keep the camping to move to José Rivas refuge 4800ms (15748ft).  You will be driven through vegetation of different altitudinal ranges to the car park at 4600m (15092ft) from where you start a trek to the refuge.  In the afternoon you have a practice in the glacier and the distribution of the rope teams for the next day.

D 13   Cotopaxi summit - Chugchilan

Very early rise to start your 5 to 7 hours climb.  The summit offers you an spectacular view of the crater, considered to be one of the mos beautiful in the world.  Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the planet.  Back to the refuge and down to the car park to join the transport to be driven to Chugchilan (aqproximately 4 hours drive).

D 14   Quilotoa - Urbina

After breakfast you head off this time to Quilotoa lake 3900m (12795ft).  2 hours drive through stunning hills, paramo grasslands, farmed fields, indian communities, furrowed large canyons to get to this volcano.  Already there you have the option either to walk down to the bottom of the crater and by the water or, trek around on the rim.  Any way, you have a fantastic escenery here.  In the afternoon you will be transferred to Urbina

D 15   Chimborazo refuge

This morning you are going to be transferred to Chimborazo refuge at 4800ms (15748ft).  An hour walk and 200 ms (656ft) separate this refuge to the other, Edward Whymper at 5000ms (16404ft),   The last one is reckon to be a relatively comfortable refuge.  If the weather allows and you feel like, you can go in direction to the "agujas the Whymper" (Whymper´s needles) from where you can look at the route you will be doing next early morning or, just relax at the refuge and around it.

D 16   Chimborazo summit - Baños

Very early rise, midnight, to begin the climbing to Chimborazo summit (6310ms - 20702ft).  It is not an easy mountanin due to a glacier that is two thirds of the whole climb but, the reward is great.  Chimborazo is the closest point to the sky and the highest mountain on the planet in relation to the centre of the earth.  After this wonderful experience you go back to the refuge and then, join the transport to go to Baños.

D 17   Baños

Baños is a pleasant spa town that attracts not only foreigners but ecuadoreans, who are drawn by its balmy climate and curative waters. There is no better way to start your day than rising early for an invigorating soak (optional).  The baths are fed by thermal springs at the base of Tungurahua active volcano, and the brown water (a result of mineral content) is reputedly good for one´s health.  After breakffast you have a morning trek of 3 to 4 hours on one of the slopes of the fascinating mountains sorrounding Baños.  A walk through sugar cane plantations, tangerines tries and blackberries.  In the afternoon you can explore downtown with its cathedral’s miraculous Virgin which supposedly protects the inhabitants from the active volcano of Tungurahua 5023m (16,479ft) which overlooks it and shops of tagua (vegetable ivory) traditonal in the place,  If you like having a drink there plenty of places open in the evening and some with live music.

D 18   Baños - Quito

You have the morning to relax before returning to Quito in the afternoon.

 

PRICES

	2	3	4-5	6-7	8-10	11-15
Price per person (in US$)	2 910	2 600	2 295	2015	1 785	1 755

Price includes
— Safe glacier materials for the climbing
— Private transport
— 4 stars hotels (economic hotels if you requiered).  Price based in double rooms with private bathrooms.
— meals
— Entrance fees to Cotopaxi, Ilinizas, Quilotoa, and Cuicocha.
— English speaking guide the whole trip

— four nights in a hotel, four nights in a hostal with shared bathrooms, two nights in hostals with private bathroom and two nights in a mountain refuge

Price does not include:
— International flight to Quito
— Airport exit tax $40,70 per person
— Any travel insurance
— Tips for guides and drivers
— Anything not mentioned in the tour

 

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