Trekking in Ecuador

Absolutely the trekkings offered here are off the beaten tracks.  From Pichincha chain of volcanoes to Ilinizas.  Amazing scennery, views and above all a challenging trekking.  We promise you an unforgettable experience and enjoyment in this part of the Andes near Quito, the capital of Ecuador. 

This trekking will make you walk along the western range of mountains, starting off the Pichincha then the summits of Guagua Pichincha, Corazon to finish up on the summit of North Iliniza. 

Highlights • The treking on the western range of andean mountains. • Progressive acclimatization. • The 3 summits over 4000 ms (13123). • Wonderful sceneries in the camping grounds. • Amazing views of the andes and surroundings.

Trekking : surrounded only by nature.  Walks more challenging and longer.  The roads far away from the trails used. 

Itinerary

D 1  The Pichincha range of mountains : Rucu Pichincha - Padre Encantado - Guagua Pichincha

An early rise to get ready and start your adventure.  You take the cable car to Cruz Loma at 4100 ms (13451ft).  The trekking will take off here.  Pichincha is an active stratovolcano with 3 high peaks visible from Quito.  Rucu Pichincha (rucu means old person in quichua) erupted last time in 1660 and cover with a foot of ash Quito and its surroundings.  Your trek will take you from Rucu to "Padre encantado", enchanted priest, 4600ms (15092ft).  It is an optional to reach the summit of this peak.  You carry on to the direction of Guagua Pichincha which means child in Quichua.  It is the active volcano located on the south-western side of pichincha mountain.  Its last eruption happened in 1999 and covered the city of Quito with several inches of ash.  You can easily see the fumaroles, deposits of sulphur and bubbling water of this volcano.    The campsite will be at the foot of this volcano.

 

trekking time:   7 1/2 hours

Distance .... 700 ms

Declination  ....  1060ms

D 2  Guagua Pichincha summit - Corazón

Early breakfast to start heading up to Guagua summit.  It is an easy climbing and with a fab view of other snow-capped volcanoes.  Guagua's crater is of 1,5 kms of diametre, 700m (2296ft) of depth and releasing a permanent smoke. The walk is moderate with a very steep trail.  A hike down to a Hacienda where the transport will wait for you to transfer you to El corazon (1hour drive).

Trekking time:  5 hours

Distance....640ms

Declination ...1060ms.

D 3  Corazón summit - trekking

Corazon 4799ms (15744ft) is an old eroded volcano, located 40 kms south of uito.  It is an easy climb through paramo grasslands, a bit steep in some places.  Beautiful surroundings and a great view of Cotopaxi and other mountains and, the valley below.  The hike down will be on the south face of the mountain where the campsite will be located.

 

Trekking time:  7 1/2 hours

Distance....1500ms

Declination.....840ms

 D 4   Trekking to Ilinizas

Early rise for a long trek.  Today you will be going across Corazon to the valley below ilinizas.  A beautiful trek through paramo grasslands with a great variety of flora.  Wolves (andean foxes). rabbits, birds are sometimes companions during your hike.  In the afternoon you will be reaching a hill to an area marked by a shrine to the Virgin Mary "la virgen" where you will camp for the night.

 

trekking tme: 7 hours

Distance.....850m 

Declination... 800m.

D 5  North Iliniza summit - Quito

Early rise to climb to north Iliniza 5116m (16,784ft).  It requires no technical skills or equipment (unless there has been considerable snowfall, in which case you may want rope and even crampons.  You have at the beginning a well trodden trail that winds upwards to a steep ridge and climbing this you get to the refuge.  From here to the summit takes about two and three hours.  The summmit is marked by an iron cross.  In the climbing you find slopes of sandy scree and loose rock as well as ridges of solid rock.  After this you hike down to La virgen where the transport waits for you to drive you back to quito.

 

Trekking time:   7 hours

Distance..... 1400m

Declination...... 1270m. 

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