Mountain Climbing Tours

Mountain climbing tour in Ecuador - 14 Days Tour

Mountain climbing tour in Ecuador

important information

Departure Day: upon request
Price for 14 days: USD 2,595.-
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This itinerary allows you to visit the Ecuadorian Andes and admire its different natural landscapes from the North to the South. The highlights will be the ascent of the two volcanoes: Cotopaxi (5.897 m) and Chimborazo (6.310 m). In preparation for the climbing we offer a program of altitude acclimatization, alternating this with visits and stays in the various spots of cultural interest that Ecuador’s Andean region offers.

Overview Itinerary
Day 01:	Arrival Quito
Day 02:	City Tour - Mitad del Mundo - Pululahua
Day 03:	Papallacta
Day 04:	Guagua Pichincha
Day 05:	Pasochoa
Day 06:	Illiniza North
Day 07:	Quilotoa Lagoon
Day 08:	Cotopaxi National Park
Day 09:	Summit Cotopaxi - Hacienda Leito
Day 10:	free day
Day 11:	Chimborazo - Whymper Refuge
Day 12:	Summit Chimborazo - Riobamba
Day 13:	Train Ride - Quito
Day 14:	international flight

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Quito
Arrival in Quito. The capital of Ecuador lies on 2.800 m height. We will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to Hotel Mercure Alameda in the modern part of the city. -/-/-

Day 02: City tour - Mitad del Mundo – Pululahua
After breakfast you will make a city tour to get a first impression of the diversity of the capital and its turbulent history. From the modern part with its many parks and the shopping street Amazonas, it continues to Plaza Santo Domingo, Plaza de Independencia and Plaza San Francisco in the colonial part in the south. Due to its historical buildings the Old Town was declared a Cultural Heritage in 1978. From the Panecillo Hill in the south of the Old Town, where you can see the 43 m high monument of the virgin of Quito, you will have an impressive view over the red-tiled roofs of the Old City the skyline of the modern quarter of Quito in the North and the surrounding Andean cordilleras with its snow topped giants. After the city tour you will drive about 25 km from Quito towards the North. There you will see the Equator Monument, where you will also have lunch in a typically Ecuadorian restaurant. The 30 m high monument reminds of the Spanish-French geographical expedition from 1736-1744, which has defined the position of the equator under the guidance of Charles de la Condamine. Here you can stand with one foot on the north- and with the other foot on the south part of the globe. Afterwards you will drive to the close by situated Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua (ca. 2.500 m), which is situated in the crater of the volcano with the same name. During a 2-hour trekking through the crater you are able to admire the beauty of the original flora. At late afternoon you will head back to the hotel in Quito where everything about the trip will be explained accompanied with a welcome-cocktail. B/L/-

Day 03: Papallacta
A fascinating trip on the transatlantic highway through the Andes will bring you to the Papallacta-Pass into 4.000 m altitude. Here you will start a hike through the Paramo (Andean Highlands) down to the hot springs of Papallacta (3.700 m). After 3-4 hours of hiking you have here the opportunity to relax in the hot springs. In the late afternoon you will head back to Quito. You will spend the night in the hotel Mercure Alameda. B/L/-

Day 04: Guagua Pichincha
Pichincha is a great alternative for those who want to do a fairly demanding high-altitude hike. The Andean village of Lloa (3.500 m), which is situated in the basin southwest of Quito will be the starting point for a trip into the Andean mountains. From here, a path leads you over the foothills of the slopes of Guagua Pichincha, up to the refuge below the crater edge, which will be reached after a 5-hour hike. Only a few meters separate you from the 4.794 m high summit of this active volcano (The last time the volcano blew was in 2001 when it doused Quito in several cm of black ash!). From there you can have an amazing view into the horseshoe-shaped crater, which is open to the western side. The smoke that emerges from the inside of the crater as well as the cones of scree and ash testify his volcanic activity. You need about 3 hours for the descent. In the late afternoon you will drive back to your hotel in Quito. B/L/-

Day 05: Pasochoa
An excursion to the protected woodland Pasochoa about 30 km southern from Quito leads you to the Ecuadorian Andean timber forest. At the same time you get used to the altitude. The entry is at 2.700 m. During the walk often bromeliads, orchids and rare types of cedars can be seen until an altitude of more than 3.500 m. The Cerro Pasochoa is 4.200 meters high and overgrazed with impressive paramour vegetation. Here live more than 150 species of birds. It is easy to see hummingbirds and with a little bit of luck you even can see condors. For the way back you will need about 3 hours. In the afternoon you will drive to the Hacienda Cuello de Luna, the acclimatization camp on the foot of the Cotopaxi. The hacienda is situated on a height of 3.155 m and for climbers strategically very convenient because from here on all mountains can be reached easily. The atmosphere and the beautiful scenery around the hacienda is a wonderful experience and many of the rooms even have a fireplace. B/L/D

Day 06: Illiniza North (5.116 m)
The peaks of the Illinizas Norte and Illinizas Sur are a mixture of rocks and ice. They are the rest of one volcano and are separated 1 km from each other. From these peaks you will have a beautiful view on the nearby Cotopaxi. In the morning you drive from Cuello de Luna to Tarqui and on to the little village of El Chaupi. From here you follow a country road to the hacienda "El Refugio" and up the slopes of the Illinizas ca. 5 km to a little plain of grass with the name "La Virgen". Here your hike starts and you ascend in ca. 2-3 hours to the refuge "Nuevos Horizontes" on 4.675 m. If you have a good physical fitness and are already acclimatized to the altitude you can start to ascend to the northern peak today. You can reach this peak in ca. 3 hours. Hiking back down to the car takes about 3 hours. You come back to the alberge for relaxation and a hearty dinner. B/L/D

Mountain climbing

Day 07: Crater lagoon Quilotoa
During a 6-hour roundtrip in the car you will see the region of the western Andes, which is one of the most impressing places of Ecuador. You begin in direction towards the South to Latacunga from where you drive west into the western Cordillera to Pujili where you make a short stop to get some fruits in the local market. Then you continue to Zumbuahua, a small, colourful village with about 40 families. Ca. 10 km north of the village lays the blue and green glimmering volcano lagoon of Quilotoa. This lake is one of the most beautiful volcano lakes in the Ecuadorian Andes. From the crater you can see the different snow topped volcanoes. After a hike through this impressive landscape you drive back to Cuello de Luna in the afternoon. You will spend the night again in Cuello de Luna. B/L/D

Day 08: Cotopaxi National Park – Jose-Ribas-Refuge
In the late morning you will go to El Chasqui from where you drive to the Cotopaxi National Park. Here you will make a short stop at the museum of nature to learn about the flora and fauna of the park and then continue to the Lagoon Limpiopungo at ca. 3.800 m altitude at the foothills of 4.712 m high dead volcano peak Rumiñahui. On a short hike you learn about the typical high altitude flora and if the weather permits have great views on the Cotopaxi volcano on the other side of the high plain. Afterwards you drive up the slopes of Cotopaxi to the parking area on 4.600 m. From here you walk in about 1 hour to the "Jose-Rivas-Refuge" at 4.800 m. After a short acclimatisation hike in the afternoon you will have an early dinner before you try to rest and sleep early. B/L/D

Day 09: Peak of the Cotopaxi – Hacienda Leito
After a small breakfast at about midnight you start climbing up. Depending on the conditions you will need about 6-7 hours to reach the peak. If the weather is good you will have a breathtaking view from the top and the possibility to take lots of photos of the snow topped summits of the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes. Later you start climbing down and will reach the hut after ca. 3 hours again. Later you hike back to the parking lot and drive to the Hacienda Leito in the valley of Patate. B/L/D

Day 10: Day of rest in the Hacienda Leito
This day is totally devoted to recovery and relaxation on the hacienda. It also serves as a spare day for the mountain trekkings when the weather or snow conditions make an extra day on the mountain necessary. B/L/D

Day 11: Chimborazo – Whymper Refuge
You leave the hacienda in the morning and driving through the Avenue of the Volcanoes pass the Andean towns of Latacunga, Salcedo and Ambato. From here you follow the winding road along the Andean villages Santa Rosa and Pilahuin up the slopes of Chimborazo. After passing the mountain Carihuayrazo (5.020 m) you cross the wide high plain towards the lower refuge (Refugio Hermanos Carrel) at 4.800 m altitude. In about ca. 30 minutes you hike up to the second refuge (Refugio Whymper) on 5.000 m altitude where you will spend the night. If the weather is fine you have the possibility to go on a short acclimatization walk. After an early dinner you will go try to sleep. B/L/D

Day 12: Peak of Chimborazo – Riobamba
The climb to the top begins at midnight and will take about 8-9 hours when the weather and conditions cooperate. From the peak, which is known for its first climber Edward Whymper who climbed the mountain on a height of 6.310 m, you will have a fantastic view over the green of the Amazon jungle. You will also have a view over the Andes with its many snow-topped peaks to the blue of the Pacific – an incomparable sight. The descent back to the car will take about 4 – 5 hours. From there on you will drive to Riobamba, where you will spend the night in the Hostería Abraspungo. B/L/D

Day 13: Ride with the spectacular Andes train
After a good breakfast you drive to the train station for the breathtaking journey through the mountains. The line was completed in 1902 and is the steepest railroad in the world, a true technical masterpiece! The train weaves down the track and down the stretch known as ‘Nariz del Diablo’ (the Devil’s Nose) 100 m high at a walking pace. From Alausi you will drive through Riobamba back to Quito. Overnight stay at Hotel Mercure Alameda. In case the day before the peak of the Chimborazo could not be reached, you can try a second time today and drive directly back to Quito at night. B/L/-

NB Please note that the train runs only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. In case the train does not operate e.g. due to technical reasons or strike etc. you will go directly to Quito.

Day 14: Transfer Out
According to your flight times you will accompany you to the airport and say goodbye – until we welcome you again! B/-/-

B= Breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner

Cotopaxi

Prices 2009:
4-5   participants     USD 2,595.- per person
2-3    participants     USD 2,895. - per person
1        participant     USD 4,870.- (incl. all single supplements)
Group prices upon request

Single room supplement: USD 390,- (not in the mountain refuges)

Included:
Transportation, overland- and sightseeing trips according to the itinerary, accommodation in hotels and haciendas in double rooms and private bathroom (in the mountain refuges in dormitories), first aid kit, mountain boots, crampons, harness, rope, ice axe, ice screws, National park entrance fees, meals according to the program, qualified mountain guides (at Cotopaxi and Chimborazo one guide for every two climbers, during the acclimatization hikes one guide for the group – usually English/Spanish speaking).

Not included in the price:
International flight, beverages, international airport tax Quito (USD 41,-), personal expenses, tips, travel insurance.

What to bring with you:
Sleeping bag, personal equipment, travel insurance, mountain equipment: gaiters, warm and waterproof clothing (Fleece and Goretex), sunglasses, headlamp with batteries, gloves, sun block, torch, hat, trekking shoes, canteen, camera and film (100 ASA). etc.