Ecuador Andes Trekking Tours

Volcano Trekking - 6 Day Tour

Cotopaxi Vulcano

important information

Departure Day: upon request
Price for 6 days starting from: USD 726.-
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Overview Itinerary
Day 01:	Quito – Machachi – Hacienda El Porvenir
Day 02:	Cotopaxi National Park
Day 03:	Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña
Day 04:	Chirimachai
Day 05:	Cotopaxi National Park
Day 06:	Cotopaxi Refuge - Quito

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Quito – Machachi – Hacienda El Porvenir
In the morning you will leave Quito and drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes on the Pan-American highway. At Machachi you will leave the highway and follow a country road into the eastern Andes. Later you start your hike on the La Letra Trail which leads you through the countryside. Passing the villages of Loreto and El Pedregal you will reach the Hacienda El Porvenir after about 4 hours. If the weather permits you will have great views on the valley and some of the Andean mountains such as Pasochoa, Sincholagua and the Cotopaxi on your way. This trek leads you from 3.300 m through Andean forest to 3.600 m altitude to the Paramo (Andean highland with wide grass landscapes). -/L/D

Day 02: Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast you go to a place called to the Inca ruins El Pucará del Salitre which was in former time a strategic military fortress from the Inca Empire. This fort was used to monitor the incañanes or roads, that led to the Amazon rainforest and to the Latacunga valley. Following this Inca road, you will head to the campsite through the paramo. You will have the chance to see herds of Alpacas and learn a little bit about them. This hike takes 6 to 7 hours and is relatively flat. B/L/D

Day 03: Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña
This day the hiking goes to el Tambo Quilindaña, a pre-colonial Inca refuge on the road towards to the jungle. Many volcanoes surround this magical place: Quilindaña that presides over it, and other mountains like Yanahurco, or black hill, legendary Predicator or majestic Antisana. The hike will take 6.5 hours and it's relatively flat. El Tambo Quilindaña farmhouse is at 3.700 m. B/L/D

Day 04: Chirimachai
Today you go from the Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña to Chirimachay’s base camp through the paramo of the Cotopaxi. The scenery of this area is unique because of the lava that flowed through here during Cotopaxi’s last eruption. This hike takes about 5 hours. On today’s hike some chagras (Andean cowboys) will ride along with you and share their culture. Chirimachay base camp is at 4.000 m. B/L/D

Day 05: Cotopaxi National Park
You start your hike in the morning going through a flat and high road towards Limpiopungo Lagoon. This is an excellent day of acclimatization with fantastic views with breathtaking pictures of the Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui and Sincholagua Volcanoes on a clear day. The hike will take 6 to 7 hours. Camp site at Rumicorral 3.800 m. At night local musicians will play music for you. B/L/D

Day 06: Cotopaxi refuge - Quito
On the last day you hike to the shelter on Cotopaxi at 4.800 m. The hike takes 4 to 5 hours to reach the refuge and 15 minutes back down to the parking lot were the vehicles will pick you up to take you to Hacienda El Porvenir from where you return to Quito. B/L/-

B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner

Price 2010:
USD 726.- per person with minimum 4 people
USD 1,307.- per person with minimum 2 people
USD 2,353.- with one person

Single supplement USD 165.-

Tour Includes
• Lodging (based on double Machai room and tents)
• 16 meals
• Described activities Guides (bilingual and local depending on the activity)
• Basic climbing equipment (climbing boots, crampons, ice axe, )
• Transportation from and back to Quito (on tour days)

Tour does not Include
• Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee (USD 10.- for foreigners)
• Personal trekking equipment
• Bar and shop
• Tips
• Hotel in Quito

Note:
Although this is a moderate trek, it could be very hard if you are not properly acclimatized. You need to be ready and prepared to walk on trails as well as on cross-country terrain, marsh and forests. Do not expect to find well-marked trails like in the Alps or the National Parks of the USA.

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