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Itinerary :
D1: Quito city > « Mitad del Mundo » > Otavalo (2700 m / 8,860 ft)
Meeting with your guide at your hotel at 08:00 A.M. and depart for the visit of the old city of Quito, the best conserved colonial town of South America. The fabulously rich decorated churches, the museums, the squares and the numerous colonial buildings prove his title of « Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. Lunch in town and transfer to “ la Mitad del Mundo” (the Middle of the World), the site that marks the equatorial line and located 22 Km (13,7 miles) north of Quito. Visit to the small ethnographic museum and we continue driving north for about one and a half hour till the small Otavalo Indian town. Hotel.. LD.
D2: Trek Cuicocha Lake (3400 m / 11,155 ft) > Otavalo
Transfer by your vehicle to the beautiful Cuicocha lagoon (3000 m / 9,845 ft), an old volcanic crater transformed by nature into a lake. Acclimatization walk of 3 to 4 hours around the crater and at the foot of the Cotacachi volcano (11,155 ft aprox.). Box lunch. Back to Otavalo at the end of the afternoon. Hotel. BLD.
D3: Fuya-Fuya summit (4294 m / 14,087 ft) > La Esperanza
Departure this time to go up to the Mojanda lagoons (3800 m / 12,470 ft). Hiking and easy climb of the Cerro “Fuya-Fuya” (4,294 m / 14,087 ft). This ascent demands only 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit. Box lunch, back to the vehicle and down again to the valley for a short transfer to the small village of La Esperanza. Diner and night in a rural hostel in the village. BLD.
D4: Imbabura volcano (4621 m / 15,160 ft)
Early morning departure with the vehicle to reach the start of the trail (15 min.) climbing ups the Imbabura volcano. Hike between 3400 m (11,150 ft) and 4200 m (13,780 ft). Beautiful views on the Otavalo area and Yahuarcocha lake. Depending on the physical condition of the group it is possible to get to the « Taita Imbabura » summit (4621 m / 15,160 ft). This ascent does not involve any difficulty but it demands a steadfast physical effort of at least 6 hours. Box lunch. Back to the hostel in La Esperanza. Diner and night at the hostel. BLD.
D5: Otavalo market – Cayambe Refuge (4600 m / 15,092 ft)
Visit to the Otavalo Indian market, the most famous and colorful Indian market in Ecuador. Transfer to the Cayambe refuge (4600 m / 15.092ft). Diner and night at the refuge. BLD.
D6: Refuge and Cayambe glacier
Walk to the glacier at about 4800m (15,750 ft) to start a practical snow and ice technique course: ice axe and crampon work: first techniques. Progression in snowfields, rope handling, self-arrest. Ice axe and crampon work in ice fields: different progression techniques from 40 to 80 º, knots. Picnic lunch. Back to the refuge at the end of the afternoon. Diner and night at the refuge. BLD.
D7: Cayambe summit (5790 m / 18,996 ft optional) > Quito
Breakfast and we leave the refuge to go back to the capital. On our way back, stop at Cochasqui to visit the ruins and pyramids of an old « Caras-Quitus » Indian refuge. Night at the hotel in Quito. BLD.
Note : Depending on the physical condition and technical level of the group it is possible to attempt the Cayambe summit this day (5790m/18.996ft). Departure from the refuge at 1:00 A.M. in the morning. Back to the refuge at 10-11A.M.
Attention, this summit is fairly technical and the guide in charge of the group is the only judge about taking the decision to attempt or not the summit.
D8: Quito: Cruz Loma > El Chaupi
Departure for the ascent in cable railway of Cruz Loma at 4050 m of altitude for an unforgettable point of view on the capital and the highest Ecuadorian summits. Imposing sight. Descent by the same way and routes this time southward, following the famous « Volcanoes Valley », to reach the small village of El Chaupi located at the foot of the twin summit Illinizas Norte and Sur, where we set up in a rural, but comfortable hostal. BLD.
D9: Illinizas Norte summit (5116 m / 16,785 ft) > El Chasqui
Early in the morning we leave the refuge by vehicle up to the place known as “La Virgen” (3900 m / 12,795 ft). From there 2 or 3 hours walking up to arrive at the pass between the two summits. And from there 2 more hours will be necessary to climb the north peak of the Illinizas (5116 m / 16,785 ft). This route does not present any difficulty. Sometimes you just need “to use your hands." Back to “La Virgen” and we go down by vehicle back to El Chaupi and the Pan-American highway till El Chasqui where we set up in a nice and charming mountain hostel. Diner and overnight. BLD.
D10: El Chasqui > Cotopaxi Refuge
We leave for the Cotopaxi National Park. We go up by vehicle on a dusty road that ends 200 m below the Cotopaxi refuge (4600 m / 15.092 ft). Picking up of your equipment, loading of the food in your backpacks and up to the refuge: there are about 45 minutes walk on a cinder path to reach the refuge (200 m / 656 ft of slope). Night at the refuge (4800 m / 15748 ft). BLD.
D11: Cotopaxi summit (5897m / 19,347 ft) > Baños
Waking up at midnight and departure from the refuge at 1:00 A.M. to climb the world’s highest active volcano (5897 m / 19,347 ft). This is an almost glacier ascent but without major difficulties. Crevasses are not numerous and well marked. Only the presence of fresh snow or strong winds can make this ascent a difficult one. It will take you around 6 to 7 hours to appreciate the magnificent huge summit cone. Back to the refuge around 10:00 AM. Light lunch, down to the parking lot and down back to the valley to continue in south direction to Baños, a charming little thermal town (1800 m / 5900 ft) located at the food of the active Tungurahua volcano and well known for his warm sulfurous water pools. Hotel. BLD.
D12: Baños
Rest and tourist day in this charming little thermal town well known for his warm sulfurous water pools. Many activities are possible: warm sulfurous water pools, horse back riding, mountain biking, hikes in the mountains surrounding Baños, visit to beautiful waterfalls in a tropical vegetation that evokes the nearby Amazon jungle. Lunch and dinner in town. Night at the hotel. BLD.
D13: Baños > Chimborazo refuge (5000m / 16,404 ft)
We leave Baños by vehicle and reach the first Chimborazo refuge (4800 m / 15,748 ft) after about two and a half hours ride. From there on, walk for about 45 minutes to 1 hour with your equipment to the Edward Whimper refuge (5000 m / 16,404 feet). If weather conditions are good, we will have a look at the ascent route (+/- 1 hour). Night at the refuge. BLD.
D14: Chimborazo summit (6310m / 20,702 ft) > Quito
Wake up at 11:00 P.M and departure from the refuge at midnight. The itinerary, following the seasons, the conditions of snow coverage or the state of the ice, may present important technical or security problems; in every case, this is an endurance route, so a very good physical condition and acclimatization are essential. The difficulties are mainly the altitude and the height difference (1300 m / 4,265 ft.). From 8 to 9 hours are necessary to reach Ecuador’s highest summit. Back to the refuge and we leave to go back to Quito (about four hours ride). Lunch on our way back. Farewell diner in town and night at the hotel. BLD.
Price : 1850 usd* (minimum 3 people)
** All our prices are package deals " All inclusive ": English-speaking guide, private transportation, full board, hotel and refuges accommodation, national park fees, visits, technical equipment, ...
The price Includes
* All the necessary transportation by private transportation to realize the tour.
* Lodging at standard hotels (double room) as described in the program.
* Overnight at the mountain refuges as described in the program.
* All the meals from Quito to Quito, as described in the program = full American plan. See code: B = breakfast, L= lunch, D = diner.
* All the entrance fees : museums, churches, reserves, National Parks.
* All the programmed excursions and visits.
* A general first aid kit, radios 2M, ropes.
* The following individual mountain equipment: crampons, ice axes, harness.
* A Spanish-English licensed high mountain guide from Quito to Quito
* An additional high mountain guide team during the ascents of Cayambe, Cotopaxi and
Chimborazo (1 guide / 2 pers. max.)
Does not include
* lnternational flight
* Everything not described in “The price includes”
* Activities, excursions or visits described as “possibility of …” or “optional”
* Drinks (alcoholic or not) in town, at the restaurants or at the refuge’s bars.
* Personal material: backpack, sleeping bag, mountain shoes, etc...
* Tips and personal expenses.
* Transfers airport / hotel / airport
* International airport taxes.
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