Cotopaxi Climbing tour

Arrival at the international airport in Quito. Here your guide picks you up and takes you to the hotel in the heart of Quito. From there the Cotopaxi climbing tour can start!

The day will start with breakfast. Right after, we will head out for a city tour to Quito. In doing so, you will become used to the altitude. Once we reach the old town of Quito there is a lot to explore. Here, our guide gives us many interesting details about the historical center of Quito. Since 1978 it is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The reason for this is that it is the best-preserved historical center of Latin America.

Meals: Breakfast

Early in the morning, we leave the capital to drive towards the Volcano. This one is an extinct volcano with a wide caldera which is sunken to the west. Therefore, it gives us an impressive image. A height of 4.200 meters above sea level is a good beginning for acclimatization for other mountain climbing hikes. Due to its location in the middle of the Avenue of Volcanoes, Pasochoa offers a great view from the top. For example, you can see the Cayambe Volcano and other mountains. In the surrounded area are pumas, foxes, skunks and many bird species to be found. This is a perfect first hike for those who are new to altitude, it is an optimal acclimatization program. In the late afternoon, we return to Quito.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch

The second hike is to the volcano Rucu Pichincha. We will continue the process of acclimatization reaching its summit and observe the crater and its majesty. From the slopes you can take the cable car to the top of the mountain. From there you can enjoy a panoramic view of Quito. At the end of the day you will return to Quito.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch

The Volcano Iliniza is located at about 60 km south-west of Quito. This volcano belongs to the western Andes and offers a magnificent view over the surrounding mountains and valleys. The Iliniza Norte has a summit purely made of rocks and is seldom covered with snow. Very early in the morning, we will drive to “Estacion de la Virgen”, from where the mountain climbing hike starts. Get ready for a steep climb through magnificent landscape followed by an exhilarating scramble to the summit. The hike up the Ilinizas Norte leads us through an amazing landscape called Páramo. It is the name for Ecuadorian steppe, and the area is filled with blooming shrubs and thorny bushes. Our hike will take about 4-5 hours up and 2 hours to descend back down. After the hike, you will head to a typical hacienda to finish the day.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we head to the Cotopaxi National park. On our way we can stop at the Limpiopungo Lagoon to take some photos. Right afterwards we reach the parking lot and hike for an hour up to the José Rivas Refugee. This destination is located at 4,800 meters above sea level. The afternoon we spend practicing the glacier skills needed for the ascent in prior to the climb. We will also train the handling of crampons, rope and ice axes. Afterwards, we go back to the mountain hut, where an early dinner will be served, and we rest until midnight.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

Around midnight, we get up for the ascent to the summit. After breakfast and after all backpacks are packed and ready for the climb, we start around 1:00 am. Then we need approximately 6 to 8 hours for the ascension. A long, initial pitch gains access to an interesting maze of crevasses on the lower slopes of this beautiful volcano. The ascent then weaves through impressive crevasse fields before ascending the final steep slopes to the summit. The deep, sheer-walled volcanic crater is an incredibly impressive sight. On top, at 5,897 m, we have enough time to enjoy the stunning view and take pictures.After soaking in the awesome panoramic view from the second highest point in Ecuador we will head back to the hut. The descent will take about 2 or 3 hours. A short rest and we return to Quito.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch

The Cotopaxi climbing tour ends with breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight, a private transfer will take you to the airport in Quito. Or maybe you book a trip to the Galapagos Islands with us and your tour goes on with the next adventure!

Meals: Breakfast