COTOPAXI CHALLENGE

Day 1: Arrival to Quito’s International Airport – Transfer to the hotel

The group will be met upon arrival by a local representative and transferred to the hotel

Overnight: Hotel Cultura Manor or similar

Day 2: Acclimatization, Colonial City Tour (Quito, Unesco’s World Heritage)

Enjoy a walking tour through Colonial Quito, visiting the most important and famous sights. You will visit the Plaza de Independencia, in which you will find the 4 powers of the city, the Catholic Church with the Cathedral and the archbishop’s residency, the City hall and the Presidential Palace.  You will also visit the Compañia de Jesus,  and San Francisco square and church,  with their impressive façades and gold leaf-covered altars in the interiors. As you walk through the colonial city, you will taste Ecuadorian sweets and will enjoy the touch of culture and traditions.  The tour is completed with a drive up to the Panecillo hill, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of Quito and the surrounding mountains. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

Overnight: Hotel Cultura Manor or similar

Day 3: Pasochoa Volcano (4,199mts / 13,776 feet)

After breakfast, you will start the day with a 1h15 hour drive south of Quito towards the Pasochoa Natural Reserve. Pasochoa volcano is also located in the Eastern Mountain range and it is eroded by its last volcanic activity, as well as the last glaciations, which carved part of the crater.  You will reach the summit by following a relatively easy route. Pasochoa´s vegetation and forest are also part of a protected reserve due to the lush native forest and native wildlife.

The trek takes approximately 6-7 hours. In the afternoon you will return to Quito to rest and overnight. (B, BL)

Day 4: Rucu Pichincha (4,784 mts / 15,695 feet)

After breakfast, you will be collected from the hotel to drive towards the Pichinchas, on the western side of the city. Rucu means old in Quichua, our native language.  The volcano had its last activity in 1998 and is part of a group of three volcanoes in the western mountain range of the Andes.

The first part of the tour will take you up to 4050 mts / 13287 feet by cable car. From here you will start our 6-hour trek towards Rucu Pichincha’s summit. You will hike as your body allows and enjoy the incredible views from above.  It is good training but it is not necessary to reach the summit. In the afternoon you will return back to the city to rest and make the best of the area where your hotel is located.  You can visit the local indigenous market.  (B, BL)

Overnight: Hotel Cultura Manor or similar

Day 5: Los Ilinizas Camping Site

In the early hours of the morning, you will drive along the Avenue of Volcanoes to reach our next point “Los Ilinizas”.  The Illinizas Ecological Reserve has 30800 hectares of paramo (moorland) and 119100 hectares of cloud and subtropical forest. After a short drive (1 hour) you will arrive at El Chaupi, the nearest town to the mountain.

You will trek for about 4 hours until you reach our campsite.

(Camp overnight) (B, BL, D)

Day 6: Iliniza Norte (5,126mts / 16,817 feet)

From the camping site in the morning, weather dependent, you may have awesome views of Cotopaxi and other volcanoes near the area,  including Pasochoa and Ruminahui. You will start a tough trek uphill climbing by an extended moraine. You will be walking on a ridge, where there is a faint possibility of snow (there is snow on the ridge for around 5 days a year) and if this happens crampons and ice axes are needed (usually we can tell this with a few days in advance). After the ridge (5,100 m) you will continue along the mountain to its end and then reach the summit via a rocky gully.  This climb takes between 6-7 hours.  After the descent, our driver will drive towards Cotopaxi National Park.

Overnight at Tambopaxi Mountain Lodge. (B, BL, D)

Day 7:  A day to rest – Cotopaxi National Park

Today is a free resting day. There are easy trekking options around the area if you decide to walk around.

Around midday, you will have lunch and relax in the afternoon.

Overnight at Tambopaxi Mountain Lodge. (B, BL, D)

Day 8:  Cotopaxi – Jose Ribas Refugio (4,800mts / 15,748 feet)

Your support vehicles will drive you for approximately 45 minutes to the Cotopaxi refuge car parking area at 4,550 m and then you will make your way up following a very steep and ashy slope until you reach the refuge located at 4,800m, about 1 or 2 hours of hard climbing.  In the afternoon you will have the chance to practice in the ice. You will have an early dinner so you can rest and go early to bed, as your climb will start at midnight.

Overnight:  Refugio Jose Ribas

Day 8/9: Summit Cotopaxi (5,897mts / 19,347 feet)

You will leave the refuge at around midnight to continue ascending to Cotopaxi’s summit, which is a grueling 8 hours of constant climbing up steep glaciers. Using crampons and ice axes, and roped up to professional guides, this climb is tough but with unbelievably rewarding views once you reach the summit. After enjoying the majestic views of the Avenue of the Volcanoes you will descend to the refuge for a hearty warm soup. You will then continue your descent until you reach the parking lot where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Quito.  Approximately 3 hours on route.  The afternoon will be to rest and share the amazing life experiences with your fellow climbers.  (B, snack, soup, D) Welcome dinner.

Overnight Hosteria San Jose in Puembo, near the airport

Day 10: Transfer out for an international flight.

You will have a transfer to Quito’s International Airport 3 hours before the flight.

NOTE: This itinerary is a guide and may change due to unusual weather conditions and the strength of the group. Our company will do our best to keep to the set itinerary; however, we cannot be held responsible for any last-minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say.