|
|
|
Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
This adventure mountaineering tour encompasses Ecuador's most stunning high altitude scenery. Reaching the summits of three of Ecuador’s highest peaks is the main goal.
Climbing the three peaks
Our acclimatisation programme and the climbs themselves also allow you to experience the diverse highland landscapes, flora and fauna, and indigenous communities of this fascinating, compact Andean country.
You begin your acclimatisation by climbing the peaks of Pasachoa and Guagua Pichincha, before heading north to Cayambe, first of the big peaks.
Cayambe, at 5,789m, is the highest and coldest point on the equator. It is the only place on earth where the latitude is zero degrees and so is the temperature. Long thought extinct, Cayambe is now deemed to be active and is closely monitored. From Quito it is a 2.5 hour drive. In our 4WD vehicle we can reach the mountain hut at 4,650 m.
Cayambe boasts huge glaciers that cover all sides of this massive bulky mountain. The course takes place on the glacier within an hour’s walk of the hut. It is not as steep as Cotopaxi but the ascent takes approximately the same time as Cotopaxi, approximately 6-8 hours from the refuge to the summit.
Cotopaxi at 5,897m is Ecuador's second-highest peak and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. It is a nearly perfect snow-capped volcanic cone, situated 55 kilometres south of Quito in Cotopaxi National Park.
We drive to just below the refuge (4,800m). It is a 6-8 hour climb to the summit, mostly on steep snow and ice slopes. It was first climbed in November 1872 by Angel Maria Escobar (Colombia) and Wilhelm Reiss (Germany). The last eruption was in 1904.
Chimborazo 6,310m is Ecuador’s highest peak, and is one of the most impressive in all the Andes. Measured from the centre of the earth it is the highest mountain in the world. Chimborazo is the southern-most peak in the Cordillera Occidental chain of mountains.
It was first climbed in 1880 by Jean Antoine and Louis Carrel (Italy) and Edward Whymper (UK). The best time for climbing is during January and early February.
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
|
|
| |
Itinerary |
| |
Day 1 |
Arrival Quito, Hotel. |
| |
Day 2 |
Climb Pasachoa, 4,200 m. Quito hotel. (B/BL) |
| |
Day 3 |
Climb Guagua Pichincha. Quito hotel. (B/BL) |
| |
Day 4 |
Walk Quito Loma-Cayambe. Refuge. (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 5 |
Glaciar school. Refuge (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 6 |
Half day glaciar school. Refuge (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 7 |
Climb Cayambe. Quito hotel. (B/BL) |
| |
Day 8 |
Free day. Hotel. (B) |
| |
Day 9 |
Drive to Cotopaxi. Tambopaxi hut (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 10 |
Day walk Ruminahui. Refuge Jose Rivas (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 11 |
Climb Cotopaxi. Drive to Riobamba, hotel. (B/BL) |
| |
Day 12 |
Free day Riobamba. Hotel. (B) |
| |
Day 13 |
Drive to Chimborazo. Whymper hut. (B/BL/D) |
| |
Day 14 |
Climb Chimborazo, drive to Quito. Hotel (B/BL) |
| |
Day 15 |
Reserve day Chimborazo. Drive to Quito. Hotel. |
| |
Day 16 |
Transfer out |
| |
Included
Private transportation, English speaking mountain guide throughout (one qualified mountain guide for each two clients - all our guides are Members of the Ecuadorian Mountain Guide Association and of the rescue team. They are equipped with oxygen, cell phones and radios), entrance to the National Parks, lodging at the refuges/hostels/hotels as per the itinerary, all meals mentioned above.
|
| |
Not included
Personal equipment, Mountain boots, ice axe, crampons, harness, rope, tips, travel insurance, mountain equipment, gaiters, warm and waterproof clothes, sunglasses, headlamp with batteries, gloves etc.
|
|
|
