Andean Summits Standard

A fantastic day hike up the Rucu Pichincha Volcano. The day starts riding the Teleferico cable car up Cruz Loma (4100m) for fine views over the city and your first taste of altitude. From there we head a little higher trekking 3 hours up to Rucu Pichincha (4680m) before returning to Quito to relax.

Pasochoa is a beautiful, 4199 meters (13776 ft) high mountain. The highlight of the Pasochoa trek is its humid cloud forest, situated inside an extinct volcanic crater near Quito. We find over one hundred species of bird and 50 species of original Andean trees. It provides a wonderful day trip. The trek is relatively gentle, going through amazing Páramo grasslands and cloud forests, which boasts of stunning Andean wildlife, including bulls, horses, hummingbirds, the viridian metal tail, mountain tanagers, red crested cotinga and the occasional Andean condor.

A fun climbing adventure to Illinizas! The Illinizas North & South, also called the Twin Peaks, are separated by a saddle of about 1 km, and the Ilinizas North is the one peak that you can climb in one day! It is a strenuous hike combined with non-techinical climbing. It`s a fun climb with some exciting scrambles thrown in – perfect for the experienced hiker! The views at the top are simply breath-taking!

The total climb up takes approx. 6 hours reaching an altitude of 5126m (16817ft).

Quilotoa is a real highlight of your tour that will literally take your breath away! An emerald green Laguna inside the crater of an extinct volcano with steep jagged cliffs and views straight down the entire valley of volcanoes (on a clear day), as well as amazing landscapes along the drive through what is sometimes referred as the Grand Canyon of Ecuador. The trek into the crater to the lake shore is very popular. There is a possibility for an optional mule ride out (approx. 10$) for those with tired limbs. At the shore you can also rent a kayak to explore the lake and fumaroles. The village of Quilotoa is also an interesting crafts center.

Finally the climb you have been waiting and preparing for! The goal for today is to head to the refuge level (4800m), practice the basics of ice-trekking with crampons, and then rest up ready for the climb. Overnight at the refuge.

Our climb starts around midnight in order to get us up to the peak in time for sun-break; this is an energy-sapping trek (5-6 hours up, 3 hours down) so there are no guarantees of reaching the summit but for those who do there is the reward of incredible views up and down the Andes. After returning to the refuge we head back to Quito where the tour ends mid-afternoon on arrival.