Andean Summits Backpacker

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Day 1: Quito

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.

Tour duration: 7-8 hours / Type: this is a privately organized tour service

Expert tips

Warm clothes (including hat, scarf and gloves), and waterproofs are recommended for this tour. Also, remember that it's important to drink lots of water and stay hydrated while at high altitude.

Activities and Services

Included

Boxlunch

English speaking driver/guide

Excluded

Pickup from the airport or valley areas

Entrance fee

Day 2: Avenue of the Volcanoes

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, wild horses, hummingbirds, the viridian metal tail, mountain tanagers, red crested cotinga and the occasional Andean condor. Besides this, you’ll enjoy incredible views over Andean landscapes. 

Tour duration: 7-8 Hours / Type: This is a privately organized tour service

Expert tips

Warm clothes (including hat, scarf and gloves), and waterproofs are recommended for this tour. Also, remember that it's important to drink lots of water and stay hydrated while at high altitude.

Activities and Services

Included

Breakfast

Boxlunch

English speaking driver/guide

Day 3: Avenue of the Volcanoes

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).

Expert tips

A proper acclimatization is necessary to undertake this high altitude hike. It is recommend to acclimatize at least two days at around 3000m before your attempt.

Activities and Services

Included

Breakfast

Boxlunch

English speaking driver/guide

Day 4: Avenue of the Volcanoes

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.

Tour duration: 7-8 hours / Type: this is a privately organized tour service

Expert tips

The village of Quilotoa is set at 3,800m so remember to stay hydrated throughout the day to help avoid the effects of the altitude. It can also be very windy and cold, so be prepared.

Activities and Services

Included

Breakfast

English speaking driver/guide

Excluded

Horse rental

Entrance fee

Day 5: Cotopaxi National Park

We depart to the Cotopaxi National Park and then to the parking lot which is at 4.500 mtrs.

We will have a walk to the refuge at 4.800 mtrs. In an hour approximately where we will rest and take a box lunch and after we will take a small talk and practice in the glaciers for with the guides approximately one hour and we return to the refuge we will take a special dinner at 6 pm and we will take a rest.

Expert tips

This climb requires an excellent level of fitness, sufficient acclimatization for the high altitude, and previous glacier hike experience (using crampons, ice axe and rope).

Activities and Services

Included

Breakfast

Boxlunch

Light dinner

English speaking mountain guide

Climb equipment

Transfer to Cotopaxi NP

Day 6: End of Itinerary

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. 

Cotapaxi Volcano

Activities and Services

Included

Light snack

English speaking mountain guide

Transfer to Quito

Excluded

Dropoff at the airport or valley areas

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