Three Big Volcanoes: Illiniza Norte + Cayambe + Cotopaxi + Chimborazo (13 days)

Three Big Volcanoes: Illiniza Norte + Cayambe + Cotopaxi + Chimborazo (13 days)

Overview

Quick Info
Price: From USD 1872 Days: 13 Grade: Intermediate Place: Central Andes
Overview
This is a challenging program ideal for those who want to climb the three biggest volcanoes of Ecuador with a relatively short acclimatization process. It is recommended to those who already come to Ecuador in good training condition. For a small country, Ecuador is very well endowed with major peaks, with 25 over fifteen thousand feet, many within a day drive from Quito. Most of the big volcanoes are to be found in the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' with the Eastern and Western Cordilleras running either side of the high central valleys. Ecuador offers a wide range of beautiful landscapes which are famous for excellent trekking and mountain climbing. The wild mountain scenery with the majestic and partly still active volcanoes, little Indian villages and the typical paramo vegetation is just spectacular and should not be missed. The classic snow capped cone shaped volcanoes are much in evidence, for example Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Cayambe. A number are active, with Cotopaxi (19,347ft / 5.897m) the perfect cone-shaped active volcano, is alledgedly the world’s highest active volcano; Chimborazo (6.310m/20,702ft), although by no means the tallest peak in South America, does have the distinction of being the closest place on earth to the sun, due to the earth's bulge at the equator. From the peak of the volcanoes you can enjoy the breathtaking views overlooking huge valleys, canyons and other mountains.

PRICE 2011
No. Passengers	Price USD
2 - 3 pax	2808
4 - 6 pax	2496
7- 10 pax	2184
11 - 15 pax	1872

◊ PRICE INCLUDES

•    All in country transportation.
•    All accommodation costs (hostelries (based on double or triple occupancy) and mountain hut fees). Hotels in Quito are not included (second and last night).
•    All meals (breakfast, lunch, box lunch while climbing and dinner), except dinners in Quito.
•    All group climbing gear.
•    Park entry fees and permits.
•    Certified bilingual Mountain Guide.
•    Glacier climbing ratio: 2 climbers /1 guide.

◊ PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

•    Personal gear (see our Climbing Volcanoes Equipment List and Climbing Volcanoes Equipment Rental List)).
•    Hotels in Quito (second and last night).
•    Alcoholic and bottled drinks, and extra food.
•    Single room supplement (this supplement will apply if a match cannot be made or if there is a last minute cancellation).
•    Charges incurred as a result of delays, cancellations or early departures, all beyond Pioneer Journeys control.
•    Insurances (see our Insurance products and Information).
•    Tips.
•    Meals while traveling.
•    What it is not specified in the Included section.

Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1: North Illiniza Refuge

Ecuador Mountain Climbing Tours Illiniza Volcano

Illiniza is one of the multiple volcanoes in Ecuador, located near Quito. Illiniza, a potentially active volcano, consists of two snow covered peaks: Illiniza Sur (5.248 m/17,218 ft) and Illiniza Norte (5.126 m/ 16,818 ft).
The northern peak is rocky without permanent snow. It is a relatively easy climb with various scrambles up rock and a challenging finish due to the loose rocks.
Leaving Quito in the morning, we’ll drive 2 hours to the base of the Illiniza. Today we will do a 3 hours hike around the base of the Illiniza to get a good acclimatization. We’ll accommodate in our associated El Chaupi Hostelry.
Lodging: El Chaupi Hostelry

• Day 2: North Illiniza Summit (5.126 m/ 16,818 ft)

Our climb begins at 5 am following a rocky ridge. Under normal conditions, no special skills are required. Nevertheless, our guides will be always prepared to overcome any difficulty in order to reach the summit safety (some times our path can be pretty snowy or we may encounter bad weather conditions). From summit you’ll have a privileged view of the Avenue of Volcanoes: Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo…After our descent, we’ll head to enjoy a very good meal in our associated Tambopaxi Hostelry, right in the base of Cotopaxi Volcano.
Lodging: Hotel in Quito

• Day 3: Hacienda Guachalá and skills review at Cayambe’s Glacier (4.633 m / 15,200 ft)

Ecuador Mountain Climbing Tours Cayambe Volcano

Guachalá is the oldest Hacienda in Ecuador. The oldest building dates from 1580. Each nook and cranny in Guachala has its own secrets and its own history. In Guachalá you can enjoy both history and nature. Enjoy the fresh air of the country while you walk through the oldest Eucaliptus woods of Ecuador, planted by Ecuador's ex President García Moreno. If you are adventurous, you can visit by horse many of the pre-Incan ruins of the Pucarás.
Glacier activities: we'll spend the afternoon on the Cayambe glacier training several techniques and skills.
Lodging: Guachalá Hostelry

• Day 4: Cayambe’s Refuge (4.633 m/15,200 ft)

We will drive to the Ruales-Oleas-Berge Refuge, at 4.633 m/15,200 ft of altitude. It is the world's highest point where the equator passes through. The rest of the day we will spend relaxing, reinforcing what we reviewed the day before and preparing the equipment for the ascent.
Lodging: Cayambe Refuge

• Day 5: Cayambe’s Summit (5.790 m / 18,997 ft), the third highest mountain in the Ecuadorian Andes.

The Cayambe’s glacier is the biggest in Ecuador. Their beautiful massive ice formations and crevasses have all blue tonalities. Cayambe Volcano is the Earth’s highest point along the Equatorial Line and its eternal snows are also the only ones found in the Equator.
We’ll start our climb at midnight, so that we can take advantage of better snow conditions. Traversing up the crevassed slopes of the glacier and some rocky outcrops, we’ll reach the volcano’s summit (5.790 m/18,997 ft) in 8 to 10 hours. The astonishing views from there will certainly delight you: subsidiary north and east summits of Cayambe, caped peaks of Cotopaxi and Antizana, the vast Amazon plain. After descent, we’ll go to our deserved rest in our hostelry.
Lodging: Guachalá Hostelry

• Day 6: Scenic drive to Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador Mountain Climbing Tours Cotopaxi Volcano

We’ll drive to the Cotopaxi National Park, considered a natural Andean jewel. In our way, we’ll have time to visit a huge solar clock and stop by to do some shopping. We’ll overnight at Tambopaxi 3.766m/12,356ft), a rustic but very comfortable lodge that will delight us with spectacular views of the north face of Cotopaxi.

• Day 7: Cotopaxi Refuge (4.800 m / 15,750 ft)

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park and to the car park located at 4.600 m / 15092 ft. From there, we’ll hike for about an hour to the refuge (4.800 m / 15,750 ft). Once in the hut, we’ll take lunch and prepare for the climb to one of the most beautiful mountains of the high Andes: the perfect cone of Cotopaxi.
Lodging: Cotopaxi Refuge

• Day 8: Cotopaxi’s Summit (19,347 ft / 5.897 m)

Our climb will begin at about one in the morning. As all normal big Ecuadorian volcanoes routes, this is also quite physically demanding. After a 30 degree rocky and ashy slope, we’ll enter the glacier area and the several 30 to 45 degrees slopes that will take us to the edge of the one of most impressive crater formations. Having enjoyed the sunrise during our climb, from the top of that gigantic perfect cone shaped active volcano (19,347 ft / 5.897 m), we’ll be amazed at the views of the deep crater and the also caped mountains of Antizana, Cayambe and Chimborazo. After our 3 hours descent, we’ll head back to our hostelry.
Lodging: Tambopaxi Hostelry

• Day 9: Drive trip to the City of Riobamba and to the base of Chimborazo Volcano

Ecuador Mountain Climbing Tours Chimborazo Volcano

This day is important in order to recover the strength and prepare for our last challenge in Chimborazo. We will drive for about 3 hours through the Andes till the City of Riobamba and to the comfortable mountain refuge Estrella del Chimborazo. We will have time to relax and visit some interesting historic points.
Lodging: Estrella del Chimborazo

Day 10: Estrella del Chimborazo to High Campsite (5.047m/16,558ft)

After breakfast, we’ll get prepared for a three hours hike up to our high campsite. Once there, we’ll spend the afternoon preparing for the climb.
Lodging: Estrella del Chimborazo or Altitude Camp

Day 11: Chimborazo Summit (6.310m/20,702ft)

Day of ascension to the summit at (6.310m/20,702ft), following the route established by Edward Whymper during his first ascension of Chimborazo in 1880 together with the Italian guide Carrel de Velturuanche. 8 to 10 hours of climbing. The return to the hut will take 4 hours and from there we will return to the base camp. Overnight at the camp.
Lodging: Estrella del Chimborazo

Day 12: Extra Day

This extra day is highly recommended in order to improve the chances of climbing all of our goals. For instance, it can be used as an extra day for climbing Chimborazo if bad weather conditions delay our climbing attempt or extra rest or acclimatization day is needed. If that extra day is finally not needed for climbing, you can choose the activities that you prefer, there in Estrella del Chimborazo.
Lodging: Estrella del Chimborazo

Day 13: Return to Quito

After having breakfast we’ll drive through the Avenue of Volcanoes back to Quito where we’ll accommodate in our hotel and celebrate the end of the trip with a great dinner.
Lodging: Hotel in Quito

Photo Gallery

Climbing North Illiniza

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Testimonials

I will never forget this experience!

Climbing the volcanoes of Ecuador has been a unique and thrilling experience, specially Cotopaxi! But most of all I enjoyied meeting Pioneer Journeys climbing guides, sharing their adventures, learning from their experience and techniques.

I received a very professional treatment in a surprising natural spectacle.

What more could you ask for?

Lluís Casas – Barcelona (Spain)

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Overview

PRICE 2011

Itinerary