The Andes mountain range crosses Ecuador from north to south as a dorsal spine, divided in two mountain ranges and offers multiple options for the practice of mountaineering. The accessibility of the mountains and the climate is the other great advantage of Ecuador. With 10 peaks of more than 5000m and near 30 other mountains of more than 4000m Ecuador is the paradise of the climber.
To succeed in a mountain expedition several factors are required: an appropriate physical condition, a good acclimatization to the height, and a good guide. We guarantee you the last two factors. We offer you the opportunity to reach the mountains of  Ecuador with appropriately formed guides and we help you in your preparation process for climbing the mountain.

Mountaneiring: 15 day tour: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, the three highest of the country

Ecuador offer many advantages for those who are seeking  a mountaineering experience, the Andes mountain range traverses the country as a dorsal spine offering a series of volcanoes and peaks with a relatively easy access. And due the extraordinary location of our country there are no seasons, which means that there is very good weather all the year around.
This program is an introduction to mountaineering, and combines the adequate acclimatizing process with the best of Ecuador.

Itinerary:

Day trips menu from which you can make your own program

1. Medium mountain and acclimatization

2 peaks in 2 days: Fuya fuya(4279m) and Yanaurcu(4263m) of Mojanda

Mojanda is a group of mountains and lakes located to the south of Otavalo. This trip allows you to visit the three lakes (Caricocha, Huarmicocha and Yanacocha) and climb to Fuya Fuya (4279 m) and Yanaurcu (4263m.) A great trip on which you will enjoy beautiful landscapes with 12 mountains on the horizon, learn about the flora and ecology of Ecuador and possibly spot condors. Very good acclimatization process because we will walk 6-7 hours per day in altitudes about 4000 m and camp at 3720 m.

Imbabura mountain (4610m)

The route to top of this mountain passes through indigenous villages, paramo and finally  rock until the summit, this doesn’t get permanent snow and you will reach the top without previous technical training. On the two day tour you will also visit the towns of Ibarra, San Antonio de Ibarra and the nearby Indian villages where embroideries, carving wood and ceramics are produced. For the night we camp in the mountain or sleep in one of the community lodges at the base.

Illiniza north (5112m)

Located 70 Km south of Quito this 5112m peak is doable in 2 days from both Otavalo or Quito, the scenery is beautiful with fine views of Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, Corazon and Illinizas itself. This peak is a very nice scramble when free from snow. Snowy conditions change the mountain and make the climb more challenging.

We offer you the opportunity to summit some of the greatest mountains and snow covered peaks in Ecuador. Our guides are professional and they are certificated. Tours can adapt to your requirements for 2, 3 or 4 days.

Cotopaxi (5897m)

Cotopaxi is the 2nd highest mountain in Ecuador. Each year has many days with good weather. For this reason and its beautiful structure, Cotopaxi has become the most popular high mountain climb in Ecuador. The first day we’ll transport you through the “Avenue of the volcanoes” to Cotopaxi National park. Here you can see the different flora and fauna of the region. From the parking area at 4600m we will hike to the refuge at 4800m. During the afternoon you’ll practice the glacier and snow travel technique. At midnight we wake up and start the 6 –7 hours of hard climb to the summit. The return trip to the refuge will take another 3 hours.

Cayambe (5790m)

Cayambe is the 3rd highest mountain in Ecuador and the highest point over the equator in the world. It lies in the eastern range of the Andes 60 km. away from both, Otavalo and Quito. Cayambe has a great importance for the native people. Its slopes are heavily glaciated and it has numerous crevasses. This beautiful mountain requires some basic training in glacier travel teaching which our guides provide you on the first day near the refuge. The second day we wake up at 00h00 and hike up 7 hours to reach the summit, after another 3 hours for descent we will return to Quito or Otavalo in the afternoon.

Chimborazo (6310m)

For many years Chimborazo was considered to be the highest mountain in the world. The summit is still considered as the closest point from the earth surface to the sun. This mountain lies in the western range of the Andes a few kilometers from the town of Riobamba. From Quito we will transport you to the first Chimborazo refuge, passing through the “Avenue of the volcanoes” on the way. From the first refuge we’ll hike up to the Whimper refuge at 5000m. There is no place for glacier travel technique training so it requires previous experience. At 23 h 00 we wake up and get ready for the 8 hour climb to the summit. The descent will take about 4 hours.

Illiniza south (5248m)

Illiniza south is one of the more challenging and technical climbs of the country, located south of Quito in the western cordillera and offers a very nice and exciting climb. It is a peak for experienced climbers and not for beginners and should be done after other Ecuadorian peaks. Most of the guidebooks talk about the very technical “rampa” route but now this route is not in use anymore and more of the climbs are done using the normal route. For the first day we will transport you to the parking area at 4000m and then we will climb to the refuge at 4650m. At night we will start the climb and then come back to the refuge and then to Quito.

Antisana (5758m)

This is the fourth major peak of the country and is located some 55Km south east of Quito. There is no refuge or hut and the only option to climb the peak is to camp at the base of the glacier to which access is only possible  by 4x4 vehicules. The mountain is very nice and offers a very interesting climbing option up its 4 summits. It is possible to climb in 2 days from Quito.