Day 1: QUITO – OTAVALO

We will depart early from your hotel in Quito to visit the Otavalo Indian market, the most important and colorful in Ecuador. At dawn, the Otavaleños go to the market plazas to sell their products such as animals, vegetables, fruits, and a large variety of colorful handicrafts including art, tapestries, ponchos, rugs, sweaters, and wood  carvings. During the afternoon we will make a short trek near Peguche to see the waterfall and surrounding area. Night will be spent at a beautiful historic hacienda near Otavalo.

Day 2: OTAVALO – MOJANDA – MITAD DEL MUNDO – QUITO

This is your first acclimatization hike. We will depart early in the morning to the Lagunas de Mojanda for an easy climb of Fuya-Fuya at 13,780’. From there you will enjoy the wonderful views of the Otavalo area and San Pablo Lake. On our return to Quito, we will stop at the Monument of the Equator, located at Latitude 0°. Here at the Mitad del Mundo you can straddle the equator, one foot on each hemisphere. Inside the monument, there is an ethnic museum where you will find beautiful examples of various cultural groups in Ecuador; their customs, celebrations and way of life. The night will be spent at your hotel in Quito.

Day 3: QUITO – ILLINIZAS REFUGE

An early morning departure from your hotel in Quito will find us heading for the Illinizas refuge. After checking all equipment, we will spend the night at the refuge Nuevos Horizontes.

Day 4: ILLINIZAS REFUGE – ILLINIZA NORTH SUMMIT – BAÑOS

We will leave at dawn to attempt the north summit of Illinizas. This route is not overly technical and should provide a nice ascent to the summit. After appreciating the 17,158’ peak we will descend to the refuge and transfer to spend the night in Baños. A charming little spa town famous for its thermal spring waters, Baños is located in a small valley high in the Andes Mountains.

Day 5: BAÑOS – ALTAR

We will depart your hotel in Baños heading for the Releche Farm where we will meet with our Indian guides and their mules. From there we will trek through an area of beautiful landscape to reach the Collanes Valley at the base of El Altar mountain (12,467’) where we will spend the night in tents.

Day 6: ALTAR – ACCLIMATIZATION HIKE

Departing from our camp, we will trek to the Laguna Verde situated in the ancient volcanic caldera. If the weather
cooperates, we will hike to the opposite ridge in order to view the numerous lakes near the mountain. By nightfall we will return to the camp and spend the night in tents.

Day 7: ALTAR – BAÑOS

Early in the morning, we will return to the farm where our vehicle will be waiting. We will say goodbye to the mules and depart back to Baños where we will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 8: BAÑOS

Today is a free day in Baños with several possible activities:
thermal water pools, horse riding, mountain biking, a walk through the surrounding hills, and a visit to the Indian village of Salasacas known for its weaving. The night will be spent back at your hotel.

Day 9: BAÑOS – COTOPAXI RIBAS REFUGE

We will depart early from your hotel in Baños heading for the Cotopaxi National Park. After arriving just below the first refuge we will pack our equipment and hike up a sandy path to reach the Ribas refuge at 15,748’. We might make a training excursion onto the glacier to review the ascension route. Night will be spent at the refuge.

Day 10: RIBAS REFUGE – COTOPAXI SUMMIT – LATACUNGA

Shortly after midnight, we will depart the refuge to begin the summit assault. This is a glacial ascent that should be without major difficulties as there are usually few crevasses. The presence of fresh snow can quickly complicate the climb into a difficult one.
Without difficulties it should be between 5 and 7 hours to reach the summit right around dawn. After appreciating the 19,347’ summit of the highest active volcano in the world, we will descend to the refuge for a light lunch. From there we will depart Cotopaxi from the parking area below the refuge for a ride to Latacunga where we will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 11: LATACUNGA – RIOBAMBA

Leaving from our hotel in Latacunga, we will drive to the capitol of the Cotopaxi Province, Riobamba. On the way we might visit the Saquisili village with its famous Indian market loaded with local handicrafts. Night will be spent at a hotel in Riobamba.

Day 12: RIOBAMBA – ANDEAN TRAIN – RIOBAMBA

Early departure will be made from Riobamba to the Alausi train station in order to take the famous Andean Devil’s Nose train. We will travel by train from Alausi, passing through the famous Devil’s Nose Canyon and returning to Alausi. This historic Andean train route is still operational but used only for tourism. For the last ten years, the train has notoriously been loaded with adventure-seeking and willing passengers seated on the roof in order to admire the scenery, which is quite breathtaking. So bring your camera and your sense of adventure for this ride which spans gorges and skirts precipitous slopes. After returning from Alausi, we will again spend the night at our
hotel in Riobamba.

Day 13: RIOBAMBA – WHIMPER REFUGE

After breakfast we will drive to the Chimborazo volcano and its first refuge at 15,748’. After loading the equipment, we will climb to the Edward Whimper refuge, the second on the mountain at 16,404’. If the weather is good we will climb to have a look at the ascent route. The night will bespent at the Whimper refuge.

Day 14: WHIMPER REFUGE – CHIMBORAZO SUMMIT

Leaving shortly after midnight, between eight to nine hours are required to reach Ecuador’s highest summit via an endurance route. Although this route does not involve undue difficulty, the attitude demands good acclimatization, as well as strong physical, and mental condition of all participants. After appreciating the 20,702’ peak we will
descend to the refuge and return in our vehicle to transfer to your hotel in Quito.

Please contact us for more information

• Private transportation
• Bilingual guide
• Licensed mountain guides
• Equipment transportation by mules
• Double occupancy accommodation at standard hotels in towns
• Lodging at the refuges or tents in the mountains
• Park entrances fees
• Excursions and visits mentioned in the program
• Breakfast and dinners when in town
• All meals in the mountains
• Group camping material: tents, cooking devices, etc.
• Group climbing materials: radios, ropes, first aid kit, etc.

• Personal equipment (backpack, water bottle, sleeping bag, mat, mountain boots, cold weather gear, crampons, ice axe etc.)
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• One meal per day when in town
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• Fees and expenses not mentioned in