Mountaineering Excursion in Ecuador
Prepare to reach the summit of the picture-book Cotopaxi Volcano (19,347 ft) in 14 days.
14 day
Starting at $2.935 per person
For experienced adventurers
Choose your own dates
Conquer the majestic peaks of Ecuador’s Andes Mountains
Embark on a 14-day mountaineering expedition in Ecuador, designed for adventure seekers looking to learn the fundamentals of high-altitude climbing. With easy access to several 5,000 and 6,000-meter peaks (16,400 and 19,685 ft), Ecuador offers unparalleled opportunities for climbers. Our experienced guides, certified by ASEGUIM and IFMGA, will lead you through breathtaking landscapes and challenging ascents, including the iconic Cotopaxi volcano. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure that combines technical climbing skills with the cultural richness of Ecuador’s Andes.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador and settle in
Day 2: Explore Quito’s gold churches and head north
Day 3: Discover the Cuicocha crater lake and indigenous culture
Day 4: Hike to a condor viewpoint
Day 5: Learn climbing skills at the Cayambe glacier school
Day 6: Acclimatize at the Illiniza Hut
Day 7: Summit Illiniza North
Day 8: Explore Cotopaxi National Park
Day 9: Ascend to the Cotopaxi Hut
Day 10: Summit Cotopaxi Volcano
Day 11: Explore the lively town of Baños
Day 12: Journey to Chimborazo Nature Reserve and high camp
Day 13: Summit Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest peak
Day 14: Head back home or continue to the Galapagos Islands
Day 1: Arrive in Ecuador and settle in
Begin your adventure by arriving in Quito, at an elevation of 2,896 meters (9,500 feet). Our driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in the vibrant new town area where you can relax and settle in.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Meals included: none
Overnight stay: Hotel Aliso
Day 2: Explore Quito’s gold churches and head north
Discover the charm of Quito’s colonial old town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a private guide, visiting stunning landmarks like the Jesuit church La Compañía de Jesús. In the afternoon, drive north to the lake district of Imbabura, where you will be hosted by
indigenous families in the Kichwa community of Morochos. Share meals and experience their way of life firsthand.
Travel time: 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Family in the Kichwa village of Morochos (shared shower/WC facilities.)
Day 3: Discover the Cuicocha crater lake and indigenous culture
After breakfast, a short drive brings you to Laguna Cuicocha, a crater lake formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Hike along the rim of the crater, taking in the magnificent Andean surroundings and the two striking islands within the lake. In the afternoon, visit the famous Otavalo market (open on Saturdays), renowned for its wide range of handmade products. Browse the stalls, admire the craftsmanship, and enjoy a delicious Ecuadorian coffee at a nearby café.
Travel time: 1 hour
Hike duration: 5 hours
Elevation gain: go from 2,900 to 3,475m (9,515 to 11,400 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel Acoma
Day 4: Hike to a condor viewpoint
Hike up the northwestern slope of Cayambe to a stunning viewpoint in the high Andean páramo vegetation at 4,180 meters (13,715 feet). This acclimatization hike offers the chance to observe the majestic Andean condor. On the return hike, enjoy a relaxing detour to a local thermal bath.
Travel time: 1.5 hours
Hike duration: 5 hours
Elevation gain: go from 3,660 to 4,220m (12,000 to 13,845 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Punanti Lodge
Day 5: Learn climbing skills at the Cayambe glacier school
Drive into the Cayambe-Coca National Park and hike up to the glacier from the refuge hut. Spend the day practicing essential mountaineering skills, including traveling on rope teams, climbing with crampons, and self-arresting with an ice axe. In the late afternoon, transfer to Puembo near Quito airport.
Travel time: 4 hours
Hike duration: 5 hours
Elevation gain: go from 4,610 to 4,900m (15,125 to 16,080 ft) Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel San José de Puembo
Day 6: Acclimatize at the Illiniza Hut
Enjoy a quiet morning before driving to the starting point of the hike at 3,900 meters (12,795 feet). Hike 3 hours to the Refugio “Nuevo Horizonte” between the two peaks of the now extinct Illiniza volcano. Spend the night in a dormitory, acclimatizing to the difficult nights in high-altitude.
Travel time: 2 hours
Hike duration: 3 hours
Elevation gain: go from 3,900 to 4,740m (12,795 to 15,550 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Dormitory in Refugio Illinizas
Day 7: Summit Illiniza North
Early in the morning, climb steeply uphill to a viewpoint offering stunning views of the surrounding volcanoes at sunrise. Reach the exposed summit via various easy climbing passages, secured by fixed ropes as needed. After a summit photo, descend and drive to
your accommodation in the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
Travel time: 1.5 hours
Hike duration: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain: go from 4,740 to 5,126m (15,550 to 16,820ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Cuello de Luna Lodge
Day 8: Explore Cotopaxi National Park
Explore the vast Cotopaxi National Park, surrounding the iconic Cotopaxi volcano, whose glacier-covered peak towers 5,897 m (19,467 ft) above sea level. Hike to the Rumiñahui Central summit at 4,630m (15,190ft), enjoying breathtaking views of the glacier covered peak and the surrounding mountains.
Travel time: 1.5 hours
Hike duration: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain: go from 3,900 to 4,630m (12,795 to 15,190 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Dormitory in Tambopaxi Lodge
Day 9: Ascend to the Cotopaxi Hut
Enjoy a quiet morning at the lodge and prepare your equipment for the ascent together with your mountain guide. After the hike to the refuge, you will have an early dinner, and then it’s time to go to bed, resting for the midnight ascent.
Travel time: 1 hour
Hike duration: 1 hour
Elevation gain: go from 4,580 to 4,850m (15,026 to 15,912 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Dormitory at Refugio Cotopaxi
Day 10: Summit Cotopaxi Volcano You will get up at midnight and begin your ascent at 1 AM. You will form rope teams at the glaciers and climb to the summit of Cotopaxi (5,897 meters/19,347 feet), reaching the top at dawn, where you can peek into the 700 m (2,297 ft) wide snow-covered crater. Enjoy the view from above the clouds. The ascent is not technically demanding, but snow, glaciers, and crevasses can make the climb long. Be well-prepared for the cold and wind. From the refuge you descend back to the vehicle that will take you to Baños, a quaint town known for its thermal springs.
Travel time: 4.5 hours
Hike duration: 8-9 hours
Elevation gain: go from 4,850 to 5,897m (15,912 to 19,347 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay: Hotel La Floresta
Day 11: Explore the lively town of Baños
Explore the active little town of Baños, walking through the subtropical forest to the thundering “Pailon del Diablo” waterfall. Ride a “tarabita” cable car over the Pastaza River, visit the pilgrimage site, and soak in the large public thermal baths.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay: Hotel La Floresta
Day 12: Journey to Chimborazo Nature Reserve and high camp
After a leisurely breakfast, drive with your guide via Riobamba to the Chimborazo Nature Reserve, reaching the Carell refuge at 4,800 meters (15,748 feet). Hike to the high camp, resting before the most difficult ascent of the mountain tour, which starts at midnight.
Travel time: 3.5 hours
Hike duration: 2-3 hours
Elevation gain: go from 4,800 to 5,300m (15,748 to 17,388 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Overnight stay: Chimborazo High Camp dome tents
Day 13: Summit Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest peak
Start your ascent to Chimborazo’s summit at midnight, crossing the Thielmann Glacier. Reach the peak at 6,268 meters (20,564 feet) after 5–6 hours of pure exertion. Enjoy the magnificent view over Ecuadorian Andes. Descend to the high camp and then to the
parking lot, from where you will drive back to Quito.
Travel time: 3.4 hours
Hike duration: 10-12 hours
Elevation gain: go from 5,300 to 6,268m (17,388 to 20,564)
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight stay: Hotel Aliso
Day 14: Head back home or continue to the Galapagos Islands
Transfer to the airport for your international or national flight. For those seeking further adventure, an optional extension to the Galapagos Islands is available.
Travel time: 45 minutes
Meals included: Breakfast
2024 Pricing per person
| Number of passengers | Price per person (USD) |
| 1 Passenger | $ 5165 |
| 2 Passenger | $ 2935 |
| 3 Passenger | $ 2500 |
| 4 Passenger | $ 2280 |
Package details
- Included in the price
- Transfers with Spanish-speaking driver: Days 1 & 14
- English-speaking tour guide (certified mountain guide): Days 2 – 13, 1 Mountain Guide per 2 participants on Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
- Overnight stay in standard accommodation in double or triple room as indicated or similar
- Meals as per program
- Entrance fees to the national parks Cuicocha, Illiniza, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo
- Entrance fee for the mentioned visits
- Mountaineering equipment: helmet, crampons, ice axe, climbing harness
- Contact person on site with 24-hour emergency number
Not included in the price
- International flights
- Not mentioned meals and all drinks with the meals
- Surcharge for superior hotels and haciendas
- Personal mountain equipment: mountain boots for Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, sleeping bag (comfort -5 degrees Celsius / 23 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Services not mentioned in the program or described as optional
- Carrying equipment to Illiniza hut or Chimborazo high camp
- Personal expenses and tips
- Travel insurance
What other adventurous travelers say about us
Over 33 years of experience and proven professionalism support our well-known reputation in the market.
★★★★★
“We have just arrived at the Sangya Spa Hotel. Our riding trip was totally impressive and overwhelming, and we are still completely blown away. We even saw 4 condors and a buzzard.”
S.+J. L. from Germany 2024
★★★★★
“We were able to enjoy a very beautiful trip through Ecuador. The organization was carried out in an excellent way, and we received optimal attention both before and during the trip. It could not have been better.”
T.+F.S. from Germany, 2024
★★★★★
“Thank you and a thousand thanks for everything. We will never forget the days with you (and Diego), they were a big part of our dream vacation.”
R.N. from Switzerland, 2024
