7-Day Ecuador Volcano Climbing Tour with Cayambe and Chimborazo

• We depart at 8:30 a.m. and head 30 km south of Quito. Cerro Pasochoa is located at 4199 m (13,776 ft) and is an ancient, very eroded volcano that has been inactive since the last ice age.
• We will drive to the car park and follow the trail as it winds along the eastern side of the mountain, leading toward the rocky peak. This relatively easy climb will take us 3-4 hours to reach the summit.
• At the top, weather permitting, we will rest for an hour and have lunch before hiking for 2 hours back to the car for our return to Quito.

• We can depart from the Quito hotel at 8:00 a.m. and expect to reach Mojanda Lake by 11:00 a.m.
• Today, we will begin by acclimatizing on a small peak in the Andes, providing a good introduction to mountaineering. The natural scenery is beautiful, with lakes located above 4100 m. We will hike for 3-4 hours to reach the summit.
• Prior to our ascent, we will use ropes and harnesses for safety and to navigate some rocky areas. If the weather is clear, we will enjoy a nice view.

Stay overnight at Hotel Acoma in Otavalo City. (BL)

• Climbing Imbabura (4620 m): the land around Imbabura is extensively farmed with maize, sugarcane, beans, potatoes, peas, barley, onions, and more, which are the staple crops of the region. Cattle also graze on the high-altitude meadows above the tree line.
• In the afternoon, we will return to Otavalo to follow the itinerary. The climbing day begins at 3,300 m.
• From here, the climbers hike for 5-6 hours to reach the summit. We have spectacular views of Ibarra City and the Yaguarcocha lagoon on the way up. After a 3-hour hike, we will reach a saddle at 4200 m.
• From there, the real climbing along the ridge begins until we reach the rock climbing section. The pass is not difficult but is really interesting, and it takes about 10 minutes.
• After that, we continue on the ridge until we reach the summit.
• We rest at the top for a while, eat, and take pictures, and then begin the descent back to the car park, which takes 3-4 hours.

We will stay at Hotel Acoma (B/BL).

• Depart from Otavalo around 11:00 a.m. and arrive at the Cayambe volcano refuge by 1:00-2:00 p.m. (4700 m / 15,416 ft). Lunch is included. Cayambe is located northeast of Quito on the eastern ridge of the Andes. It is Ecuador's third-highest peak, standing at 5790 m (18,991 ft). This mountain's glacier is large and among the most active equatorial ice flows. Its varied glacial terrain provides an excellent training ground and a rewarding summit climb.

Stay overnight at the hut (B/BL/D).

• Wake up at midnight for breakfast and a final equipment check. Leave the refuge at 1:00 a.m. and climb with headlamps for the first four hours.
• Have an easy glacier climb to a saddle and then continue onto steeper and exciting terrain. Traverse around large crevasses and pass some spectacular seracs. Climb 40-degree slopes with occasional short, steeper sections.
• Reach the final Cayambe summit at about 9:00 a.m. Enjoy the view of photogenic lines and spectacular mountains.
• Return to the refuge around 12:00 p.m. In the afternoon, drive down to Cayambe City, then continue to Papallacta village and drop the climber there. The guide drives back to Quito. (B/BL)
• Have a good night's rest to recover energy for the next climbing day on Chimborazo.

• We will pass through agricultural towns and valleys along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, crossing Latacunga Valley and Ambato City. Throughout the journey, we will encounter various agricultural and indigenous landscapes, offering picturesque views.
• After a 5-hour drive, we will reach the Carrel Hut at the base of Chimborazo. We will pack our gear and backpacks to hike up to the High Camp at 5300 meters, which will take approximately 2 hours.
• We will have an early dinner and head to bed by 6:30 p.m. The guide will pick us up from Papallacta village and take us to Chimborazo. (BL/D)

• Chimborazo is Ecuador's highest peak, a massive glaciated volcano consisting of five summits. We will rise at midnight for breakfast and an equipment check, then leave the hut at 1:00 a.m.
• Our route will take us to the huge glacier on Chimborazo's southwest face, where we will traverse moderately angled ice slopes, climb through a series of icefalls, and ascend steep ice ramps. We will use ropes for safety while climbing on rocky terrain and belaying up steep rope pitches. Our team will rope together to cross crevasses and reach the summit, the highest point of the Andes.
• From the summit, we will have a magnificent view of the emerging volcanoes that form the eastern and western Cordillera, seemingly rising from the clouds below our feet.
• The approximate climbing time is 8 to 9 hours, and we will return to the refuge around noon for lunch before travelling back to Quito. (B/BL)