Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer In & accommodation in Quito

Collanes Valley Trek (The Altar Volcano)

Day 2: Early morning departure (5:30am) to the city of Riobamba and the village of Penipe. We will enter the National Park Sangay and arrive at the Releche Farm. This will be the starting point for our trek up the Valley of the Collanes. The climb will be approximately 4-6 hours and we will cover a distance of 12km. During the rainy season it is important to be prepared for thick mud, which will make it necessary to wear rubber boots. Mules and porters will take our knapsacks to the Valley of the Collanes to our refuge. Around 3PM we will arrive in the valley, enjoy lunch and small hikes in the area where we will be able to observe the beautiful Andean sites. This evening we will enjoy a hot dinner and get a good night's rest.

Day 3 : After breakfast, we will go to Laguna Amarilla. This trek will take approximately 4 hours and will be through the valley, paramos and mountain forests where we will finally reach the border of the interior crater of the volcano (14,000 feet). Here you will be amazed by the beauty of Laguna Amarilla surrounded by a snowy horse shoe, with rocky peaks. Upon our return, there will be time for lunch and a relaxed afternoon.

Day 4 : After an early breakfast we will return to Releche Farm pack our equipment and load the mules. Near midday, we will return to our lodge near the North Iliniza, a mountain located in a strategic place; and weather permitting, you will be greeted with a view of the Corazón, the Pasochoa, the South Iliniza, the Atacazo, the Cotopaxi and the Sincholahua. This is a magical place, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains in Ecuador. Accommodation for the night will be at a nice Lodge where we will have dinner and rest for the next day.

Climbing North Iliniza Volcano (5.126 m / 16.817 ft)

Day 5 : Early in the morning, we will enjoy breakfast and then head to the small village of Chaupi. A few kilometers beyond Chaupi we will leave our car and continue on foot to the refuge Nuevos Horizontes. This trek will take approximately 3 hours; the length is dependent on the day's rhythm and weather. Starting the trekking you will have the opportunity to appreciate typical Andean topography such as the straws, the polylepys trees, and the sands until we reach the refuge. Near midday we will have time for a snack allowing us to re-energize. This is a good opportunity to enjoy the sites and take photos of both the North and South Iliniza peaks as the refuge is located in the middle of the two. From the refuge, the trail gets rocky and after three hours we will reach the summit. Our descent will take approximately two hours to reach the base of the volcano. In the afternoon we will departure for the Cotopaxi National Park, where we will stay in a nice mountain refuge and enjoy dinner and a comfortable night sleep.

Climbing the Cotopaxi Volcano (5.897 m /19.347 ft)

Day 6 : After breakfast, we will have a small trek of approximately 3 hours around the Morurco in order to be properly acclimated for our ascent to the top of the Cotopaxi. In the afternoon will have time for a relaxing lunch as well as time to prepare for our big climb the next day.

Day 7 : After breakfast, we will depart for the south face of the Cotopaxi. Our early morning departure will give us adequate time to reach the refuge by afternoon. By the afternoon we will have hiked up to 15,748 feet. This trek will take about 3 hours and we will be joined by the assistants who are bringing our knapsacks to the refuge. In the afternoon we have time to rest, arrange our equipment and prepare for our evening departure toward the top of the Cotopaxi.

Day 8 : Near midnight, after a light dinner, we will begin our ascent to the top. This ascent will take between 6-8 hours, mainly through glacier covered terrain. During the ascent, you may be able to experience the amazing sensation of viewing the sunrise from the highest active volcano on earth! Once we reach the top, depending on the criteria of the guides, we may rest for a few minutes before beginning our descent back to base camp. Our descent will take between 4 to 6 hours. Once we reach base camp, we will prepare for our return to the refuge of the Chimborazo.

Climbing the Chimborazo Volcano (6.300 m /20.702 ft)

Day 8 : We will have lunch on the road during the trip to the Chimborazo volcano. When we arrive at the Chimborazo we will enjoy a small trek of approximately 45 minutes at which time we reach the refuge Whymper (16,000 feet). The afternoon is free to enjoy small walks by the glacier and, if necessary, some practice trekking over snow.

Day 9 : It is necessary to preserve our energy for the final ascend. At 20,700 feet the Chimborazo volcano is the highest in Ecuador and it will be important for us to be well rested before the climb. During the day, we will have the opportunity to practice on the glacier during some small walks. Day 9 does not demand a large degree of physical effort, as the main objective of the day is to rest and remain acclimated. After lunch, we will prepare our equipment and, at night, after dinner, we will have a short chat with the guides to discuss our ascent to the volcano.

Day 10 : Near midnight, we will begin our ascent up the Chimborazo. This climb will take us between 8 to 10 hours. Once we conquer the incredible glaciers and seracs, we will reach the top of the mountain. Weather permitting; you will be able to take pictures of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Our return to the refuge will take between 4 to 6 hours. When we arrive back at the refuge we will rest and prepare to return to Quito.

DAY 11 : Transfer out

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