Ecuador Volcano Descent in Quito

Join certified guide Emilio and embark on a truly unique full-day adventure to venture deep inside the active Pichincha volcano's steaming crater. Prepare for an approximately 1.5-hour descent into the heart of the crater and an invigorating 3 uphill ascent.

Group

Andes

1 Day

Jan, Feb, Jun - Dec

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Unique opportunity to be safely inside an active volcano.
Best views of Quito and its surroundings.
Closest and easiest way of climbing a 16,000 ft peak.

Description

Full-day adventure to the crater of an active volcano in Ecuador

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a full-day adventure that will take you deep inside the steaming crater of an active volcano.

This unique experience ensures your safety while granting you the chance to explore the inner workings of an active volcano, all while enjoying the best views of Quito and its breathtaking surroundings.

With just a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from Quito's historic center, you'll be captivated by the stunning vistas of the city, neighboring volcanoes, including Cotopaxi, and the sprawling coastal lowlands of Ecuador.

Once at the rim, prepare for a descent of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes into the heart of the crater, where you'll walk among the steam and sulfur-smelling fumaroles.

After thoroughly exploring the area, we'll embark on a 2-3 hour uphill ascent at high altitudes (12,500 to 15,500 feet) to reach the rim. Once there, we'll head back to Quito, concluding an unforgettable adventure.

Book your spot today for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the crater of an active volcano in Ecuador!

Interested in a longer volcanic adventure? Consider checking out some of my other programs such as this 8-Day Ecuador volcanic rock climbing trip.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Transportation start and back
Mountain guide expenses

Price details

The price INCLUDES transportation Quitotrailhaed-Quito.
Does NOT include:
Food and snacks
Helmet (mandatory)
Adequate gas mask (mandatory)
Tips

Itinerary

Day 1: Descent to active crater in Quito

6:00 AM: We'll pick you up from your hotel in Quito.
7:30 AM: Arrive at the refuge and trailhead to prepare and gear up.
8:00 AM: Begin the hike.
10:00 AM: Reach the base of the crater and explore the area.
12:00 PM: Commence the return ascent to the refuge.
3:00 PM: Arrive back at the refuge, and we'll start the drive back to Quito.
5:00 PM: Return to your hotel.

Equipment you will need to bring

Helmet

Equipment rent on site

You will need to bring a helmet as well as a gas mask for acid vapors

FAQs

What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain?

Participants must have previous hiking experience and be acclimatized to at least 4,000 m / 13,200 ft. Steep slopes are to be expected.

Where will we meet?

We will meet in Quito in Centro Histórico

Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own?

You will need to bring a helmet as well as a gas mask for acid vapors

What's included in the price?

The price includes transportation from Quito to the trailhead and back.

What is NOT included in the price?

Food and snacks, helmet (required), adequate gas mask (required), and tips are not included.

About the guide

Camilo

Mountain Guide

ASEGUIM Aspirant Guide from Ecuador

I`m a passionate of adventure, nature sports and culture. As a kid, I used to go with my family to hiking, climbing and camping trips. My love for the mountains and nature comes from my dad!

I`ve been in the mountains all my life and I found a way to work in what I love. I`m an Eco-tourism graduate and after that I started my international mountain guide career in Ecuador.

I have been guiding since 2009 and almost every year I go to Peru or Bolivia. I lived for 2 years in Huaraz, Peru in the beautiful Cordillera Blanca area climbing and guiding.

My goal is to offer an experience in the mountains that will keep with you for a long time; during the climbing trips, I will explain the history, culture and biology of the environment we are in.

I you are interested in this different aspect of mountaineering and climbing, contact me!

Languages

German | English

Request more information

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8