2-day climbing trip to the Cayambe Volcano summit (Ecuador)
Considered a monument of nature, Cayambe Volcano is the best secret of mountaineers. It will be an amazing 2-day climb in a beautiful and uncrowded place.
Andes
2 Days
Jan - Mar, Oct - Dec
High
Intermediate
Description
Cayambe Volcano in the Central Range of North Ecuador is the third highest volcano in the country. What’s more, it is the highest mountain of the Andes above the Ecuadorian line.
According to surveying of the Ecuadorian Geo-Institute, Cayambe has an altitude of 5-790 meters approximately. On its western foot is the city of Cayambe. Its name is, off course, due to the volcano.
Cayambe Volcano is the secret of many mountaineers in Ecuador because it is less famous than Cotopaxi but offers an equally beautiful ascent by a much less traveled route.
In the words of Humboldt after his visit to Ecuador:
“This mountain can be considered as one of the monument through which nature has made a big difference on Earth”
Cayambe is a result of to the rests of an antique volcano and nowadays you can smell some gas emanating from it. It is located 20 km far from the city and its summit is just 3 km north of the Line of Ecuador.
The Cayambe is part of the Central Northern mountain range (know as well as Real Range or Cordillera Real) and it includes other important snow-capped peaks such as the Cotopaxi. From the hut, you can admire and easily access the “Glaciar Hermoso”, an ideal place to practice some mountaineering activities.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: Quito – Cayambe Hut (4.600m)
From Quito we will drive north to the city of Cayambe and then, we’ll change the direction to the west. Depending on the route conditions we will get to Ruales Oleas Berge Hut after 3 hours.
By the afternoon, we will have a talk and some training in a nearby glacier. There I will teach you the basic use of equipment and some crampons and ropes techniques. The rest of the day is for having a rest till the dinner time. Overnight in the hut.
DAY 2: Hut- Cayambe Summit (5.790m) – Quito
We will get up at midnight and in 1 hour we have to breakfast and prepare the equipment to leave towards the summit. The climb will take us about 6-8 hours. This ascent is more a height challenge than a technical one.
Most of the climb is a glacier walk on slopes of 30° to 40° with few sections exceeding 50°. If the weather allows, we have time to admire the surrounded mountains for a while. The return to the hut will take 2 or 3 hours. We will rest a bit, eat and drink something, pack our stuff and continue to Quito. End of our services.
What to bring with you:
Small backpack, hiking shoes (better if waterproof), thermal pants, waterproof pants, long sleeve thermal shirt, an extra long sleeve thermal shirt, one fleece or polar, a windbreaker jacket, gloves, a cap, a buff, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle and… A lot of energy!
So, are you ready to climb Cayambe? Then contact us today and we will plan an amazing adventure!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Permit and entrance fees
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Fernando
4.6
(24)
Mountain Leader
ASEGUIM Guide from Ecuador
Fernando Iza was born and raised in the Cotopaxi Province of Ecuador and knows the country’s peaks intimately. He is an official ASEGUIM mountain guide with more than 18 years of mountaineering experience climbing in all of Ecuador, as well as in South America, Switzerland, France, and the United States.
Fernando has worked for mountaineering companies in Ecuador, Europe and the United States from a young age. Now, he has set up his own basecamp at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge, right next to Iliniza Volcano, Rumiñahui Volcano, and the famous Cotopaxi Volcano. He has summited Cotopaxi more than 637 times and has summitted Chimborazo Volcano close to 200 times.
Fernando got his degree in Tourism Technology at Cenestur Institute, and in 2021 started studying Business administration with Cuosera.
He has completed important courses such as:
- Mountain Guides Course by ASEGUIM (Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides),
- Mountain Guides Evaluation by ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme) in October 2006. This event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador and ENSA of France
- Pre-course UIAGM, an event organized by ASEGUIM and ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme)
- Wilderness first aid courses
- Ecuadorian Red Cross courses
- He speaks fluent Spanish and English, as well as a little German, French, Hebrew and Kichua
The most spectacular guided tours that Fernando has done.
- Antisana South Peak Open new rout
- Alpamayo
- Matterhorn
- Denali
Languages
German | French | English
Certificates
ASEGUIM
What people are saying about Fernando
MICHAIL
Fernando is a very experienced guide, with a great know-how in hiking high altitudes. The hike was demanding, so having a guide who was responsible and knew how to coach us while climbing was extremely important. We could not make it to the top, but the adventure was absolutely worthy!
Carolyn
Had a really great trip climbing in the Ecuadorian Andes. Fernando is a very capable guide. His true passion is big, technical climbs and he is a less excited about the more basic acclimatization hikes. The lodging and food in El Chaupi is great. There was not a ton of advanced communication and the pre-trip prep each night before was a little sparse and lacking in detail. There was limited flexibility if we wanted to adjust the itinerary (such as including an extra walk to a lagoon, ect). Overall, a good experience.
Jana
There were no briefings about the upcoming itineraries, I’d mostly find along the way, what’s the plan. He would make changes to his moods. He didn’t inform me in adavance about the specifics of each refugio/ lodge/ camp concerning the distance from car, electricity and would make fun/made snide comments “your choice” of the things I packed at the aftermath, but offered no guidance. I have read from others that he is very knowledgeable and explained a lot- that hasn’t been my experience, he surely is an apt mountaineer, but he wasn’t actively explaining or showing things, he was just always on his cellphone. He could be very short, abrasive and inpatient. At one time even another climber intervened “to save me”
Sebastien
Our guide Fernando was great to adapt the trip for our two little girls. A great experience it was fir us all. Thank you.
frederic
Fernando and Sergio are very good guides, not only very safe and motivating in the mountains, but very nice between the climbs. And i have learned a lot too about the culture in the country. Their hotel near Illniza is perfectly located, safe and you are received as if your were at home with Fernando's family. And they will take care of everything, so you just have to concentrate yourself on the climbs. Thank you!
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