Climb Cotopaxi, 4 volcanoes in 5 days (Ecuador)

Around 8 am we leave Quito. After that we’ll drive through the Avenue of Volcanoes until the Pasochoa Parking Lot. Thereupon we’ll hike and ascend steep slopes to reach the summit of Pasochoa. And at the end of the day we’ll return to El Chaupi. A box lunch and dinner are included.

After breakfast we’ll drive to the trailhead where we’ll begin our hike, which will take us through small Andean grasslands. Later, we’ll reach a sandy scramble section that leads to the summit of Corazon. Finally, we’ll return to the hostel for dinner and to rest. The meals included on this day are breakfast, a box lunch and dinner.

Early morning, after breakfast, we’ll drive to the La Virgen parking lot, from where our hike to the Nuevos Horizontes Refuge begins. Here, we’ll rest, gear up and head towards the summit of Illiniza Norte. Then, we’ll drive back to El Chaupi, and stay at the hostal Andes Alpes. The meals included are a box lunch and dinner.

We’ll depart from El Chaupi, driving through the Avenue of Volcanoes until we reach the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4500m) then we’ll hike for around an hour to the José Rivas Refuge (15,951 ft. / 4862 m.). We will then have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent. On this day the meals included are breakfast, a box lunch and dinner.

At midnight we’ll leave to the summit of Cotopaxi, having breakfast on the way. At the entrance of the glacier, your guide will explain all necesary tips needed for using crampons and ice axe if needed. After 6-8 hours we’ll reach the top. Then we’ll begin our descent, back to the refuge and the parking lot, where our private transportation will be waiting to drive us back to Quito.