Hiking the Condor Trek, 4-days

A 4-day hiking tour around the most outstanding places of the Condor Trek in Ecuador in the company of a local certified guide

Andes

+1 Days

All year

Description

During this Condor trek you will visit the villages of Papallacta and Macachi as well as the natural reserves of Antisana and Sincholagua. A big trekking expedition in only 4 days.

The Condor Trek is a demanding walk that has its starting point in the Cayambe-Coca Reserve. Afterwards, we will move to the Antisana Reserve until we reach the Cotopaxi National Park. The highest altitude of the program is at the base of the Volcano Sincholagua, 4,500 meters above sea level.

The program ends in the amazing village of Tambopaxi. However, if you prefer to go back Quito it is another option as well. Please keep in mind all participants must have a good fitness level since we must walk between 4 and 7 hours per day.

The round trip will take 4 days. If you are looking for a longer expedition, I can offer you my 8-day trip in the Sangay National Park.

So, are you joining me on the famous Condor Trek? If you have more questions or want to start with the booking process contact me now. Fill out the form and let's hike through the Ecuadorian green lands together!

Price includes

Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito - El Tambo

Depart from Quito at 9 AM. In a private car we will drive in direction to the Jungle, to discover the Amazon river on the Colonial time. Meeting with the team in El Tambo, near Papallacta, where we’ll start the trek with the help of mules and porters. We’ll then hike across a Paramo grass and the Andean flora with an amazing view. Then we will have lunch, take a short rest and continue hiking. Arrival at a volcano lake around 4 or 5 PM, where we’ll set up our camp, rest and dinner (BL/D)

Day 2: El Tambo - Machay - Santa Lucia River

Breakfast at 8 AM and departure from the lake at 9 AM towards the Santa Lucia River. This day we’ll walk across the high Paramo which is an excellent place to see Andean Eagles and Condors. After having lunch in Machay we will find an excellent natural cabin for rest and protect if it rains. Then, we will continue our hike and cross the beautiful landscape near the Antisana mountain. We will continue the hike through a flat part of the trek until we arrive at the Santa Lucia River, where we will set up our camp for the night (B/BL/D)

Day 3: Santa Lucia river - Carmen River campsite

Breakfast at 8 AM and departure from Santa Lucia river at 9 AM. Along the way we will cross an extensive flat area with a wonderful view of the Andean hills. Lunch on the way and continue a short hike uphill to the Carmen River campsite (7-hour hike today)(B/BL/D)

Day 4: Carmen River - Pita river - Tambopaxi or Quito

After breakfast we will leave El Carmen River at 9 AM. This is a nice hike through barley fields where it is common to see more Andean Eagles and Condors as well as Lamas and other native animals. We will pass by the base of the Sincholagua mountain with amazing colors as a result of its natural minerals. Lunch on the way, short rest and descent to the Cotopaxi National Park and the Pita river. Through here we will pass directly to the Tambopaxi Hosteling were we will have a good relaxing and delicious meal. End of the program in Tambopaxi or back to Quito if you prefer (B/BL)

About the guide

E-S Latam Adventure Guides

5.0

(9)

Mountain Guide

Tomás and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides, leaders and rock climbing instructors (Alvaro, Juliana, Merlin, Rodrigo, Armin, Alfredo, and Camila) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Latin America.

Whether you wish to climb some of the most stunning mountains in the Andes or discover the vibrant peaks of Central America, among other amazing options, you will find yourself in good hands with this lively team of professional local guides that will not only show you the top spots in Latin America for outdoor adventures but also, bring you closer to the colorful local cultures of the places that you visit with them.

Tomás will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.

Pick one of the E-S Latam Adventure Guides' programs and start planning an unforgettable experience in the beautiful mountains of Latin America!

Languages

French | English

Certificates

AAGM | IFMGA

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What people are saying about E-S Latam Adventure Guides

Christopher

We wish we could have Simon as our guide on every trek we do. His mountaineering experience and extensive knowledge of the area was impressive and definitely enhanced the trek for us. On top of this, we got along great with Simon and appreciate his easy going personality and sense of humor. We will definitely request Simon as our guide for the next hike we do from El Chalten!

Jim

Thoroughly recommended. Daniel is an excellent guide and we had a great day out.

Chase

This was a fantastic mountaineering trip to Ecuador. The altitude was a bit of a challenge, but Ramiro did a great job with the acclimatization schedule leading up to the taller mountains. Overall, this was a challenging experience given the altitude of the climbs as well as the back-to-back climbing of four mountains. I would highly recommend this excursion for anyone who wants to experience a fantastic country/culture as well as someone who wants to gain some nice experience mountaineering!

Kally

Fredy Tipan is like a superhero of the outdoor world. He knows absolutely everyone, has climbed and guided in the most epic of locations all around the world, knows the mountains like old friends, and really loves what he does and who he does it for. Our trip was completely messed up after an issue with our airline tickets. We weren't going to be able to leave until a week after our planned departure which jeopardized our entire trek with Fredy. We didn't expect him to take any sort of responsibility in replanning as it was our mistake that caused the airline issue but he absolutely did. Within days he rearranged the entire trek so that we would be able to summit all our desired peaks without cutting the days down and without changing the cost. He is a class act and an incredible guide and I'd say my husband and I both consider him a friend as well. We will definitely be booking another trip with Fredy Tipan and recommend him to anyone looking for the real deal in outdoor Guides. Thank you, Fredy!

Amazing short but exciting climb to a summit with outstanding views. Perfect acclimatization peak for the bigger Ecuadorian volcanoes, with a cozy hut and a nice approach walk. Fredy was fantastic, thank you so much for this unforgettable experience!