El Altar Volcano 2-day climbing trip in Ecuador
Climb up to the summit of El Altar Volcano, in the Ecuadorian Andes. E-S Latam Adventure Guides, will take you up there in this challenging climb.
Andes
3 Days
Jan, Feb, Jun - Aug, Nov, Dec
Description
Join me in this challenging 3-day climbing tour to El Altar (5320 m) in Ecuador! This extinct volcano is the fifth highest mountain in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Climbing its summit involves some technical climbing. So, if you are an experienced mountaineer, join me and let's spend 3 great days! We will enjoy a spectacular view of the crater below. Also, the sights of Chimborazo an Sangay in the background.
El Altar lies in the western side of the Sangay National Park, 170 km south of Quito. The peak of this volcano was higher than Chimborazo (6268 m), but after an eruption all that remains is a long ridge with nine summits around a huge crater lake.
Each of the nine individual peaks have a different name. The highest one is Obispo (5320 m), at the southern end of the crater. And we will get to its summit on the second day!
Its name in quechua language is Capac Urcu, meaning the almighty or magnificent mountain. Spaniards named it El Altar because it looked like four friars and two nuns listening to a bishop around an altar.
Climbing this beautiful mountain, requires a certain degree of technical ability. Even more, it is one of the hardest climbs in Ecuador.
We will meet in the city of Riobamba, where we will start our trip. You can check the detailed itinerary below this text.
Contact me if you want to join me in this exciting climb to El Altar! I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this trip. You can also check my Chimborazo guided ascent program!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Itinerary
Day 1: Riobamba-Boca Toma-Italian Camp
Today we will leave Riobamba at 8 am. We will drive an hour and a half to the small village of Boca Toma (3,500 m). Once here, we will load the equipment on the mules and start the 6 to 7 hour hike through the highlands to the Italian Camp (4,550 m).
Day 2: Obispo Summit
At 3:00 am we will begin our ascent to the Obispo summit (5,320 m). It will take us approximately 12 hours for the complete round trip.
Day 3: Boca Toma-Riobamba
At 9:00 am we will begin the hike back to Boca Toma. Then we will return to Riobamba. End of the trip.
Details
More info
Contact me for information about the price and equipment.
Meeting point
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
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
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.
Pranav
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!
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