Trekking to the Altar Volcano with a guide
A hiking trip to the Altar Volcano led by Fernando, a local ASEGUIM guide and his team. You can spend 2, 3 or 4 days in this area of the Sangay National Park.
Andes
2 Days
All year
Description
I am happy to invite you to this amazing trekking program which takes place around the Altar Volcano. It is a hiking trip that can be done in 2, 3 or 4 days depending on your wishes and time in Ecuador.
As you may know, the Altar volcano is an inactive volcano lying on the west of the famous Ecuadorian Sangay National Park. It is 170 km south of Quito, the capital of the country.
Although nowadays it is extinct, the Altar presented volcanic activity around 2 million of years ago. In addition, it still contains a boiler open to the west, where the Yellow Lake lies.
As for the itinerary of this program, we’ll meet in Latacunga from where we will move to Hacienda Releche, our trailhead. Then, we will walk through the Valley of Collanes for about 6-7 hours. We’ll spend the first night at the Collanes hut, under the boiler of the Altar volcano.
In our second day, we will visit the amazing Yellow Lake and hike back to Hacienda Releche. Finally, a transfer will take us to Latacunga again, where this program ends.
Of course I can extend the duration of the trip according to your wishes. That’s why it’s very important that you contact me as soon as you can.
Once you get in touch with me we can plan and organize the perfect program for you. I will be here, waiting for your message.
Fill out the form and let’s trek in the Altar volcano!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Permit and entrance fees
- Porters
- Luggage transfer
Itinerary
Day 1: Latacunga (2800 m) – Hacienda Releche – Collanes Hut (3900 m)
We will leave very early in the morning (at around 4:30 AM). From Latacunga we will drive south by the the Panamerican highway through the famous Avenue of the volcanoes. We will finally get to the Hacienda Releche, where we will have breakfast and get us ready to start the hike.
So, we will pack our luggage, the equipment and provisions with the help of the porters. Once ready, we’ll start ascending to the Collanes Valley. It is a walk that takes approximately 5 to 7 hours by a bridle path that the farmers used to graze their cattle. We will stay in the Collanes hut for the night, from where we will enjoy spectacular views of the snow-covered peaks around. Meals included: breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 2: Collanes – Yellow Lake (4480 m) – Latacunga
We’ll wake up and have breakfast at 4:30 AM. Then, we will continue hiking until we are at the Yellow Lake, in the center of the crater, at more than 4480 meters of altitude. From here, you will have a stunning view of the glaciers, the walls of the Altar volcano and all the Valley of Collanes and its mountains. This tour will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. Along the way we will surely see the Andean condors flying.
We will have lunch on the way back to the hut. Finally, we will return to the city of Latacunga. Meals included: breakfast and box lunch**.**
Details
More info
Not included in the price:
- Personal equipment;
- Any type of insurance;
- Other expenses not specified.
What to bring?
- Comfortable backpack (take into account everything you have to load)
- Warm and comfortable clothing
- Hat and mitts
- Sleeping bag
- Extra gloves (recommended)
- (Highly recommended) rubber boots
- Replacement light shoes for living in hut
- Waterproof jacket or poncho of water
- Walking sticks (help super well)
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Bottle of water
- Headlamp
- Warm clothes for the hut (protected in plastic bags)
- Grooming Kit
- Clothes to leave on the bus
Meeting point
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Fernando
4.6
(25)
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
Mario
Fernando was excelent, I fell secure with all his experience. TOP!
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”
Dick
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