Trekking in Ecuador, 16 days with summit on Cotopaxi

Come and join Fernando, an ASEGUIM certified guide, and his team, for a 16-day trekking and mountaineering expedition that will have you climbing several peaks, including Cotopaxi.

Group

Andes

16 Days

Jun, Jul

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Spend 16 days exploring a number of great sites in Ecuador.
Trek to the summits of many peaks, including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
Take a train ride to the Nariz del Diablo or visit the ruins at Ingapirca.
Explore the capital city of Quito.

Description

Ecuador is a fantastic place to explore. The country is full of amazing sites and highlights, both natural and man-made. And on this 16 adventure, you will get to see an abundance of the country’s long list of tremendous spots, including the volcanoes Cotopaxi (5,897m) and Chiborazo (6,268m).

Our trip will start in the capital city of Quito. You will get to spend some time in the old city, exploring it and learning about its history. From there, we will make our way to the village of Isinlivi, which you also get to explore. After a night in the village, our journey will take us to another village, Chugchilan. The following day, we will venture up to the gorgeous Quilotoa Lagoon. From this point, we will start enjoying the summits of Ecuador. The collection of summits will begin with Iliniza North (5,126m) then Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. In between the ladder peaks, you will get to enjoy a day in Banos city, where you can either rest and relax or enjoy some exciting activities, from rafting to bungee jumping.

After the peaks, we will journey to either the Nariz del Diablo by way of a thrilling train ride, or visit the ancient Incan ruins of Ingapirca. On the following day, we will visit and explore the Parque Nacional Cajas. On the last few days, we will visit Cuenca, Otavalo before returning to Quito, where you will depart home.

Needless to say with an itinerary as extensive as this one, you will definitely accumulate enough memories to last a lifetime. To join me on this 16 day expedition in Ecuador, just send me a request.

Would you like to climb the amazing Cayambe volcano? Then join me on this 8 day expedition.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip

Price details

In addition to the guiding fee, the price also includes necessary mountaineering equipment, including crampons, ice ax, harness, helmet and mountaineering boots, transportation, accommodation and all meals. However, the price does not include personal gear, including sleeping bags, clothing etc, flights, gratuities and insurance.

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito Airport

After being picked up from the Quito airport, you will be transferred to your hotel, where we will have a welcome briefing.

Day 2: Quito City Tour (2,800m)

Today we you will get to enjoy a tour of the city of Quito, including a visit to the Mitad del Mundo site before returning to your hotel for the night.

Day 3: Isinlivi (2,700m)

At approximately 8:00 am, we will depart Quito and drive through the gorgeous Avenida de los Volcanes until we reach the village of Isinlivi, where we will spend the night.

Day 4: Chugchilan (3,200m)

After breakfast, at approximately 7:30 am, we will hike for approximately 4-5 hours until we reach Chugchilan, where we will spend the night in the Cloud Forest Hostal.

Day 5: Quilotoa Lagoon (3,914m)

Today we will climb from Chugchilan to Huayama, where you can see the Toachi River Canyon. Afterwards, we will continue on to Quilotoa Lagoon, where we will stay at the village of El Chaupi for the night. The hike will take approximately 4-5 hours.

Day 6: Illiniza Norte (5,126m)

Early in the morning, after breakfast, at approximately 7:30 am, we will leave El Chaupi and make our way to the La Virgen parking lot. After that, we will hike for approximately 3 hours to Nuevos Horizontes Refuge. After that, we will trek for another 2-3 hours to the summit of Illiniza Norte, before returning to the parking lot and driving back to El Chaupi, where we will spend the night.

Day 7: Cotopaxi refuge (4,864m)

We will depart El Chapui and drive to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park. From there, we will make our way to the Jose Rivas Refuge, where we will spend the night.

Day 8: Cotopaxi summit (5,897m)

At midnight, we will wake up and make our way to the summit of Cotopaxi. The climb will take approximately 6-8 hours. We will then return to the refuge and drive to the city of Banos.

Day 9: Banos City (1,820m)

Today will be a rest day in Banos city, where you will get to relax and explore the city. There are a number of great activities to enjoy from rock climbing to bungee jumping.

Day 10: Chimborazo refuge (4,800m)

Today we will make our way to the Hermanos Carrel Refuge, where we will get some rest before the climb to come.

Day 11: Chimborazo summit (6,268m)

At midnight, we will start our ascent to the summit of Chimborazo. The climb will take approximately 8 hours. From the summit, we will return to the refuge, pack up and go to Alausi, where we will spend the night.

Day 12: Nariz del Diablo or Ingapirca (2,340m)

From Alausi, we will either visit the Incan ruins of Ingapirca, or take the train to the Nariz del Diablo, before reaching Cuenca, where we will spend the night.

Day 13: Parque Nacional Cajas (3,100m)

From Cuenca, we will make our way to the Parque Nacional Cajas, where you will get to enjoy the abundance of beauty before spending the night in a hotel in Cuenca.

Day 14: Cuenca (2,560m) - Quito

Today we will drive for approximately 8 hours back to Quito, where we will spend the night.

Day 15: Otavalo (2,500m)

Approximately 2 hours north of Quito we will visit the city of Otavalo, where you will get to explore and enjoy the sites before returning to Quito for the night.

Day 16: Departure home

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

Request more information

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!