Ecuador climbing holidays
| country: | Ecuador |
| location: | Andes |
| trip type: | Climbing holidays |
| departures: | Daily departures throughout the year. These trips can be tailormade to suit your budget, interests and requirements |
| price: | From US $120 (2 days) - US $240 (3 days) excluding flights, based on twin share. For one person the price is double. Full price details below. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Cotopaxi climbing tour, US $120 - US $180 (2-3 days) plus entrance fee US $10 , camping US $6 and refuge US $17 .
First day: We leave for Cotopaxi National Park from the agency in Baños at 10.15 a.m. or from the agency in Quito at 11.15 am . We are going to travel for about three and a half hours till the entrance of the National Park. Our private transport will take us to the parking and then we are going to walk one and a half hours away from the refuge (4,800 m). On arrival we will have a small snack until lunch is being prepared. Additionally, if the weather is good we have the chance to walk in the surrounding areas (glacier) and to practice the technical parts of the climbing.
From this altitude we can enjoy the beautiful view around Cotopaxi. After having our meals and arranging the equipment for tomorrow, we should go to bed early as we get up at midnight.
Second day: We wake up at midnight in order to leave for the summit at 1 a.m. We need 6-7 hours to reach the top and another 3-4 hours to descend. After arriving back to the refuge we have our meal and rest for a while, with the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. We get back to Baños in the afternoon.
Third day: The number of days depends on acclimatization and looking for the best way for you to reach the summit, so we offer you a 3 days tour as well. The extra day will be the day of acclimatization and we will visit the surrounding area and especially a Lagoon called Limpiopungo. We sleep in tents for the first night (at the altitude of 3800m) On the next morning, we follow the program of 2 days.
Chimborazo climbing tour, US $160 - US $240 (2-3 days) plus entrance fee US $10 and refuge US $10
First day: We meet at the agency at 09h30. We will travel by a private bus for about 2 hours. We go by bus until the first refuge (4,800), then we will climb 1 hour until the second refuge (5,000 m). There we will have a small snack while our lunch is prepared. For the afternoon, we have the chance to walk in the glacier and practice the techniques of the climbing. From this altitude we can enjoy the beautiful view around Chimborazo. After dinner, we will prepare the equipment and we go to sleep.
Second day: We wake up at midnight to start to the climb the summit. We need 6 to 7 hours to reach the top and 3 to 4 hours to descend. We will arrive to the top for sunrise. After a few photos, we return to the refuge. We have a meal and we have the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. Our bus will pick us up before noon and finally we return to the office in Baños
Third day: Before the climbing, you can have an extra day of acclimatization in the Park. After lunch, we'll walk in the surrounding area. The first night we sleep in tents (at the altitude of 4,000 meters). Next morning we start the normal program of 2 days
South Illinizas climbing tour, US $120 (2 days) plus entrance fee US $10 and refuge US $10
First day: We leave the office in Baños or Quito at 10h30. It will take us about 3 hours to arrive to the place named “La Virgen O Bosque Encantado de Polilepis”. Our first stop is at the parking. From there we will have a walk in a ground full of sand. We will walk for about 3-4 hours until the refuge. There, we will eat a delicious box lunch, and after that the guide will tell you about the mountain and will teach you how to use the equipment ant the different technical and safety instructions. Finally the guide will check the equipment, you have dinner and then you go to sleep.
Second day: You should wake up at 3 am to get ready, take a coffee and start the climbing. It will take you about 5 to 6 hours to reach the summit. Depending on the climate and the snow conditions you will be able to reach the Maximum pick or the Ambato 's pick. If you arrive at the summit, it will take you approximately 2 hours and a half to descend until the refuge. On arrival you will have breakfast and after that continue walking down until the parking for about 1 hour and a half. Finally we take the car to go back to Quito. Following the program you'll b back in Quito or Baños in the afternoon around 3 pm.
Tungurahua Full Day $45 per person or $50 inc bike
The tour starts at 8.15 from the office in Baños. We travel with our private transportation for 20 min till Pondoa (2650m). Then we walk for 3-4 hours from Pondoa to the refuge of Tungurahua (3800m). There we eat our lunch and have a look at the wonderful surroundings. We can hear the sounds of the volcano as well. Next, we walk down for 2 + 1/2 hours to Pondoa.
First day: We leave for Cotopaxi National Park from the agency in Baños at 10.15 a.m. or from the agency in Quito at 11.15 am . We are going to travel for about three and a half hours till the entrance of the National Park. Our private transport will take us to the parking and then we are going to walk one and a half hours away from the refuge (4,800 m). On arrival we will have a small snack until lunch is being prepared. Additionally, if the weather is good we have the chance to walk in the surrounding areas (glacier) and to practice the technical parts of the climbing.
From this altitude we can enjoy the beautiful view around Cotopaxi. After having our meals and arranging the equipment for tomorrow, we should go to bed early as we get up at midnight.
Second day: We wake up at midnight in order to leave for the summit at 1 a.m. We need 6-7 hours to reach the top and another 3-4 hours to descend. After arriving back to the refuge we have our meal and rest for a while, with the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. We get back to Baños in the afternoon.
Third day: The number of days depends on acclimatization and looking for the best way for you to reach the summit, so we offer you a 3 days tour as well. The extra day will be the day of acclimatization and we will visit the surrounding area and especially a Lagoon called Limpiopungo. We sleep in tents for the first night (at the altitude of 3800m) On the next morning, we follow the program of 2 days.
Chimborazo climbing tour, US $160 - US $240 (2-3 days) plus entrance fee US $10 and refuge US $10 First day: We meet at the agency at 09h30. We will travel by a private bus for about 2 hours. We go by bus until the first refuge (4,800), then we will climb 1 hour until the second refuge (5,000 m). There we will have a small snack while our lunch is prepared. For the afternoon, we have the chance to walk in the glacier and practice the techniques of the climbing. From this altitude we can enjoy the beautiful view around Chimborazo. After dinner, we will prepare the equipment and we go to sleep.
Second day: We wake up at midnight to start to the climb the summit. We need 6 to 7 hours to reach the top and 3 to 4 hours to descend. We will arrive to the top for sunrise. After a few photos, we return to the refuge. We have a meal and we have the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. Our bus will pick us up before noon and finally we return to the office in Baños
Third day: Before the climbing, you can have an extra day of acclimatization in the Park. After lunch, we'll walk in the surrounding area. The first night we sleep in tents (at the altitude of 4,000 meters). Next morning we start the normal program of 2 days
South Illinizas climbing tour, US $120 (2 days) plus entrance fee US $10 and refuge US $10 First day: We leave the office in Baños or Quito at 10h30. It will take us about 3 hours to arrive to the place named “La Virgen O Bosque Encantado de Polilepis”. Our first stop is at the parking. From there we will have a walk in a ground full of sand. We will walk for about 3-4 hours until the refuge. There, we will eat a delicious box lunch, and after that the guide will tell you about the mountain and will teach you how to use the equipment ant the different technical and safety instructions. Finally the guide will check the equipment, you have dinner and then you go to sleep.
Second day: You should wake up at 3 am to get ready, take a coffee and start the climbing. It will take you about 5 to 6 hours to reach the summit. Depending on the climate and the snow conditions you will be able to reach the Maximum pick or the Ambato 's pick. If you arrive at the summit, it will take you approximately 2 hours and a half to descend until the refuge. On arrival you will have breakfast and after that continue walking down until the parking for about 1 hour and a half. Finally we take the car to go back to Quito. Following the program you'll b back in Quito or Baños in the afternoon around 3 pm.
Tungurahua Full Day $45 per person or $50 inc bike
The tour starts at 8.15 from the office in Baños. We travel with our private transportation for 20 min till Pondoa (2650m). Then we walk for 3-4 hours from Pondoa to the refuge of Tungurahua (3800m). There we eat our lunch and have a look at the wonderful surroundings. We can hear the sounds of the volcano as well. Next, we walk down for 2 + 1/2 hours to Pondoa.
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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To climb the different mountains, we buy fresh local produce. In preference we choose local over imported goods, encouraging the use of Andean products in our cooking.
In line with our strong stance on responsible tourism, all guides on this trip are local Ecuadorians; they have excellent indigenous knowledge of the area and high degree of training. This makes for a more enlightening experience as you learn of the country's flora, fauna and local culture first hand. All our accommodations belong to the indigenous community. To climb any mountain (Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Illinizas) our groups are maximum 8 people, and there is one guide for each 2 people. We work with groups maximum 8 people because we have the environmental responsibility to protect and avoid environmental impact. We used the established footpaths in the national park, because we know that around the footpath there are wild species of native and endemic plants. We prohibit our tourists go outside the footpath, because they could step on any wildlife of the place. In addition each passenger receive plastic covers to gather their rubbish. In the interpretation centre, the tourists receive a talk about the National Park species that are in extinction. Also they talk about how each person can help to conserve and to protect the planet. The money that our tourists pay in the National Parks for the entrance help to protect the area, and all wildlife. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |