Ecuador

 

Ecuador Volcanoes Trek And Climb

Cotopaxi (19,348’)

Rumiñahui (15,184')

Pasochoa (13,776')

 

 

Overview

Difficulty Rating: Pasochoa, F; Rumiñahui, F; Cotopaxi, F/PD
Experience Level: I (trek); Intermediate (climb)
Duration: 10 days
Climbers: 6 (+6 trekkers)
Guides: 3
Land Cost: $2575

 

 

 

 

Expedition Goals

Pasochoa came to be around a 100-thousand years ago as a result of an eruption of the extinct Pasochoa Volcano. The eruption destroyed a vast portion of its crater and eastern slope, turning the volcanic cone into a collapsed crater with a semicircular shape.

Rumiñahui is a dormant, heavily-eroded volcano 25 miles south of Quito.  The volcano is named after Rumiñahui, a general  of the Inca Empire, and comes from the Quechua rumi (rock) and nawieye (face). It is pronounced "roo-mee-NYAH-wee".

Cotopaxi is a classic, symmetrical volcanic cone rising over 10,000 feet above the surrounding plateau. Cotopaxi is the second highest mountain in Ecuador, and has for many years been hailed as the world’s highest active volcano, a claim that conveniently overlooks Peru’s Sabancaya (19,577’), Chile's Tupungato (19,685’) and Guallatiri (19,918’), Argentina’s Aracar (19,954’), and Chile’s San Pedro (20,161’), all volcanoes that have been active in the 20th century.

 

Prerequisites

Participation in this trekking and climbing expedition requires advanced beginner mountaineering skills. Both trekkers and climbers must have a good working knowledge of the techniques for staying warm and dry while climbing, traveling and camping in extremely cold conditions. Climbers must have a basic knowledge of the proper use of ice axe and crampons; high altitude experience up to 14,000 feet and glacier travel experience, though not required, would be helpful. For reasons of personal and team safety and success, it is imperative you arrive for this climb in excellent physical condition.

 

Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive in Ecuador; transfer from airport; hotel check-in; administration & logistics.  Arrive in Quito (9,350’), where an Expedition-Logistics guide will be waiting to greet you. After a gear inventory and hotel check-in, take some time to relax or explore the city. This evening, get to know your guides and teammates at the welcome dinner and expedition briefing.

Day 2 — Casual wake-up; acclimatize in Quito; trek to Laguna Cuicocha.  Today we begin our active acclimatization. Our well thought-out and proven system of active acclimatization – incremental increases in altitude and exertion in combination with sufficient recovery time and proper nutrition – has paid off time and again with a consistently high success rate on summit days.

In the morning we walk around the city while shopping and sightseeing. After lunch we hike above town to Laguna Cuicocha (11,200’), a beautiful turquoise lake in an ancient, collapsed volcanic crater. The flora here is spectacular, and includes miniature orchids. In the distance we can see Cayambe and Cotopaxi. We overnight at the Hacienda Pinsaqui, near the lake.

Day 3 — Casual wake-up; trek to Hacienda Santa Rita.  Following a hearty breakfast we trek down the Valle Los Chillos along the Rio Pita. Along the way we pass by the Virgen de la Piedra, Virgin of the Rock. The likeness of the Virgin Mary was etched into the rock by a lightning strike, and is now a holy shrine where believers come to worship. We arrive at the Hacienda Santa Rita (10,750') in the late afternoon. The hacienda is an ecological preserve, and a working hacienda focused on sustainable farming and the preservation of the high Andean forest habitat. The hacienda offers many amenities, including a very nice camping area where we overnight.

Day 4 — Early wake-up; ascend Pasochoa Volcano; return to Hacienda Santa Rita. This morning we get an early start and go for the summit of Pasochoa (13,776'). The trail is pleasant and straightforward, with flora and fauna that will simply knock your socks off.

Despite the impressive fertility of the surrounding land, the ruggedness of the terrain has rendered it almost entirely inaccessible for agriculture for thousands of years. The Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge its one of the few original Andean Forests. Because of its incredible biological diversity – 127 species of birds (including Andean Condors), 232 species of flora and 10 species of mammals – the area was declared a Protected Area in 1982, and a Wildlife Refuge in 1996. The Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge is part of the National System of Protected Areas of Ecuador.

Leaving the Pasochoa summit behind, we descend and return to Santa Rita for the night.

Day 5 — Casual wake-up; trek to Hacienda El Povenir.  After a casual wake-up and a great breakfast, we hoist our daypacks and trek through lush Andean forest to our evening's destination at the Hacienda El Povenir (11,803'), at the base of Volcan Rumiñahui. El Povenir is another working hacienda with all the amenities including comfortable rooms, communal rooms with fireplaces, and even a restaurant with a bar. In the evening we prepare for tomorrow's trek to the summit of Rumiñahui and retire early.

Day 6 — Early wake-up; ascent of Rumiñahui; trek to Tambopaxi Lodge.  This morning we get an early start on our trek to the top of Rumiñahui. Ruminñahui was the last Inca general at the time of the Spanish conquest. He who persevered heroically in the war against the Spanish invaders even after the death of Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor. He was captured and executed by the Spaniards near this extinct volcano.

Passing by Lago Limpiopungo, we follow a broad valley, and then continue on the trail towards the top. Rumiñahui has three summits: Sur (15,397'), Central (15,184'), and Norte (15,449'), with Norte being the highest. Our goal today is the central summit; the only one of the three accessible without the use of climbing equipment. From the central summit, we can see Cotopaxi reflected on the waters Lago Limpiopungo as it rises to the east; Sincholagua (16,033') is visible to the north, Chimborazo (20,703') to the south, and the Illinizas and Corazón to the west.

After our time on the summit, we descend and trek a short distance to Tambopaxi Lodge (12,295') where we overnight.

Day 7 — Casual wake-up; trek to Refugio Jose F. Ribas; (trekkers) transfer to Hosteleria La Cienega.  After a hearty breakfast and shots of joe, we once again hit the trail. Today our destination is the Refugio Jose F. Ribas (15,748'), on the north flank of Cotopaxi. The approach is relatively gentle, and we arrive at the refugio in the afternoon. After lunch is when our trekkers and climbers part ways for a day. The trekkers descend down to a trailhead, where they load into a van for the short drive to the Hosteleria La Cienega.

The Miami Herald called  La Cienega, "The Tara of the Southern Sierra." It is one of the oldest and most splendid colonial style hotels in Ecuador, and has been owned by the descendants of Marques of Maenza since the 17th century.

Meanwhile, back at the refugio, our climbers spend the remainder of the day organizing gear for tomorrow's climb, and then it's an early dinner and lights out.

Day 8 — (climbers) Alpine wake-up; Cotopaxi summit; return to trailhead; transfer to Hosteleria La Cienega; (trekkers) casual wake-up; visit Quilotoa Crater.  From the refugio we climb switchbacks up scree and volcanic sand, arriving on the glacier after about an hour. We continue up the glacier, crossing over huge crevasses. Some of the crevasses are bridged with ladders; peering into the depths of some of the crevasses we can see the mangled remains of last year’s ladders. After some hours we reach a steep section just below the crater rim and climb it to the summit. Cotopaxi’s summit crater frequently releases steam, and eruptions have been well documented for several centuries. The eruption of 1744 was heard as far as 500 miles away, and in 1877 an eruption thrust the capital city of Quito into total darkness at 8am. More recent but relatively minor eruptions have occurred throughout the twentieth century.

While we tackle Cotopaxi, our trekkers visit the Quilotoa Crater, a volcanic crater lake. We leave the hosteleria and pass near indigenous huts called "chozas", where we interact with the warm and friendly locals. Leaving the village behind, we arrive at the crater rim in a short while. The crater lake was formed 800 years ago by the collapse of the volcano during an eruption. Today it is a two-mile-wide, 820-foot-deep turquoise colored lake.

After some time on the summit, our climbers descend to a trailhead and load into the van for the drive to the Hosteleria La Cienega to link up with the rest of the team.

Day 9 — Casual wake-up; transfer to Quito. This morning we load into vans for the drive back to Quito. On the way back we stop in several small towns and villages to shop for local art. We arrive in Quito in the late afternoon. After hotel check-in we inventory gear and pack for travel. This evening, join your teammates for a celebration dinner and expedition debriefing.

Day 10 — Casual wake-up; transfer to airport; return flights home.

 

Note on Itinerary

Although our guides take reasonable measures to adhere to the itinerary, it is subject to change due to variables including, but not limited to, weather and route conditions, the condition and ability of the team, local and US government restrictions, airline changes or cancellations, other variables outside the control of Expedition-Logistics, blah, blah, blah.

 

Land Cost

Land Cost Includes
Professional U.S. and local guides, basecamp cook/manager, porters and pack animals, in-country ground and air transportation, all overnight accommodations, all scheduled meals, permits, group climbing equipment (ropes, rock, snow and ice protection, etc.), group camping equipment (tents, stoves, fuel, cooking pots, first aid kits, etc.), and oxygen where necessary.

Land Cost Does Not Include
International roundtrip airfare, personal climbing and camping equipment (see Personal Equipment Checklist for more information), trip cancellation insurance, medical or evacuation insurance, excess baggage fees or airport taxes, expenses incurred as a result of inclement weather or other conditions of nature, government action, illness, flight delays, or any other delays beyond the control of Expedition-Logistics, including unscheduled hotel nights and meals, incidental personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, etc.), alcoholic beverages, or gratuities to guides, porters and staff.

 

Additional Information

See our Terms & Conditions for more. If you have questions regarding this expedition or your suitability for it, contact us at climb@expedition-logistics.com; please include your telephone number and the best time to call.