Ecuador Mountain Climbing Tours Ecuador - Glacier school Cayambe and Cotopaxi in 8 days | High Summits Mountain Climbing Tour Operator

Our 9-day tour is the ideal combination of acclimatization and glacier school at Cayambe volcano, in which you will learn the snow climbing techniques, energy saving, efficient climbing movement, rappel, ice-axe use, anchors use and self-braking techniques in the case of a fall; all of this with the best and most experienced high mountain instructors in Ecuador. Besides, you will get the chance to climb two of the most famous and desired mountains by climbers in the whole world, Cayambe (5790 m.) and Cotopaxi (5987 m.).

Day 1: Quito – Cuicocha Lagoon (3.246m.) - San Clemente BL
Day 2: Imbabura Summit – (4630 m) – El Indio Inn Hotel B – BL
Day 3: Otavalo market – Ruales-Oleas-Berge Hut (4600 m.) B – BL - D
Day 4: Glacier school B – BL - D
Day 5: Glacier school B – BL - D
Day 6: Hut – Cayambe Summit (5790 m.) – Quito B – BL
Day 7: Free day in Quito B
Day 8: Quito – Jose Ribas Hut (4800 m.) B – BL - D
Day 9: Hut – Cotopaxi Summit (5897 m.) – Quito B – BL

Day 10: Free Day in Baños B
Day 11: Baños – Chimborazo Hut (5.000 m.) B – BL - D
Day 12: Hut – Chimborazo Summit (6310 m) – Quito B – BL

Day 1: Quito – Cuicocha Lagoon (3.246 m.)
We will leave Quito in the morning to Cuicocha lake, where we’ll start a short acclimatization hiking (approximately 4 and a half hours). We’ll have a box lunch on the trail. Then we’ll spend the night at San Clemente community.

Day 2: Imbabura Summit – (4630 m)
After early breakfast we’ll begin our hiking and, after a 5-hour climb along the ridge, we’ll reach the summit. The descent will take us another 3 hours. Return to Otavalo where we will spend the night. (B-BL)

Day 3: Otavalo market – Ruales-Oleas-Berge Hut (4600 m.)
We will head to Otavalo to visit its colourful and famous indigenous market, where we’ll have the chance to buy gifts to take home. Then we will continue until we get to the entrance that takes us to Ruales-Oleas-Berge Hut. Glacier school at the Cayambe volcano. We will go over snow and ice climbing techniques, climbing in a rope team in glacier and crevasse rescue. (B – BL – D)

Day 4: Glacier school
After breakfast we will continue with our glacier school, we will go over ice and snow anchorages, rappel and crevasse self-rescue. Return to the Hut and preparation of our equipment for the next day’s ascent. (B – BL – D)

Day 5: Glacier school
This day we will learn Rope handling, routs’ search and ice axe use, and preparation of our equipment for the next day’s ascent. (B – BL – D)

Day 6: Hut – Cayambe Summit (5790 m.) – Quito
Around midnight we will get up and, after 7 hours, we will reach the summit. The return will take us approximately 4 hours. In the afternoon we will be back in Quito (B – BL)

Day 7: Free day in Quito
This day we'll use to know Quito, we will visit the main attractions like the historic colonial downtown, the Panecillo, the churches and squares, as well as the modern city. In the afternoon, after lunch, we will continue at the northern part of the city heading up to the “Middle of the World City” where the monument that divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere will be visited, and then the Intiñan Museum can be also be visited. (B)

Day 8: Quito – Jose Ribas Hut (4800 m.)
We will leave Quito in the morning and after a one-and-a-half-hour ride by car we will arrive to Cotopaxi National Park. We will hike for one hour until we reach the Jose Rivas hut (4800 m.). In the afternoon we will practice at the glacier, we’ll have dinner and then we’ll get ready for the ascent.

Day 9: Hut – Cotopaxi Summit (5897 m.) – Quito
We’ll get up at midnight and after 7 hours we will reach the summit. We’ll be back down at the hut in 2-3 hours and there we will pack and go back to Quito. (B – BL)

Day 10: Free Day in Baños
This picturesque city offers you several options to spend an unforgettable day. It is well known for its thermal springs. We will explore the surrounding cloud forest with its numerous waterfalls, such as the Pailón del Diablo. (B)

Day 11: Baños – Chimborazo Hut (5000 m.)
We’ll leave in the morning after breakfast towards the Hermanos Carrel Hut, located 4800 m. altitude. From there we will carry our backpack and hike to Whymper Hut at 5000 m. altitude. We will prepare the equipment for the ascent, have dinner and rest before climbing the tallest Ecuadorian mountain. (B – BL – D)

Day 12: Hut – Chimborazo Summit (6310 m) – Quito
At midnight, after a light breakfast, we’ll begin the ascent taking the Castillo Route, which, depending on the physical fitness and weather conditions, will take us between 7 to 9 hours to reach the highest summit at 6310 m. The descent will take 3 to 4 hours, until we arrive to the hut, and finally our trip will come to an end with the return to Quito. (B – BL)

>> For group-prices please contact us!

The prices included:
- Transfer airport - hotel
- Private transportation during the expedition
- Accommodation in hotels (Double accommodation & breakfast included)
- Accommodation in Ruales-Oleas-Berge (Cayambe) and José Ribas (Cotopaxi) huts.
- Accommodation in San Clemente Community (breakfast and dinner included)
- English/ Spanish Instructor guides ASEGUIM members (Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides).
- Meals on the mountains as mentioned above (B: Breakfast; BL: Box Lunch; D: Dinner)
- National Park entrance fees

Prices don't included:
- Mountain equipment (plastic boots, crampons, harness, ice axe, helmet, sunglasses, head lamp, mittens, gaiters, sleeping bag, helmet, carabiners, technical ice axes and ice screws, etc.)
- Meals not specify in the program
- Single room accommodation
- Extra drinks at the huts
- Tips

Glacierschool - Cayambe and Cotopaxi (9 days)