Trip starts with a warm welcome at Quito airport. From there, we’ll head to the hotel and have some free time to rest and explore the city.

From the city of Quito, we’ll take the cable car that’ll lift us to an altitude of 3,940 meters above sea level. From there, we’ll start a 3 to 4-hour hike up to the summit of Rucu Pichincha Volcano, which stands at 4,696 meters. From this privileged spot, we’ll enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the city of Quito before starting the descent, which will take about 2 hours until we reach the cable car station. After that, we’ll continue our way down to return to Quito.

Duration: 4 – 6 hours
Positive elevation gain: 805 m
Negative elevation gain: 805 m
Starting altitude: 3,940 m
Maximum altitude: 4,696 m
Distance: 10.5 km

We’ll begin the day with a nutritious breakfast and head by private transport to the Cayambe Coca National Park control point. From there, we’ll continue our journey in 4×4 vehicles that’ll take us up to the Cayambe Refuge at 4,600 meters above sea level. We’ll spend the afternoon relaxing and acclimatizing to the altitude. Later, we’ll have dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Refuge altitude: 4,600 m
Distance from Quito: 80 km
Duration: 2 – 3 hours

We’ll take this day to acclimatize, doing a hike to the glacier where we’ll practice with the mountaineering gear we’ll use for our summit attempt the next day.

We’ll wake up at midnight for a light breakfast before starting our ascent to the summit of Cayambe Volcano. Each guide will be roped together with a maximum of two people as we hike for about 6 hours to the top. If the weather conditions are good, we’ll witness a spectacular sunrise, where we’ll be able to see other Ecuadorian volcanoes, like Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. Afterward, we’ll descend and head back to the refuge, where vehicles will take us back to Quito. We’ll rest in the comfort of a hotel and enjoy a nice dinner.

Distance: 8.7 km
Duration: 8 – 10 hours
Positive elevation gain: 1,190 m
Negative elevation gain: 1,190 m
Starting altitude: 4,600 m
Maximum altitude: 5,790 m
Final altitude: 2,850 m

This day will be for rest, allowing us to recover from the previous day’s effort and travel to Riobamba or the Chakana Refuge, depending on availability. The journey will be by private vehicle and take about 4 hours. Once there, we’ll have the afternoon to rest.

We’ll travel by private vehicle to the starting point of the trail that leads us to the Chimborazo High Camp. From here, we’ll enjoy an amazing view of the mountain and the surrounding landscape. We’ll stay in a shared dome with our guides and possibly other climbers, where we’ll sleep on mats. We’ll organize our mountaineering gear, sleep early, and wake up at midnight for our ascent to Chimborazo’s summit.

Distance: 2.5 km
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Positive elevation gain: 608 m
Negative elevation gain: 8 m
Starting altitude: 4,800 m
Maximum altitude: 5,300 m
Final altitude: 5,300 m

We’ll begin our ascent to Chimborazo’s summit after enjoying a light breakfast. The journey will take about 6 hours to reach the peak, which stands at 6,234 meters above sea level. From this high position, we’ll enjoy a spectacular panoramic view, spotting other majestic snow-capped Ecuadorian volcanoes. Afterward, we’ll descend to the High Camp for lunch and continue our way down to the Carrel Refuge, where we’ll enjoy a nice dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Distance: 5.5 km
Duration: 7 – 9 hours
Positive elevation gain: 934 m
Negative elevation gain: 1,434 m
Starting altitude: 5,300 m
Maximum altitude: 6,234 m
Final altitude: 4,800 m

We’ll spend this day resting, giving us the chance to recover from the previous day’s effort and travel to Riobamba or the Chakana Refuge, depending on availability. The journey will take about 4 hours by private vehicle. Once there, we’ll have the afternoon to rest.

We’ll return to the airport to catch our flight back to our origin country.
End of the expedition.

• Sleeping bag with comfort temperature of -5°C.
• Thermal mat.
• Backpack 40-60L for the hikes.
• Sunglasses with UV protection.
• Poncho-style waterproof jacket.
• Headlamp with spare batteries.
• Cap or hat.
• Cold-weather clothing: T-shirt, fleece or jacket, down or synthetic jacket, jacket with waterproof membrane, comfortable pants (preferably waterproof), thermal leggings or similar, thick socks, thick gloves, hat with ear protection, multifunctional neck gaiter.
• Double boots and trekking boots or comfortable sneakers.
• Trekking poles.
• Water bottle (thermos), at least 1L capacity.
• Sunscreen.
• Lip balm.
• Personal hygiene kit.

This is a physically demanding expedition. It’s ideal for mountaineers with previous experience in ascents over 4,000 or 5,000 meters. If you’ve done multi-day expeditions in cold and high-altitude conditions, you’ll be better prepared for this challenge.

We recommend a training program of 3 to 6 months, focused on cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, and altitude acclimatization. Activities like mountain hiking, trail running, and cycling are perfect.

Our team is equipped with satellite communication devices, first aid kits, and medical oxygen supplies at high-altitude camps. We also constantly monitor the physical condition of the participants.

You can secure your spot with a 30% deposit, and the balance must be paid before the expedition starts. Contact us for more details on payment methods.

Our ascent of Chimborazo will require the use of double high-mountain boots, which we can rent at a specialized shop in Quito the day before our summit attempt. You can also rent any other mountaineering gear you need, like sleeping bags, clothing, etc.

If you can’t continue due to health or weather reasons, our team will prioritize your safety. We’ll help you descend and make sure you get the necessary medical attention.

Remember, by the time of the expedition, you should have an active medical insurance that covers these types of activities.

Yes! If you can’t make it on the dates for our next expedition, get in touch and we’ll design a personalized adventure for you or even open a new expedition.