After your arrival, our team will welcome you at the airport and transfer you on a 45-minute drive to your hotel in Quito, where you can rest and prepare for the start of the expedition.

The Rucu Pichincha is an iconic volcano located to the east of Quito. After breakfast, your guide will pick you up, and after a private 30-minute transfer you will reach the starting point of the hike. The trail begins at Cruz de Loma, at approximately 4,000 meters, a viewpoint reached after a 10-minute ascent on Quito’s famous cable car, the TeleferiQo.

From there, we will begin a hike of approximately 3 hours to the summit, located at 4,695 meters above sea level, enjoying privileged views of Quito and, on clear days, the majestic volcanoes Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi on the horizon. The descent takes around 2 hours, after which we will return to Quito to rest at the hotel.

Technical data

Distance: 9.9 km
Duration: 5–6 hours
Positive elevation gain: 778 meters
Negative elevation loss: 778 meters
Starting altitude: 4,000 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 4,695 m a.s.l.
Ending altitude in Quito: 2,800 m a.s.l.

Tu guía te recogerá en el hotel en Quito alrededor de las 9:00 a. m. para iniciar el viaje hacia la base de los Ilinizas. Tras un trayecto de aproximadamente 1 hora y media, llegaremos a un punto llamado “La Virgen”, ubicado a 3.900 metros de altitud. Allí nos estarán esperando caballos que transportarán nuestro equipo hasta el refugio.

Desde ese punto comenzaremos una caminata de unas 3 horas hacia el Refugio Nuevos Horizontes, donde pasaremos la tarde descansando, hidratándonos y disfrutando del entorno montañoso. Al final de la tarde se servirá la cena y pasaremos la noche en el refugio.

Distancia: 9.9 km
Duración: 3 horas
Desnivel positivo: 1.092 metros
Desnivel negativo: 324 metros
Altitud inicial: 4.000 msnm
Altitud máxima: 4.750 msnm

Our summit day begins very early, at 5:00 a.m. We will have a light breakfast, prepare our climbing gear, and about an hour later we will start the hike from the refuge. We will make our way toward the saddle that separates both peaks and, from there, continue ascending toward the summit of Iliniza Norte (5,126 m).

The final approach involves an easy scramble of approximately 3 hours, over rocky terrain with some exposed sections but generally straightforward progression. Once at the top, we will enjoy spectacular views of the Central Andes and the impressive landscape surrounding the Ilinizas.

After a well-deserved break at the summit, we will begin the direct descent to the La Virgen parking area, a section that takes about 3 hours. From there, we will continue by vehicle to the beautiful Tambopaxi Lodge, located inside Cotopaxi National Park at an altitude of 3,700 meters.

We will enjoy a hot dinner and rest at the lodge.

Technical data

Distance: 6.2 km
Duration: 6–7 hours
Positive elevation gain: 376 meters
Negative elevation loss: 1,226 meters
Starting altitude: 4,750 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 5,126 m a.s.l.
Ending altitude in the lodge: 3,700 m a.s.l.

During the morning, we will take some time to rest and carefully prepare our climbing gear, as the summit attempt will take place during the night. After lunch, we will leave the lodge and drive to the Cotopaxi parking area, located at an altitude of 4,500 meters.

From there, we will begin a one-hour hike to the José Ribas Refuge (4,850 m). Once at the refuge, we will organize our gear, spend the afternoon resting and continuing the acclimatization process, and end the day with dinner.

Dinner and overnight stay at the refuge.

Distance: 0.9 km
Duration: 1 hour
Elevation gain: 350 m
Elevation loss: 0 m
Starting altitude: 4,500 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 4,850 m a.s.l.

We will wake up at midnight, and shortly afterward begin our approach toward the summit of Cotopaxi (5,897 m). Before starting the ascent, we will have a hot drink and complete the final equipment preparation. The climb takes between 6 and 8 hours, progressing calmly and steadily over glaciated terrain. Each participant will carry a box lunch to eat during the ascent.

Upon reaching the summit, we will enjoy the sunrise from the top of the volcano, take photographs of the impressive crater, and admire the surrounding mountains of the Andean range. We will then begin our descent back to the refuge, a journey of approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Once at the refuge, we will pack our belongings, recover with food and drinks, and continue descending to the parking area, where our transportation will be waiting to take us to Baños. In the evening, we will celebrate the success of our ascent.

Distance: 7 km
Duration: 9–11 hours
Elevation gain: 1,047 m
Elevation loss: 1,397 m
Starting altitude: 4,850 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 5,897 m a.s.l.
Final altitude in Baños: 1,820 m a.s.l.

On our rest day, we will enjoy the charming atmosphere of Baños de Agua Santa, a town known for its thermal baths, pleasant climate, and vibrant energy. We will have the option to take a tour along the famous Waterfall Route, one of the region’s most iconic excursions, or choose from the many activities available: relaxing in hot springs, visiting scenic viewpoints, exploring local trails, or enjoying a variety of adventure experiences.

The afternoon will be completely free to explore, unwind, or simply enjoy the town at your own pace.

From Baños, we will begin a 3-hour drive through picturesque Andean farmlands. The road climbs in a zigzag pattern toward the plateau on the slopes of Chimborazo, where it is common to spot llamas, vicuñas, and alpacas in their natural habitat. We will have lunch before officially entering the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve.

We will then continue by vehicle to the vicinity of the Carrel Refuge (4,800 m), the starting point of today’s hike. From there, we will ascend for approximately 3 hours until reaching the High Camp (5,300 m), where we will spend the afternoon preparing our equipment for the night ascent. A porter will assist us by carrying part of the gear up to the camp.

In the early evening we will enjoy a warm dinner and rest in the high-mountain domes.
Overnight in domes.

Distance: 2.5 km
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 450 m
Elevation loss: 8 m
Starting altitude: 4,850 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 5,300 m a.s.l.

We will begin the ascent around midnight, following the western ridge until reaching the Castle Saddle (5,500 m). This variant, which avoids the rockfall zone of the traditional El Castillo route, makes the climb a much safer and more stable alternative toward the summit.

From High Camp, the ascent to the Whymper summit usually takes around 6 hours, from where we will enjoy one of the most impressive views in all of Ecuador. After taking in the scenery and celebrating the achievement, we will begin our descent back to High Camp, a section that takes approximately 3 hours.

Once at camp, we will rest briefly, rehydrate, organize our gear, and start the final descent to the parking area. Finally, we will drive for about 4 hours back to Quito.

Distance: 8.5 km
Duration: 8–9 hours
Elevation gain: 963 m
Elevation loss: 1,413 m
Starting altitude: 5,300 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 6,263 m a.s.l.
Final altitude in Quito: 2,800 m a.s.l.

Return transfer to the airport to take your flight back to your home country.
End of the expedition.

+ Medium backpack (30–40 L) for the hikes.
+ Duffel bag.
+ Sleeping bag.
+ Sunglasses with UV protection.
+ Headlamp with spare batteries.
+ Cold-weather clothing: base-layer shirt, fleece or polar jacket, down or synthetic insulated jacket, waterproof shell jacket, comfortable hiking pants, waterproof pants, thermal base-layer leggings or similar, thick socks, warm gloves, hat with ear protection, multifunctional neck gaiter.
+ Double mountaineering boots, trekking shoes, and sneakers or sandals.
+ Water container (2 L thermos).
+ Sunscreen.
+ Lip balm.
+ Personal medications.
+ Personal hygiene kit.

This is a physically demanding expedition, and participants must have excellent physical fitness. Having completed multi-day hikes in cold or high-altitude environments will help you feel safer, stronger, and better prepared for the ascent.

We also recommend arriving two days early to spend time in Quito, as prior acclimatization greatly improves the body’s ability to adapt and reduces the risk of altitude-related discomfort during the expedition.

To prepare for a high-altitude climb, we suggest maintaining a consistent training routine that includes cardiovascular exercise (such as hiking, running, or cycling), leg and core strengthening, and long hikes carrying a backpack. Training at least 3 to 4 times per week in the weeks leading up to the expedition will significantly improve your performance, endurance, and overall comfort during the ascent.

Our team is equipped with satellite communication devices and first-aid kits, and we continuously monitor the physical condition of all participants.

In Quito, it is possible to rent all the high-mountain equipment needed for the expedition.

You can reserve your spot with a 20% deposit, and the remaining balance must be paid before the start of the expedition. Contact us for more details about payment methods.

If you are unable to continue due to health or weather conditions, our team will always prioritize your safety. We will assist you during the descent, and you will receive the necessary medical attention.

Yes! If you can’t match the dates of our upcoming expedition, contact us. We can design a customized adventure or even open a new expedition date especially for you or your group.