Cotopaxi (5,911 m) & Chimborazo (6,268 m)

You depart early in the morning for Ecuador's capital, arriving in Quito in the afternoon local time. We are met by our local friends and driven to our hotel in Quito. We have dinner together in the evening, where we go through the program for the next few days. If it is a Norwegian group departure, we fly together from Oslo. On international departures we meet at the hotel in Quito.

We start the day with a trip to Quito's old town, visiting Independence Square, where the majestic presidential palace and centuries-old cathedrals await. Explore the impressive La Compañia Church, famous for its glittering gold altar, and the historic San Francisco Monastery with its Baroque masterpieces. After immersing ourselves in Quito's rich history, we drive up to “El Panecillo” to enjoy the fantastic view of the city below. After lunch, the adventure continues at the Middle of the World, where you can literally stand on the equator and explore the fascinating Intiñan Museum, which showcases Ecuador's diverse cultures. In the evening, you can explore the city on your own and enjoy one of the many restaurants Quito has to offer.

We set course for our first taste of the mountains in Ecuador with an acclimatization hike up the Pasochoa volcano. This is an extinct volcano, covered in lush high mountain forest. Today we will experience firsthand what it is like to hike at an altitude of 4000 meters!

Today we will increase the altitude a little with a new acclimatization hike up to the iconic Rucu Pichincha. After breakfast, we will take the scenic TelefériQo cable car from 2,850 meters up to Cruz Loma at 3,950 meters, where we will enjoy fantastic views of Quito and the Andes Mountains. From there, we begin our hike through the high mountains towards the summit at 4,784 meters. At the top, we enjoy panoramic views of the Andes volcanoes, including Cotopaxi, before returning down to the cable car and back to Quito. We continue our ascent and travel on to the Papallacta Highlands, where we spend the night at 3,200 meters. A nice surprise today is the opportunity to bathe in hot springs.

We are staying in the Papallacta Highlands to explore the area, we go on a 4-5 hour hike and climb up to 4000 meters. The goal of the hike is to continue staying at altitude without exhausting ourselves. We are changing lodges today! We drive on to Tambopxi Lodge at 3700 meters, our home for the next two days, with a magnificent view of our goal - Cotopaxi! Here we increase the altitude at which we sleep even further, in order to acclimatize slowly.

If you have the energy, today offers a full-day hike for further acclimatization, up to the summit of Rumiñahui Central. Today's summit is lower than Rucu, but allows us to continue spending time at higher altitudes. For those who wish to rest, it is possible to stay at the hut and/or take a shorter version of the hike. The rest of the day we rest for the upcoming summit push of Cotopaxi. In the evening, we look towards Cotopaxi, excited and nervous as we look up at this magnificent volcano covered in snow and ice!

After a hearty Ecuadorian breakfast, we will head to Cotopaxi National Park, surrounded by impressive mountain scenery. We will walk up to Jose Rivas Refuge (4850 m), the starting point for the summit attempt. This is only about 300 meters of elevation gain from the parking lot. Our first activity will be “Glacier School,” where we will check our equipment and play on the glacier with our guides and team. This training will prepare us for the climb. After a traditional lunch, we will spend the afternoon relaxing, acclimatizing, and exploring the beautiful Andean trails before having an early dinner and resting before the climb. Here we go to bed very early after dinner around 6:30 p.m. to be ready for the summit push around midnight!

The summit climb begins around midnight, depending on weather and pace, under the guidance of professional mountaineers. After reaching the summit at 5,897 meters (around 6-7 a.m.), we can celebrate with views of the Ecuadorian highlands, take photos, and enjoy the moment. Then we descend to the Cotopaxi hut for a rest and a hot meal before continuing to the starting point and ending the day's stage with a drive to a beautiful, historic hacienda (manor house) - Riobamba Hacienda Andaluza at 3320 meters. Here, colonial elegance blends with stunning volcanic views and lush gardens. It provides the perfect place to relax between climbs. NB: If we are unable to reach the summit of Cotopaxi (due to weather or other reasons), we have the option of staying an extra night in the Cotopaxi hut to make another attempt the following day.

Today is all about relaxing and enjoying time with the group! After climbing Cotopaxi, we deserve some rest and time to recharge our batteries for our next climb on Chimborazo. When we arrive in Riobamba, you can relax and take advantage of the hotel spa, or explore the lively city of Riobamba, known for its rich history, colonial architecture, and vibrant local markets.

Today we begin our 3-day adventure to climb Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain and the point on Earth furthest from the center and closest to the sun. After breakfast, we drive through impressive Andean valleys to the foot of the volcano, where our cozy lodge awaits. Here we settle in, enjoy lunch, and take time to acclimatize. We will spend the afternoon checking our equipment, practicing on the glacier, and bonding with the team. After a hearty Ecuadorian dinner and a briefing on the climb ahead, we will rest up for the big day at the unique Chimborazo Lodge, surrounded by impressive mountain views. We will sleep at an altitude of 4,864 meters.

Today we start early with a hearty breakfast to recharge our batteries for the ascent. We hike through varied landscapes, from high mountain grasslands to rocky slopes, with views of glaciers and mountain peaks along the way. The goal for the day is to walk around the “El Castillo” ridge, which gives us the safest and most efficient route to the top of the Chimborazo volcano. We end up at an altitude of around 5,200 meters, where we will spend the night at a mountain hut – “Domos de altura”. Here we enjoy dinner and prepare for tomorrow's summit attempt.

Around midnight, we begin the final stretch to the summit of Chimborazo. Under a starry sky and with headlamps, we navigate through snow and ice fields, using crampons and ice axes where necessary. At dawn, the horizon lights up, revealing a fantastic view of Ecuador's volcanic landscape and beyond. At an altitude of 6,268 meters, you will feel a strong sense of accomplishment. After celebrating our summit, we will carefully descend back to the mountain hut for a well-deserved rest and a hot lunch. The descent continues to the starting point, and the trip ends with transportation back to Quito. The afternoon is free to relax or do whatever you want, and in the evening we gather for a farewell dinner with the group. NB: If we are unable to reach the summit of Chimborazo (due to weather or other reasons), we have the option of staying an extra night in the high camp on Chimborazo for another attempt the following day.

Extra day to attempt the summit of Chimborazo

Time to say goodbye to Ecuador! You won't be returning home empty-handed – you'll take with you the unforgettable experience of having climbed majestic mountains and made new friends along the way.

The Andes adventure is over. Depending on where you are traveling to, we are today returning home with wonderful experiences, beautiful photos, and many memories.