Day 1
Arrival in Quito. Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Day 2
Private full-day guided tour of historic Quito including La Basilica Church, La Compagna Church and El Panecillo Hill. We leave the hotel in our private transport and watch the transformation of a new part of the city into an absolutely beautiful historical and colonial part of Quito. During the tour, we will make several stops and visit all the interesting churches, squares, etc., but we will also have time to just soak up the local atmosphere, many shops and vendors. After that we will continue on to "El Panecillo", a hill in the center of Quito overlooking the city and the historic center. From here, on clear days, we can observe several snow-capped volcanoes surrounding Quito. After lunch, visit the "Mitad del Mundo", where you can stand on the equatorial line and conduct fun experiments.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 3
Volcano Pichincha is three peaks located on the western ridge just above Quito. Guagua Pichincha (4794 m) is the highest and youngest of the peaks, the other two peaks - Rucu Pichincha and Padre Encantado (Enchanted Father) are slightly lower. Guagua is also the site of the last eruption in 1999, but geologists consider it safe to climb. Climbing Guagua and Ruca is very popular due to their location on the outskirts of the capital and easy access. Meeting at the hotel in Quito and transfer (2 hours) to the start of the trail to the parking lot at an altitude of 4150 m. Trekking starts from the parking lot, we climb the “paramo” terrain, making our way through the changing vegetation to the moraine. The climb is very straight, but the distance is quite long. While trekking, you will have a great climb, which is great for preparing for higher peaks.
The way back is the same as the ascent. From the parking lot 3 hours drive through Los Chillos and the Tumbaco Valley and up the Andes, down to the city of Papallacta (3300 m).
Overnight at the hotel.
Ascent: 644 / Descent: 644 m / Highest altitude: 4794 m / Activity duration: 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic
Day 4
After breakfast, transfer up the valley (45 minutes) to the start of the trail called: El Tambo (3638 m). The hike begins with a horseshoe-shaped trail through the marshy terrain to the Potrerillos pass (3950 m), then descends along the valley, densely covered with paramo vegetation, to Vulcan Lake, where the first camping site will be set up - Laguna Volcano (3642 m)
Night in tents.
Ascent: 312 m / Descent: 308 m / Maximum altitude: 3950 m / Activity duration: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 5
Early breakfast, we have a very long climb today. Leaving Vulcan Lake, the trail begins with a constant ascent between shallow valleys and ridges until it reaches an alpine plateau. Then traverse east to the volcanic valley, which rises smoothly, bypassing Lake Santa Lucia, and ascends to the Santa Lucia Pass (4380 m), to walk down to one of the campsites around Antisanilla (4090 m).
Night in tents.
Ascent: 738 m / Descent: 290 m / Maximum altitude: 4380 m / Activity duration: 8 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 6
Today is an early breakfast again due to long trekking. The difference in altitude is not so great, the trekking is about 20 km. The first part, from Antisanilla to Hacienda Pullurima (3920 m), is mostly flat and slopes slightly downward; crossing some of the most beautiful wetlands, covered with tough vegetation called Cushions “Cojines”. During the hike, the view is quite impressive, of the Antisana volcano in the east and the Sincholagua and Cotopaxi volcanoes in the distance. From Hacienda Pullurima, by the way a huge ranch specializing in bull breeding, the trail goes almost straight up the slope, heading towards the foot of the Sincholagua volcano, and directly to the camping on Lake Tarakocha (4214 m).
Night in tents.
Ascent: 170 m / Descent: 294 m / Maximum altitude: 4090 m / Activity duration: 8-9 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 7
You will have a wonderful morning. The sunrise on Lake Taracocha is delightful: ahead of the mighty Cotopaxi, and behind Antisana. After breakfast, the team will head to the highest point of the track - Sincholagua Pass (4408 m). The ascent is smooth and will go from "Paramo" vegetation with tall grass to a rocky moraine. A magnificent panorama of the Cotopaxi volcano and the valley below opens from the pass. Also visible are the volcanoes of Ruminyaoui, Pasochoa, Ilinisas, Corazon and the city of Quito in the distance. The descent is an excellent walk through a beautiful green valley that ends at the Pita riverbed (3750 m).
A short 40 minute river hike to a mountain lodge with stunning views of the Cotopaxi volcano.
Night at the mountain house.
Ascent: 194 m / Descent: 658 m / Maximum altitude: 4408 m / Activity duration: 7-8 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 8
Transfer (1.45 h) to the upper parking area (4500 m). Then the trek to the high-altitude shelter Jose Rivas Hut (4800 m) and further to the Cotopaxi glacier (5000 m). A after a break to enjoy the beautiful views, we walk down past the parking lot to Lava Valley. Then walk along the plain to Limpiopungo Lake (5000 m), we will go around it, and then we will be picked up and taken back to the mountain hut.
Night in a mountain hut.
Ascent: 500 m / Descent: 1200 m / Maximum altitude: 5000 m / Lesson duration: 6 hours
Included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 9
After enjoying the mountain hut, the last day of the hike will mainly go down, following some local trails, into a greener and more fertile land ending at Hacienda Santa Rita (3400m). This is a rarely visited place, very authentic and a good way to end this unique hike. A transport will be waiting on Hacienda, ready to take the group back to the Quito area (2 hours).
Overnight at the hotel.
Descent: 400 m / Maximum altitude: 3800 m / Activity duration: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic
Day 10
Time to leave the volcanoes of Ecuador! Hotel pick-up, transfer to Quito airport (1-2 hours).
Meals included: breakfast
After the tour!!! Also, we recommend that you take a look at our extension trips. These will add to your adventure and show you some of the natural wealth and variety a small country like Ecuador has to offer.