Climbing Chimborazo and Cotopaxi 9 Days Tour
Overview Tour
Embark on an exciting Andean adventure with ascents to Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, two of Ecuador’s most stunning volcanoes. This program offers a unique mountaineering experience, from the iconic Cotopaxi to Chimborazo, the closest point on Earth to the sun. Perfect for those seeking an accessible challenge with breathtaking landscapes.
Day 1. Hike Pasochoa Volcano
Day 2. Summit Corazón Volcano
Day 3. Summit Iliniza North
Day 4. Quilotoa Lagoon Rest Day
Day 5. Cotopaxi Refuge
Day 6. Summit Cotopaxi
Day 7. Baños City Free Day
Day 8. Chimborazo High Camp
Day 9. Chimborazo Summit
Itinerary
Day 1 Hike Pasochoa Volcano
We will pick you up at 8:00 am. Then we will drive for two hours to get to Pasochoa parking lot. We will then hike through a large forest and when we are in the middle of it, the 4230-meter summit will appear. There is a steep slope on the ascent, but once there we will have beautiful views. We will drive to El Chaupi village. Overnight at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge.
- Altitude: 4,200 meters (13.779 feet)
- Meals: (- / Box Luch / Dinner)
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- Distance: 11 km (round Trip)
- Duration : 5 to 9 hours (including summit time)
Day 2 Summit Corazón Volcano
From El Chaupi village, we will start early in the morning after breakfast at 7:00 am. We will drive up to the trailhead (13,120ft/4.000m), where we start our hike. The first part of the hike takes us up through the small Andean grass. Then we will get on the sandy and scramble section, which leads to Corazón summit. The hike is about 6 hours long. Return to the hostel.
- Altitude: 4,788 meters (15,708 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner)
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- Distance: 10 km (round trip)
- Duration : 4 -6 hour (including summit time)
Day 3 Summit Iliniza North
We start early in the morning after breakfast 7:30 We will be driving up to the “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3.900m). Once there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4.750m). We will relax for couple of minutes, and we took the opportunity to put our helmet and harness for continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between both peaks and then head up to Illiniza north summit; it will take us between 2 to 3 hours to get to the summit, the way back to the parking lot it will take us between 2 hours. Drive back to El Chaupi. Overnight at the Lodge.
- Altitude: 5,126 meters (16,818 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast / Box Lunch /Dinner)
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- Distance: 10 km (round Trip)
- Duration : 6 to 8 hours (including summit time)
Day 4 Quilotoa Lagoon Rest Day
We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning and drive to Quilotoa Lagoon. During the tour, we will stop at an Indian hut and visit the Tigua community to observe their leather crafts. The tour will take about 4 hours, then we’ll arrive at the viewpoint to admire the crater and lagoon. We will descend along a varying road for about an hour to the bottom of the lagoon, where we can take photos and rest. After lunch, we’ll return to El Chaupi after a 3-hour drive.
- Altitude: 3,914 meters (12,841 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast /-/ Dinner)
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge https://www.ilinizas-mountain-lodge.com/
- Distance: 108 km Transfer
- Duration: 2 (hours hike)
Day 5 Cotopaxi Refuge
From El Chaupi, we will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until reaching the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From there, we’ll drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m/14,763 ft), then hike for about an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge. We will have dinner and rest until midnight before making our final ascent.
- Altitude: 4,864 meters (15,953 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
- Accommodations: Cotopaxi Refuge (Jose Rivas)
- Distance: 1.5 km (from parking lot to refuge)
- Duration: 1 hour hike
Day 6 Cotopaxi Summit
Midnight will be our wake-up time and the departure to the top (19,347ft/5.897m) will be around 01h00, not before having a light breakfast and getting our stuff ready for the ascent, the climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit we’ll take our time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head down back to the refuge, which will take us 2 to 3 hours. Once at the refuge will pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take us to Baños city. Overnight in the hotel.
- Altitude: (5,897 meters / 19,347 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast/-/-)
- Accommodations: Hotel Chimenea
- Distance: Climb 10 km (round trip).
- Duration: 5 to 6 hours to the summit.
Day 7 Baños City Free Day
This is a relaxing day; in this beautiful town you can do different activities that can be purchased on behalf of the passengers. It’s a free day its surroundings offer many possibilities like the route of the waterfalls, hikes inside the “cloud forest”, besides, depending on our interest, with an extra cost, we could try rafting, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc. Night in hotel.
- Altitud: (1800meters / 5,905 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast/-/)
- Accommodations: Hotel Chimenea
- Distance: (-/)
- Duration: (-/)
Day 8 Chimborazo High Camp
In the morning at 9:00 am we will meet with the guides to drive to the Chimborazo wildlife reserve. We will arrive at the refuge Hermanos Carrel. From there we will start the hike to the High camp in approximately 2 to 3 hours. We get to the high camp once here; we will stay in the Domes. In the afternoon we will prepare and double check all the gear for the climbing. Where we’ll have dinner and get some rest until 23h00. There will be an early light breakfast served just before getting ready with our gear and start heading up.
- Altitude: (5,300 meters / 17,388 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Accommodations: Overnight in 4- season tents or Domes
- Distance: 2.5 km (hike), Transfer (110 km)
- Duration: 2 to 3 (hours)
Day 9 Chimborazo Summit
At midnight we will start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest volcano, Chimborazo, which will take us about 8 to 9 hours. We’ll get to the summit (20,702ft/6268) in the early hours, the perfect spot for resting and pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Then we’ll start our descending to the refuge; it will take us from 3 to 4 hours. Once in refuge we’ll pack our gear, where our transportation will be ready to drive up to Quito.
- Altitude: 6,268 meters (20,702 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast/-/-)
- Accommodations: (-/)
- Distance: 9 km (Round Trip)
- Duration: 5 to 7 hours to the summit (including breaks)
What's Included
- Acclimatization Climbing Program
- Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
- A registered and fully licensed Tour Operator
- Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
- Land transportation and transfers
- Accommodations:
- 4 nights at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- 1 night at Jose Rivas Refuge
- 2 nights at Hotel Chimenea
- 1 night in Domes (Chimborazo High Camp)
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
What's Not Included
- International flight tickets
- Meals and drinks in hotels (lunch, dinner)
- Insurance of any kin
- Hotels in Quito
- Tips
- Travel accident and health insurance
- Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
- Other non-specified expenses
Rates 2025 | Adventure Rates
- 1 Person………… USD
- Group of 2……… USD per person
- Group of 3……… USD per person
