Guided Alpine Climb of Mt. Chimborazo

Top three reasons to alpine climb Chimborazo

Incredible views over Cotopaxi, El Altar, and Sangay
At 20,565 ft, Mount Chimborazo is the closest point to the Sun on Earth
Reach a very high altitude without technical skills like ice climbing

Nestled in the heart of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes, at 6,268.2 m (20,565 ft), Chimborazo is the highest peak in the famous volcanic belt of Ecuador. The snow-capped peak is the closest peak to the Sun and, when measured from the center of the Earth instead of sea level, it is the highest mountain on the planet, making it a worthy challenge for any alpine climber looking to up their game. The challenging but magnificent terrain is the ideal environment for upgrading your climbing skills. Once you reach the summit, enjoy the incredible views of the surrounding peaks capped with eternal snow. This inactive volcano with many craters is heavily glaciated but doesn’t require any technical skills, making it a mountaineer’s paradise. Join a guide on this marvelous 4-day adventure and enjoy the feel of a small expedition while conquering an impressive peak!

Season November through February and May through July	Nearest city Quito, Ecuador, is 3 hours away
Duration 4 days	Skill level Intermediate to advanced

Book this adventure

Take part in this one-of-a-kind adventure and explore the most amazing landscapes in the Andes with a professional guide. During this 4-day expedition you will have time to acclimatize over a day of hiking before ascending the highest mountain in Ecuador. Conquer the peak closest to the Sun with a guide that will make sure that you have the safest and most comfortable ascent possible!

Itinerary

After reaching Riobamba, you will head with your guides towards the base camp where you will check your gear and fill out your paperwork. This day doesn’t include dinner so make sure you have something you can eat-on-the-go. Get to know your guide and go over the itinerary before catching some rest—you will need all the energy you can get during the next few days!

In the morning, have a hearty breakfast before your guide transfers you to the Chorreras lodge at 4000m (13,123ft) where you’ll acclimatize by hiking through beautiful páramo (subalpine grasslands and open meadows) and fun scrambles of Chimborazo National Park. Upon return to the lodge, have a warm meal and catch some sleep before your climb.

Sometime after 2 pm, your guide will transfer you by car to the Carrell Refuge at 4800m (15750ft), where you’ll have some time to settle in and have dinner. Prepare for your climb as you’ll begin your ascent around 10pm.

Today you’ll face an ascent of about 1500 meters to reach the summit. Unlike other high elevation peaks, Chimborazo is a fast mountain—it takes only 7-8 hours to reach the summit. You should reach the top of Chimborazo around 6-8 am. Enjoy the marvelous views and head back down to refuge where breakfast will be served. Your guide will transfer you back to Riobamba where you will have the rest of the day free before going to the airport.

Meet your guide

Ecuador Eco Adventures

Ecuador Eco Adventure is based in Riobamba, located in the “Valley of the Volcanoes” between the active Tungarahua and extinct Chimborazo and El Altar volcanoes. After exploring new routes in the mountains for several years and sharing the off-the-beaten track and trails with backpackers, today they lead climbers and outdoor enthusiast from around the world and were even recommended by the National Geographic. They are also certified by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment — they take their commitment to social responsible tourism very seriously.

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Ecuador, please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or Ecuador’s Ministry of Health.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure:

An experienced, ASEGUIM certified mountain guide with extensive knowledge of the area
4 days of preparations and climbing
All transportation and logistics from Riobamba
Accommodation in Riobamba, acclimatization lodge, and Chimborazo Refuge
Meals as described in Itinerary — breakfast and dinner at the lodge
Water and snacks for the climb
All gear and equipment
National Park permits for climbing
Adventure tour insurance
Climbing certificate if the summit is successful

What’s not included:

Transportation to Riobamba
Lunches
Use of Oxygen — additional $30

This adventure is for intermediate to experienced climbers. You will need a good level of fitness and backpacking experience to accomplish this climb. This is a tough climb, which requires a specific skill set. Building effective storm camps, rescue techniques, climbing with full packs, fixed rope ascension, and formulating a climbing strategy are all necessary topics to cover. Participants should arrive with a healthy desire for enduring mountain conditions.

This 4-day expedition is geared for intermediate to advanced climbers who are comfortable climbing and moving for 7-8 hours per day, have backpacking experience, and are in very good physical condition. This climb doesn’t require any technical skills, but it’s not an adventure for first-time alpine climbers.

For technical alpine rock climbing gear, you will need to bring:

Helmet
Trekking/ski poles
Headlamp

For personal items, we recommend bringing:

Fleece or wool hat
Balaclava and a buff
Neck gaiter
Hardshell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
Expedition-weight bottoms
Lightweight wind shell
Down or synthetic jacket with hood
Long-sleeved base layer
Gloves — lightweight synthetic, windstopper gloves, big mountain gloves and mittens
Long base layer pants
Lightweight trekking pants
Expedition-weight bottoms
Hardshell pants
Softshell pants (wind-proof or wind-resistant)
Quick-dry shorts
Leg gaiters
Liner socks, hiker socks and warm socks
Mountaineering boots that work with crampons
Hiking shoes
Climbing shoes
Two internal frame backpacks (one 35-45L and one 65-75L backpack)
Two duffle bags
One small duffle bag
Sleeping bag and pad
Compression stuff sacks
Chemical hand and toe warmers
Glacier glasses and goggles
Water bottle or hydration pack
Plastic bowl, spoon and coffee mug
Food you can eat on-the-go
Pocket knife
Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, blister kit, toilet paper, pee bottle, etc.)
Camera — optional

Group sizes and prices:

For this private adventure, the max client to guide ratio is 2:1.
The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with a friend or family!

Min. age requirements:

If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements

To get to Chimborazo, most people fly into Quito International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi to your accommodation. Flights generally arrive late in the evening so make sure you have enough time to decompress and get to the meeting point. Once you arrive at your accommodation, you will arrange other details of your itinerary and make further plans in more detail. Transportation from Quito to Riobamba can be organized for a small fee by the guide.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location.

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