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One summit in Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes is not enough for you? Just add another one to your itinerary! You will join your guide for the profound experience of reaching the crater of the Cotopaxi Volcano, but it will be preceded by climbing a more approachable 16,818-ft peak of Iliniza Norte. This adventure is also a bit longer, giving you some more time to explore this extraordinary country.
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Meet your guide at a predetermined time and location in Ecuador’s capital and leave for the town of El Chaupi. From there, you’ll trek to the Nuevos Horizontes lodge, which is strategically located on the saddle between the two Ilinizas peaks (Sur and Norte). It’s a small rustic lodge set in dramatic scenery where you’ll find bunk beds with mattresses, table, kitchen, and a toilet with running water. Try to get some sleep as soon as you’ve finished with your dinner as your climb starts at 3 am.
Meals: Dinner
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Start your climbing at 3 am. You will have reached the summit of Iliniza Norte, the eight tallest in Ecuador, by 6-8 am. Take in the beautiful views of the surrounding Andean peaks and valleys. You will get back to the refuge in time for breakfast. Take some rest and use the rest of the day to recover from the climb. The next day you will get transferred to another refuge, this time close to the Cotopaxi Volcano.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Elevation gain: 1,683 feet (513 m)
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Start your day with a hearty breakfast in your lodge and spend time according to your interests before 2 pm, when you will get transferred to yet another lodge at an even higher altitude—Jose Rivas Refugio (15,958 ft / 4,864 m), situated right below the Cotopaxi glacier. Dinner will be served early, at 5 pm. Try and get some sleep immediately afterwards—your expedition to the top of the Cotopaxi Volcano starts at midnight.
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Start your guided Cotopaxi climb at midnight. This expedition will take you between 5 and 8 hours, depending on conditions and your skill level. Once you’ve reached the summit, take in the magical views of nearby peaks and the surrounding landscapes at dawn. The descent will take you additional 2 hours, and you will arrive back to refuge just in time for breakfast. After getting some rest, you will get transferred back to Quito. Alternatively, you can get transportation to Riobamba or Latacunga. Say goodbye to your guide and Ecuador or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Elevation gain: 3,618 feet (1,103 m)
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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 traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Ecuador, please refer to the Covid-19 Information by the US Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador.
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!
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What you get in this adventure:
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- Experienced ASEGUIM certified local mountain guides with extensive knowledge of the area
- 3 or 5 days of alpine climbing, as outlined in the itineraries
- All transportation and logistics to and from Cotopaxi
- All gear and mountain climbing equipment
- Warm clothing suitable for high altitude and freezing weather
- Accommodations during the trip
- Meals as indicated in the itineraries
- National Park permits
What’s not included:
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- Backpack
- Lunches
- Transportation to and from Ecuador
- Accommodation prior and after the trip
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Essentially, climbing Cotopaxi is a recreational two-day climb that even those new to mountain climbing can complete as long as they’re in excellent physical shape. Climbing Cotopaxi is a strenuous activity lasting up to 8 hours and is made more challenging due to high altitudes. Even though it is not a technical climb, it will involve moderate glacial terrain, complex crevasse patterns, snow bridge crossings, and a semi-vertical section in the end. The climb will involve a 3,618-ft elevation gain (1,103 m).
Likewise, Iliniza Norte climb is not technical, but requires great caution, excellent level of fitness, and some experience with scrambling. The climb is less strenuous than the Cotopaxi Volcano and will take you up to 4 hours, with an elevation gain of 1,683 feet (513 m).
Keep in mind that your guide will monitor your technique, take care of the logistics and help you if you encounter any difficulties during the climb.
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For these Cotopaxi guided climbing tours, prior mountain climbing experience is not necessary, but it’s more than welcome. However, in order to climb the Cotopaxi Volcano, you should know how to use an ice ax and crampons. You should have some experience with strenuous hikes in steep and glaciated terrain and with high-altitude hiking in freezing temperatures.
Your guide will take all the safety precautions, give you instruction on technical skills and help you if you encounter any difficulties. Climbing Iliniza Norte is less challenging than climbing Cotopaxi, so you’re good to go if you fulfill the above mentioned requirements.
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All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need:
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- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Neck and leg gaiters
- Face mask
- Headlamp
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
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- Backpacks (45 L)
- Fleece or wool hat
- Balaclava and a buff
- 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)
- Liner socks, hiker socks and warm socks
- Mountaineering boots that work with crampons
- Casual personal clothing and extra clothes for changing after the climb
- Glacier glasses and goggles
- Water bottle or hydration pack
- Plastic bowl, spoon, coffee mug, and pocket knife
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, blister kit, toilet paper, pee bottle, etc.)
- Camera — optional
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For these adventures, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 2:1.
- The cost per person decreases if more than one person books, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family!
These climbing adventures can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
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To get to Quito, where the Cotopaxi alpine climbing trips start, most people fly into Quito International Airport. Since you are likely to arrive in the evening, it is likely that you will have to book an accommodation there.
You will meet your guide somewhere in the city on day 1 and get transferred to a lodge, where you will acclimatize in close proximity to your first climbing objective—either Cotopaxi or Iliniza Norte.
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