Ecuador tours - Cotopaxi ride, trek and climb adventure

LTE-QTP014

COTOPAXI RIDE, TREK AND CLIMB                          

(5 Days, any day)

Day 1.
Quito – Hacienda El Porvenir – Cotopaxi National Park – Hacienda El Tambo:
After a brief lesson to get acquainted with the horses and once outfitted in the typical "chagra" attire, we will begin our ride from El Porvenir taking the lower route towards El Tambo and going by Pucará de Salitre, the old Inca fortress. Riding under the shade of the majestic Cotopaxi - the imposing snow-capped volcano, the highest active volcano in the world - we will reach Cajas lagoons wherefrom we will descend towards Tamboyacu river, cross the Chigtapamba plains and reach the corrals and refuge at the farm. Our guests will enjoy an excellent barbecue and will sleep in a simple but very comfortable and cozy hut.

L, D

Day 2.
Hacienda El Tambo – hacienda El Porvenir:
The group will loop around Hacienda El Tambo going to Chirimachay’s through the Cotopaxi's páramos.  The scenery of this area is unique because is one of the courses that the lava set in its journey during  in Cotopaxi’s last eruption. Here we can observe how the Lava Rivers flooded this area during the last Cotopaxi eruption, this hike takes about 5hrs. At Chirimachay we start a beautiful down hill on mountain bike. In addition to admiring the resplendent landscape, adrenaline-laden experiences will be felt while descending towards El Porvenir.

B, L, D

Day 3.
Hacienda El Porvenir – Rumiñahui:
The group climb Rumiñahui 4.712 meters Rumiñahui: Very early in the morning we begin to climb the volcano, crossing vast “páramos”  surrounded by the cold breath of the Andes and amazed by the majesty and beauty of the landscape that conjugates valleys, mountains and neighboring volcanoes in one single image.  We will reach the peaks of Rumiñahui where it is possible to observe the impressive valley of Lasso and Latacunga. On a cloudless day, we will even have the opportunity to admire in the distance the Ilinizas and Chimborazo, the highest snow-capped mountain of Ecuador.

B, L, D

Day 4 & 5.
Cotopaxi – Quito:
These days we climb Cotopaxi. Our climb begins shortly after with a 45-minute hike up to the climbers' refuge (15.744) where we rest and have a substantial lunch. After lunch we hike up to the glaciers to practice some basic ice climbing techniques. We rest for the rest of the day until midnight when we begin our climb to the summit.   We reach the summit just as the sun is rising and take advantage of the early morning light to take some nice photographs of ourselves at the summit. The descent takes two hours and afterwards we return by car to the hacienda and then to Quito. 

B, L, D (day 4)

B, L  (day 5)

Duration: 2 days, 1 night

Activity Level: Moderate to Dificult

What to bring: Comfortable-warm clothing.

Includes:
Transportation, English speaking guide, full biking equipment(front suspension mountain bike, helmet, elbow and knee pads, gloves), mechanical assistance, , full riding equipment(poncho, chaps, wool hat), nice gentle horses, 2 night stay at local hacienda El Porvenir, 1 night stay at hacienda El Tambo, 1 night stay at Cotopaxi mountain refuge, meals as listed in itinerary(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner).

Does not include:
Cotopaxi park entrance fee $10