GROUP  4 TO  10 CLIMBERS 

ITINERARY

Day 01: Cotopaxi Refuge 4,864 m.
Day 02: Summiting Cotopaxi 5,897 m. 

Day 1: Cotopaxi Refuge

We will leave Quito early in the morning around 10:30 a.m. and we will drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we reach the town of El Chaupi. This town is the location of Cotopaxi-Travel’s homebase, there we will prepare all the necessary equipment for the ascent. We will have lunch at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge, and then we will continue to the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. From here, we will head east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4864m) and then we’ll hike for about an hour to the José Ribas Refuge (15,951 ft. / 4862 m.). Then we will have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.

·         Altitude: 4,864 meters (15,958 feet)

·         Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

·         Accommodations: Cotopaxi Refuge (Jose Rivas)

·         Distance: 1.5 km (from parking lot to refuge)

·         Duration: 1 hours

Day 2: 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 we will pack our belongings, have something to eat and go down to the parking lot, where our transportation will be ready to take you to Quito.

·         Altitude: (5,897 meters / 19,347 feet)

·         Meals: (Breakfast/-/)

·         Accommodations: Hotel Chimenea

·         Distance: Climb 10 k (round trip), Transfer 115 Km.

·         Duration: 5 to 6 hours to the summit, 2-hour transfer to Quito.

What's Included

ü  Mountain Climbing Local Insurance 

ü  Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM

ü  ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)

ü  Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)

ü  Land transportation and transfers

ü ü National parks fees and permits

ü ü Registration in the System SIB (System Information of Biodiversity)

ü  Accommodation:

• 
    1 night at Cotopaxi Refuge  
• ü  All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
• ü  Tents, and camping utensils for high camp.

What's Not Included

Ø  * International flights

Ø  * Internacional Insurance

Ø  * Personal expenses

Ø  * Tips for guides or local staff

Ø  * Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Ø  * Additional activities not listed in the itinerary

Ø  * Alcoholic beverages (unless specified)

Ø  * The costs of delays or changes to itinerary that are beyond the control of Cotopaxi Travel, or its agents are not included.

Ø  * Airport taxes

Ø  * Visa 

 GROUP  4 TO  10 CLIMBERS 

Day 1: Hike Pasochoa Volcano

Elevation: 4200 m./13,779 ft

1. 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 sloop on the ascent, but once there we will have beautiful views. We will drive to El Chaupi village. Overnight at Andes Alpes base camp.
2. Meals: (-/ Box Lunch/ Dinner)
3. Accommodation: ILINIZAS MOUNTAIN LODGE 3300 m
   
   

Day 2: Summit Corazón Volcano

Elevation: 4788 m./15,708 ft

1. From El Chaupi village. We will start early in the morning after breakfast 7:00 We will be driving 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 Corazon summit. We will have lunch during the hike that is about 6-hour long. Return to the hostel.
2. Meals: (Breakfas/ Box Lunch/ Dinner)
3. Accommodation: ILINIZAS MOUNTAIN LODGE 3300 m
   

Day 3: Summit Iliniza North

Elevation: 5126 m./16,818 ft

• 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 Hostal or Lodge.
• Meals: (Breakfas/ Box Lunch/ Dinner)
• Accommodation: ILINIZAS MOUNTAIN LODGE 3300 m
  

Day 4: Quilotoa Lagoon Rest day

Elevation: 3914 m./12,841 ft

1. We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning and drive the Quilotoa Lagoon. During the tour we will stop at an Indian hut and visit the Tigua community to observe the leather crafts that they make here. The tour will about 4 hours, then we’ll arrive the viewpoint and admire the size of the crater and its lagoon. We will then descend along a varying road which will take us an hour until we arrive at the bottom of the lagoon. There we will take photos and rest, then after lunch we will be back in El Chaupi after 3 hours driving.
2. Meals: (Breakfas/ Box Lunch/ Dinner)
3. Accommodation: ILINIZAS MOUNTAIN LODGE 3300 m
   

Day 5: Cotopaxi Refuge

Elevation: 4864 m./15,958 ft

1. From El Chaupi will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until getting to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m/14,763 ft) then we’ll hike up for around an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge. Then we will have dinner and rest until midnight. At this point we will pack our belongings and get ready to make our final ascent.
2. Meals: (Breakfas/ Lunch / Dinner)
3. Accommodation: Cotopaxi Refuge

Day 6: Summit Cotopaxi

Elevation: 5897 m./19,347 ft

1. Midnight will be our wake up time and the departure to the top will be around 01h00, not before having a light breakfast and get 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 the refuge, which it 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 Quito.
2. Meals: (Breakfas/-/ -)
3. Accommodation: 

SERVICES 

INCLUDED:

Services included in the prices:

• Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
• Registration in the System SIB (System Information of Biodiversity)
• Technical mountain equipment (Mountaineering Boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
• Land transportation and transfers to National Parks
  
• Accommodations ILINIZAS MOUNTAIN LODGE 3300 metros
  4 nights
  
• Accommodations in Cotopaxi Refuge
• All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above with B: Breakfast, BL: Box lunch and D: Dinner)

NOT INCLUDED:

• Personal mountain gear (warm cloths, sleeping bags, sunglasses, head lamp, etc.)
• International flight tickets
• Hotel in Quito
  
• Tips
• Insurance of any kind Travel accident and health insurance
  
• Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
• Other non-specified expense

DEPOSIT, PAYMENT AND RESERVATION INFORMATION

Each reservation requires a deposit from 30% (according to total price) as a down payment per person. Once the deposit will be confirmed we will send you your contract voucher. The remaining balance will be due in ECUADOR during your briefing at our office or your hotel in cash before your trip. No refund if you cancel less than 20 days!