Ecuador Volcano Mountaineering

Ecuador is ideal for climbing high altitude glaciated mountains with low technical difficulties. Between peaks we stay at amazing Spanish colonial haciendas. This is a great training trip before attempting Denali, Aconcagua or other high and cold mountains. I don't have scheduled trips. If you're interested, or have a group, then get in touch!

Read a post from our December 2010 trip.

Season

December through February. 

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Quito (9,500'). Meet at Hotel Reina Isabel at 4PM for orientation and gear check. Welcome dinner in Quito. 

Day 2: Climb Pasachoa (13,776'). Stay at Hotel Reina Isabel. 

Day 3: Climb Gua Gua Pichincha (15,728'). Hotel Reina Isabel. 

Day 4: Travel & hike to Illiniza Hut

Day 5: Climb Illiniza Norte, descend to La Carriona

Day 6: Travel to Cayambe Refugio (15,250'). 

Day 7: Climb Cayambe (18,993'), descend to Guachala

Day 8: Rest at Chilcabamba. 

Day 9: Travel & hike to Cotapaxi Jose Ribas Hut (15,729'). 

Day 10: Climb Cotapaxi (19,347'), return to Hotel Reina Isabel in Quito. Final dinner together. 

Day 11: Leave Quito. 

Cost

  • 1 customer: $4,000 each
  • 2 customers: $3,750 each
  • 3 customers: $3,000 each
  • 4-10 customers: $2,400 each
  • 50% due to reserve spot. Payment in full due 1 month before expedition. 

Includes

  • Guide services (3:1 max)
  • All lodging from Day 1 through Day 10
  • Meals while in the mountains
  • Group cooking equipment
  • Transportation to and from climbs
  • Park fees
  • Group climbing gear (rope, pickets, screws)
  • Navigation, repair and first aid kits
  • Pack animals
  • Transport to and from airport 

Excludes

  • Meals in town
  • Personal laundry, phone, fax, internet, etc
  • Personal climbing gear (see Ecuador Volcanoes Gear List) 
  • Bottled drinks
  • Special food and drinks such as Gu and Cytomax that are not available in Ecuador
  • Travel to and from Ecuador
  • Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond Stock Alpine's control, including extra hotels if climbers choose to opt out of any climbing portions
  • Trip cancellation insurance
  • Rescue insurance
  • Wire fee, if applicable

Ilinizas Refugio at the saddle between Iliniza Norte and Sur. Norte, in this photo, is popular acclimatizing peak that reaches 16,818 without glacier travel. 

 

Cayambe Refugio. Driving to here requires a serious four wheel drive and a driver who knows how to run it. 

 

Chilcabamba and Cotapaxi. 

 

James Kesterson at 18,000 feet on Cotapaxi with Ruminahui beyond. We start up the highest summits around midnight. This means climbing in the dark until near the summit, when the sun rises at 6am. 

 

Glenn Wilson and James Kesterson on the summit of Cotapaxi. The active and smouldering Tungurahua volcano is visible in the distance. 

 

Descending Cotapaxi.  

 

Descending Cotapaxi.