DIFICULTY:
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DURATION:
6Days/ 5Nights
HIGHLIGHTS:
Iliniza North, Cayambe and Chimborazo ascent
Ecuador FUERTE Cayambe and Chimborazo Express 6 Days / 5 Nights
Iliniza North, Cayambe and Chimborazo ascent
This program is a compact circuit of the two most climbed and highest mountains of Ecuador. We first climb the North Illiniza to 5,116 m, then Cayambe at 5,790 m. We then culminate with the summit of Chimborazo at 6,310 m, Ecuador’s tallest mountain whose peak is closest to the sun. This is a six-day trip with little recovery time, so it is recommended for climbers with enough experience that would like to focus solely on climbing glaciers back to back. With Cumbre Tours, there is the opportunity to extend the journey to Cuenca, the Galapagos, the Coast, or the Amazon.
Day | Itinerary | Accommodation | Altitude in m | Altitude Accommodation in m | Walk | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Illiniza Norte | Hotel in Quito | 5116 | 2800 | 7 | 3 |
2 | Refuge Cayambe | Mountain Refuge | 4600 | 4600 | – | 2 |
3 | Climbing Cayambe | Lodge | 5790 | 4000 | 9 | 3 |
4 | Rest day Chimborazo | Lodge | 4000 | 4000 | – | – |
5 | Refuge Chimborazo | Mountain Refuge | 5000 | 5000 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
6 | Chimborazo | – | 6310 | – | 11 | 3 |
*Approx. in hour
Itinerary 6 days / 5 nights
Day 1: Iliniza Norte 5116m
Today we have early pickup at your hotel in Quito. The journey takes us about 2h to the Virgin statue nearly at 4000m through a bumpy track. The hike to the hut will take us about 2hrs, from the cottage to the main summit of the Iliniza Norte another 2hrs and for the descent, we need about 2-3 hours until we reach our transfer. We head back to Quito to rest in our hotel.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 2: Cayambe refuge 4600 m
Today we head to the Cayambe volcano, the third highest mountain in Ecuador after the Chimborazo and the Cotopaxi. We will drive to the Oleas refuge (4600 m). Here we will get accommodation and enjoy the spectacular view over the Ecuadorian highlands. Food will be served at the refuge and we will spend the afternoon here resting for the big ascent at night.
Accommodation: Mountain Refuge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 3: Cayambe 5790 m
Our ascension will begin at midnight. The Cayambe is the third tallest mountain in Ecuador. The ascension is not of a technical type, it consists in crossing some crevasses and hiking up a beautiful glacier. We reach the peak early in the morning where a spectacular view will be presented in front of us to the valley and nearby mountains such as Antisana, Cotopaxi. For the ascension and back we will need around 9 hours. Afterwards we will transfer to the central Andes to rest at our lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: box lunch breakfast (ascent), box lunch, dinner
Day 4: Chimborazo trekking – rest day
We enjoy a tranquil breakfast with views to imposing Chimborazo. Then we go for a wonderful trekking around the area and base of the mountain to admire the moorlands, views and meet the Andean camelid, alpacas and vicuñas. We reach the mountain refuges and reach up to 5000m at the base of the mountain. Today we rest, the big challenge comes tomorrow!
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Chimborazo, Refuge Whymper 5000m
After a light lunch we drive (4800m Carrel Refuge) up to the first hut of Chimborazo. Then we walk about 45min to the second refuge Whymper. Here we will have early dinner and try to rest. We sleep in the shelter and get up at 10pm. A steep climb awaits us to the top of Ecuador!
Accommodation: Mountain Refuge
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Chimborazo 6310 m and back to Quito or extension
The ascent of Chimborazo normally takes 7 hours to the main summit and 3 1/2hr. for the descent. We will thus be on foot for over 10 hours, which will certainly be working our legs. The summit is huge and breathtakingly beautiful. If we are lucky we can see the Tungurahua, an active volcano that spits out ash clouds from time to time, but is not dangerous. After the descent of Chimborazo we drive back to Quito or to our following destination.
Meals: box lunch breakfast, lunch
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