ALTAR: 4 days – 3 nights (Optional 5 days)
The semicircular shape of the Altar with the famous crater lake, Laguna Amarilla, in
its center offers spectacular views while hiking. In the so-called Collanes plain, you will find untouched nature and, of
course, an incredible view on the volcano itself, which continues to offer new routes to climb.
Day 1: Quito – Hacienda Releche.- We will drive south
from Quito , taking the Panamerican Highway , past the Avenue of Volcanoes . There will be a snack-break in the highlands,
near the village of Mocha and then we will continue our journey towards the south until we reach the city of Riobamba In Riobamba
, we will spend the night at the hostel, Hacienda de Releche , with an elevation of 3200 meters.
Day 2: Hacienda Releche – Camp Collanes plain.- After
the breakfast we will hike approximately five hours along a marked path, which will lead us to the secluded Valley of Collanes
at the foot of the Altar, where we will set up camp at 3900 meters.
Day 3: Camp – Laguna Amarilla – Camp.- We will
climb to the rim of El Altar's interior crater (4200 m), from where we will see the Laguna Amarilla . In the afternoon, we
will climb down to the lagoon and eat lunch before returning to camp.
Day 4: Camp – Hacienda Releche – Quito.- We will
prepare our packs and start the four hour hike back to the Hacienda Releche , where the car will be waiting to take us back
to Quito .
Optional Five Day Tour:
After the 3 rd day: Camp – Laguna Mandur – Campamento Italiano - Camp.- From our camp we will hike to the exterior part of the crater, visiting the Laguna Mandur en route, and reaching the
highest point of our trip, the Campamento Italiano , which is the base camp where climbers begin the ascents to the main peaks
of the Altar. We will spend the night at camp and descend to the Hacienda Releche the following day .
PRICES PER PERSON IN $USA
DAYS |
1PAX |
2PAX |
3PAX |
4PAX |
4 |
960 |
520 |
430 |
450 |
5 |
1.200 |
650 |
505 |
513 |
ABRASPUNGO: 4 days – 3nights
The Abraspungo region is located in the south of the country, and embraces some of the most
beautiful, and in case of the Tungurahua, most active volcanoes in Ecuador. Throughout the trip you can enjoy impressive views
on the mountains and after crossing the Abraspungo valley, you will attempt to summit Carihuayrazo from where you will have
a marvelous view of Chimborazo, the king of the Andes.
Day 1: Quito - Hacienda Posada la Estacion.- We will leave
Quito by private bus on the Panamerican Highway and, passing Latacunga and Ambato, we will reach the La Estacion at
3680m in the hills of Urbina. This is a three hours journey with many stops and superb views at the Avenida de los Volcanes
. After the trip, we will have a good dinner and relax.
Day 2: Hacienda Posada la Estacion.- After breakfast we will
start our trek in the direction of Abraspungu valley. We'll walk for approximately 5-6 hours uphill, until we reach our camp
in Plazapamba. Our naturalist guide will teach us about the diverse high altitude fauna and flora. If the weather is good,
you will have excellent views of the volcanoes Altar and Tungurahua.
Day 3: Plazapamba - Carihuayrazo.- Today we will hike for
approximately six hours through the Abraspungo valley with a picnic lunch en route. At the base of the Carihuayrazo near to
the Laguna Negra, we will set up our camp at 4800m where there are spectacular views of Chimborazo and Carihuayrazo with plenty
of excellent photo opportunities!
Day 4: Climb of Carihuayrazo - Rio Blanco - Quito.- Early
breakfast and then climb to the central peak of Carihuayrazo (5100 m). Lunch at the summit. Return to the road Guaranda –
Ambato. From here we will drive back to Quito in four hours.
PRICES PER PERSON IN $USA
1PAX |
2PAX |
3PAX |
4PAX |
1.100 |
705 |
632 |
528 |
INCA'S TRAIL: 4 days – 3 nights
Following the trail of the legendary Inca people, in the south of Ecuador, we will continue
on the path that the Incas used, passing the Laguna de Tres Cruces . This four-day trek leads us from Achupallas
to Ingapirca, where we will visit the ruins of the temple, Ecuador's most significant heritage of this mystic culture.
Day 1: Quito – Achupallas.- We'll leave Quito by jeep
and via the Panamericana, passing the so-called Avenida de los Volcanes we'll reach Riobmba, where we'll have lunch. We'll
continue our trip heading southwards to Alausí,and later to Achupallas, where we'll meet our porters and horses. At a height
of 3100 m we'll pass the night.
Day 2: Achupallas – Camp (3700 m).- We'll have breakfast
early in the morning and we'll follow an ancient path, that already the Incas were using. Later we'll pass indigenous farms
until we'll reach the Páramo. Total of the hike: 4 hours. Near a river at 3700 m we'll put up our camp.
Day 3: Camp – Tres Cruzes – Paredones – Camp.- After breakfast we'll continue to follow the Incan path to the Laguna Tres Cruces at 4200 m. A long ridge will lead
us up to the next valley, from where we can see the river and the Laguna de Culebrillas . The same path will lead us down,
where we'll cross the river. There we'll visit old Incan ruins, known as Paredones . This hike will take us 6 hours. Camp
near the ruins (3400 m).
Day 4: Camp – Ingapirca – Quito.- We'll leave
the camp in the morning and follow the trail, that will run into a neighbouring road. Later we'll pass the village of San
José and we'll reach the most important Incan heritage of Ecuador - El Templo Inca de Ingapirca . After a guided tour in the
ruins we'll head back to Quito . If you want you can extend the tour, by your own visiting the beautiful city of Cuenca .
PRICES PER PERSON IN $USA
1PAX |
2PAX |
3PAX |
4PAX |
1.135 |
741 |
670 |
566 |
MUERTEPUNGO: 5 days – 4 nights (Optional Cotopaxi 7 days)
The trek will lead through one of the last remaining habitats of the Ecuadorian Condor. The
trek with begin at Papallacta where there are famous hot springs nestled in the valley. From there you hike across the Páramo
, passing the Antizana plain. All in all you spend five unforgettable days in the Highlands. We offer as well an option
to climb Cotopaxi at the end of the tour.
Day 1: Quito – El Tambo – Lagoon of the Volcano.- We will travel by jeep to El Tambo (3600 m), near the Lagoon of Papallactaand meet the muleteers and horses, which
will carry our equipment throughout the trip. That day we will hike four hours through the highlands until we reach the Lagoon
of the volcano, where were we will camp at a height of 3600 m.
Day 2: Lagoon of the lagoon – Lagoon of Santa Lucia.- We
will walk 4 hours to the Lagoon of Santa Lucía, situated at the foot of the Antizana volcano. There we will have leisurely
lunch, set up camp and spend the afternoon walking around the lagoon viewing the flora and fauna.
Day 3: Lagoon of Santa Lucia – Lagoon of Muertepungo.- The
next morning we will trek to the Plaza de Armas (4700 m) and then hike two more hours to our next camp near the Lagoon
of Muertepungo (4200 m). In total, we will hike for seven hours.
Day 4: Lagoon of Muertepungo – Polilepis Forest.- The
next day our tour will lead us to a valley, where we can admire the typical Polilepis trees of the Ecuadorian Andes
We will then continue to trek an additional 6 hours before setting up camp.
Day 5: Polilepis Forest – El Inga – Quito.- In
the morning we will hike two hours to El Inga, where our car will be waiting to drive us back to Quito.
Optional Six Day Trek:
Day 5: Polilepis Forest – El Inga – Refuge Cotopaxi.- Our car will take us to the car park of the Cotopaxi (4600 m) and after a hike of 45 minutes we will get to the José
Rivas refuge at a height of 4800 m where we will check our equipment and spend the night.
Day 6: Refuge – Summit – Quito.- We will
get up around midnight and within seven hours we will climb up the glacier to the summit of the Cotopaxi, which is one of
the highest active volcanoes in the world with a height of 5897 meters. After the descent to the refuge, our jeep will take
us back to Quito.
PRICES PER PERSON IN $USA
DAYS |
1PAX |
2PAX |
3PAX |
4PAX |
5 |
1.370 |
877 |
788 |
658 |
7 |
2.148 |
1.251 |
1.215 |
1.087 |
TV-TREKKING COTOPAXI VOLCANOE: 6 days - 5 nights
Day 1 Quito - Pasochoa.- Transfer to the Private Reserve
Hacienda Santa Rita, from where will begging a aclimatizacion trekking from 3.000 to 3.600 msnm (9.840 to 11.808 feet). Walking
will take us an aproximate of 6 hours, trhough native forests and agricultural plantations. On the way it is possible to observe
mountains as the Antisana, Cayambe, Pasochoa, among others. Will reach Hacienda El Porvenir where a good diner will be waiting
for us and a friendly talk regarding archeology, geology, landscapes, flora and fauna of the region, people and his culture.
This day we will walk 19.2 km ( 12 miles ).
Day 2 Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.- After an excellent breakfast
will beggin our walking to the Cotopaxi National Park, which in-gate is located 4 kilometers agay from Hacienda. This walking
day in very regular (without high variations in altitude) which is very good in our aclimatization process. Will visit the
"Pucará del Salitre", an old Inca's fortress. Continue to "Incañán", or Inca's way to the Orient, will reach our camp from
where will hace an spectacular view of the Cotopaxi. Today's walking will be of 6 hours aproximately with an overage
altitude of 3.700 mosl. This day we will walk 19.2 km ( 12 miles ).
Day 3 El Tambo Quilindaña.- We will beggin our trekking to Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña,
located at the Oriental slope of the Andes. Cross by hills and valleys being looked by the Quilindaña, a rock very hard to
look from the central valleys of the Sierra and that is simmilar to the italian Severino. The overage altitude will be of
3.800 mosl but we will reach up to 4.200 mosl. Will reach the Hacienda's house, an old mountain refugee, built over Inca's
stones. Today's walking will be of aproximately 7 hours. This day we will walk 32 km ( 20 miles ).
Day 4 Chirimachai.- Today will be made a circuit around the Hacienda, crossing
by the canyon of Chirimachai, untill reach camp. Chirimachai is the place where is the climate's conjuction from the Amazonia
to Sierra's Central Valleys, so this is a very wet place. There is a big natural resource of water coming directly from the
ethernal snows of the Cotopaxi. Scenario is spectacular. This day we will be accompanied by "chagras" with their horses because
while walking will cross by brave bull zones. Today's walking will be of aproximately 6 or 7 hours and the altitude overage
is 3.850 mosl. Camp is located at 4.000 mosl. This day we will walk 22.4 km ( 14 miles).
Day 5 Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.- Early in the morning we will go to the occidental
side. Will reach an easy road from where will look at glacial valleys and panoramic views. After 7 hours walking is the camp,
located at 3.800 mosl. Overage altitud will be 3.850 mosl, which is a good notice because we will be aclimatized for our final
goal: to reach 4.800 mosl (15.744 feet) of the Cotopaxi's refuge. Along this day will walk 26.4 km ( 16.5 miles).
Day 6 Refugio PNC - Quito..- Very early in the morning have to be ready for our
objective: 4.800 mosl. Walking will take us from 5 to 6 hours till reach the Refugio Padre José F. Ribas. After enjoying time
a vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Hacienda El Porvenir where will get our lunch good enough to close this great
journey and from where will beggin our return to Quito. Overage altitude will be of 4.200 mosl with an ascension of 1.067
mosl from camp to Refugio. During this day will trek 8.48 km ( 5.3 miles).
PRICES PER PERSON IN $USA
1PAX |
2PAX |
3PAX |
4PAX |
2.352 |
1.176 |
784 |
588 |