Haciendas are a highlight on any trip to Ecuador. Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate, these are generally traditional ranches or homesteads based in rural areas, with ancient colonial architecture making for a unique place to spend the night. You’ll spend two nights camping surrounded by 500 hectares of a private ecological reserve at the Hacienda Santa Rita, with shower facilities available in the hacienda itself. You’ll then move to Hacienda El Porvenir or Hacienda Los Mortiños (if El Porvenir is not available). Both are comfortable, traditional haciendas built with materials and techniques that have been used in the Andes for centuries.

Day 3

Haciendas

You’ll spend two nights at Tambopaxi, a sustainable mountain lodge and the only accommodation located within the Cotopaxi National Park. Hot showers and good food are available, as well as excellent views of Cotopaxi itself. Your final night will be spent at the Jose Rivas mountain refuge, 4,800 metres above sea level, ready for an early start to the summit. Facilities there are basic with only shared rooms available.

Mountain Lodges

During your time in Quito, you'll stay at Casa Helbling, a cosy and quaint guesthouse run by incredibly friendly owners. The casa is in a great location as a springboard to explore the city. Continental breakfast is included each morning.

Quito

Haciendas are a highlight on any trip to Ecuador. Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate, these are generally traditional ranches or homesteads based in rural areas, with ancient colonial architecture making for a unique place to spend the night. You’ll spend two nights camping surrounded by 500 hectares of a private ecological reserve at the Hacienda Santa Rita, with shower facilities available in the hacienda itself. You’ll then move to Hacienda El Porvenir or Hacienda Los Mortiños (if El Porvenir is not available). Both are comfortable, traditional haciendas built with materials and techniques that have been used in the Andes for centuries.

You’ll spend two nights at Tambopaxi, a sustainable mountain lodge and the only accommodation located within the Cotopaxi National Park. Hot showers and good food are available, as well as excellent views of Cotopaxi itself. Your final night will be spent at the Jose Rivas mountain refuge, 4,800 metres above sea level, ready for an early start to the summit. Facilities there are basic with only shared rooms available.

During your time in Quito, you'll stay at Casa Helbling, a cosy and quaint guesthouse run by incredibly friendly owners. The casa is in a great location as a springboard to explore the city. Continental breakfast is included each morning. 

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No previous technical mountaineering experience is required, but you should be fit and accustomed to long tough hikes

Throughout the adventure, you'll be kept fuelled up on delicious Andean food, such as traditional Ecuadorian potato soup, meat and vegetable dishes utilising local grains such as quinoa and beans and plenty of local fresh fruits. Lunch usually consists of a variety of sandwiches and dinner is always a warm and filling meal after a big day of hiking. Vegans and vegetarians can be catered for, please let your host know at the time of booking.

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes and Climb Cotopaxi

Day 7.4

Your host will meet you at Mariscal Sucre International Airport and transfer you to your accommodation in Quito. On the final day of the trip, your host will transfer you back to the airport in time for your onward flight. The airport is around a 1-hour journey to downtown Quito.
If you need to make your own way to the accommodation from the airport, you have a few options. You can take a public bus for just $2USD, however, this isn't overly straight forward as you need to change buses at Quitumbe bus terminal. A metered taxi will cost you between $25-35USD. You can save some money by taking an 'Aeroservicio' - a privately operated bus service connecting the airport with the city centre. This costs $8USD.

Certified, English speaking guides

Guides

3 nights in a guesthouse, 4 nights in mountain huts and haciendas, 2 nights camping

Accommodation

All meals while on the trek, and breakfasts in Quito

Meals

All your climbing equipment and camping gear

Equipment

All hiking permits and national park entrance fees

Permits

All airport transfers and everything in between

Transfers

3 nights in a guesthouse, 4 nights in mountain huts and haciendas, 2 nights camping

All meals while on the trek, and breakfasts in Quito

All your climbing equipment and camping gear

All hiking permits and national park entrance fees

All airport transfers and everything in between

Your host will meet you at Quito Airport and transfer you to your guesthouse. The rest of the day and evening are free to explore the city, depending on your arrival time.

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Arrive at Quito

Day 1

Today is a relaxed day while you acclimatise to the altitude before climbing further into the Andes. You are free to explore Quito at your own pace with some short hikes to warm your legs up for the tougher days ahead. You'll meet up with your guide and group for a gear-check to ensure everyone is prepared for the expedition. If you are short of any important items your host can help you pick these up in town.

GettyImages-926433560

Acclimatisation day in Quito

Day 2

After breakfast, there's a short drive to the village of Santa Clara, deep in the Valley of Los Chillos and 2,750 metres above sea level. Hike along an ancient cobbled road beside the banks of the Pita River, passing a shrine where locals come to worship. Arrive at the hacienda, situated on 500 hectares of private ecological reserve where your camp will be all set up and waiting. Enjoy a cooked meal and a good night’s sleep under an Ecuadorian night sky.

Hike to Hacienda Santa Rita (3280m) 

Wake up bright and early and head off to climb the slopes of Pasochoa, an ancient volcano that has been inactive since the last Ice Age. If the weather allows, you can look into the crater itself which is home to the Pasochoa Forest Reserve; a cloud forest situated within the extinct volcano. This is a protected area, home to more than 110 species of birds and 45 species of trees. Keep an eye out for condors soaring on the thermals high above before you make your way back down to the hacienda where dinner will be waiting.

Day 2 summit of Pasochoa

Pasochoa Volcano (4200m)

Day 4

Take down camp and trek through the humid Andean forest, looking out for brightly coloured hummingbirds amongst the green trees. Reaching Hacienda El Porvenir, one of the largest traditional farms in Ecuador, you'll check into your comfortable, traditional room surrounded by four volcanoes – Cotopaxi, Sincholahua, Pasochoa and Rumiñahui.

Hike to Hacienda El Porvenir (3600m)

Day 5

A short drive deeper into Cotopaxi National Park and you'll hit the trail towards Rumiñahui, a volcano named after the last Incan general to lead the fight against the Spanish conquerors. Hike along the central ridge to the summit, take in the 360-degree views of the mountains and volcanoes all around you before hiking down to Tambopaxi, a remote mountain lodge nestled at the foot of Cotopaxi on the edge of the volcano’s ancient boulder field at 3700m.

Day 4 summit

Summit Rumiñahui (4600m) 

Day 6

Enjoy an easier day today with a shorter hike to get used to the higher altitude. After a gentle preparation trek to reach 5000m, you'll stop for lunch at a remote mountain hut before returning to Tambopaxi Lodge for a hot shower and another traditional Ecuadorian meal.

Acclimatisation day

Day 7

Set off deep into the snow-capped Andean mountain landscape as you drive through the incredible Andean scenery to a trailhead at 4600m for a short hike to the Jose Rivas refuge at 4800m. Here you’ll stop for lunch to continue your acclimatisation before the big summit day tomorrow. In the afternoon your guides will run you through the glacier-hiking skills that you'll need for tomorrow’s final ascent. Grab an early meal and a very early bedtime, ready for the action to start again shortly after midnight.

Day 6 Glacier Trainning

Hike to Jose Rivas refuge (4800m)

Day 8

You'll be up shortly after midnight to get prepped to leave camp at 01:00 to ascend the glacier, crossing crevasses and snow bridges, before reaching the final slope up to the pinnacle of your adventure: the summit of Cotopaxi. The final section is a challenging climb up a snow-covered slope set at a 40-degree angle. Your guides will help you navigate this section, using the knowledge, skills and acclimatisation you've gained over the past week. When you've successfully reached the summit you can peer down into the huge crater of Cotopaxi, 800 metres in diameter and still emitting steam and gases. Take in the unrivalled panoramic views of the Andes from here, before descending back down the glacier. You'll enjoy a triumphant drive back to Quito where you can celebrate your achievement in town over a few well-deserved local beers.

Day 7.1

Day 7.2

Day 7.3

Day 7.5

Summit Cotopaxi (5897m)

Day 9

Your adventure ends today as you enjoy a final breakfast at your base in Quito. You're free to head to the airport in time for your onward flight, or the bus station if you are travelling on to other parts of Ecuador.

GettyImages-682005466

Bid farewell to Quito

Day 10

Your host will meet you at Quito Airport and transfer you to your guesthouse. The rest of the day and evening are free to explore the city, depending on your arrival time.  

Today is a relaxed day while you acclimatise to the altitude before climbing further into the Andes. You are free to explore Quito at your own pace with some short hikes to warm your legs up for the tougher days ahead. You'll meet up with your guide and group for a gear-check to ensure everyone is prepared for the expedition. If you are short of any important items your host can help you pick these up in town.  

After breakfast, there's a short drive to the village of Santa Clara, deep in the Valley of Los Chillos and 2,750 metres above sea level. Hike along an ancient cobbled road beside the banks of the Pita River, passing a shrine where locals come to worship. Arrive at the hacienda, situated on 500 hectares of private ecological reserve where your camp will be all set up and waiting. Enjoy a cooked meal and a good night’s sleep under an Ecuadorian night sky.  

Wake up bright and early and head off to climb the slopes of Pasochoa, an ancient volcano that has been inactive since the last Ice Age. If the weather allows, you can look into the crater itself which is home to the Pasochoa Forest Reserve; a cloud forest situated within the extinct volcano. This is a protected area, home to more than 110 species of birds and 45 species of trees. Keep an eye out for condors soaring on the thermals high above before you make your way back down to the hacienda where dinner will be waiting.  

Take down camp and trek through the humid Andean forest, looking out for brightly coloured hummingbirds amongst the green trees. Reaching Hacienda El Porvenir, one of the largest traditional farms in Ecuador, you'll check into your comfortable, traditional room surrounded by four volcanoes – Cotopaxi, Sincholahua, Pasochoa and Rumiñahui. 

A short drive deeper into Cotopaxi National Park and you'll hit the trail towards Rumiñahui, a volcano named after the last Incan general to lead the fight against the Spanish conquerors. Hike along the central ridge to the summit, take in the 360-degree views of the mountains and volcanoes all around you before hiking down to Tambopaxi, a remote mountain lodge nestled at the foot of Cotopaxi on the edge of the volcano’s ancient boulder field at 3700m.  


Enjoy an easier day today with a shorter hike to get used to the higher altitude. After a gentle preparation trek to reach 5000m, you'll stop for lunch at a remote mountain hut before returning to Tambopaxi Lodge for a hot shower and another traditional Ecuadorian meal. 

Set off deep into the snow-capped Andean mountain landscape as you drive through the incredible Andean scenery to a trailhead at 4600m for a short hike to the Jose Rivas refuge at 4800m. Here you’ll stop for lunch to continue your acclimatisation before the big summit day tomorrow. In the afternoon your guides will run you through the glacier-hiking skills that you'll need for tomorrow’s final ascent. Grab an early meal and a very early bedtime, ready for the action to start again shortly after midnight. 

You'll be up shortly after midnight to get prepped to leave camp at 01:00 to ascend the glacier, crossing crevasses and snow bridges, before reaching the final slope up to the pinnacle of your adventure: the summit of Cotopaxi. The final section is a challenging climb up a snow-covered slope set at a 40-degree angle. Your guides will help you navigate this section, using the knowledge, skills and acclimatisation you've gained over the past week. When you've successfully reached the summit you can peer down into the huge crater of Cotopaxi, 800 metres in diameter and still emitting steam and gases. Take in the unrivalled panoramic views of the Andes from here, before descending back down the glacier. You'll enjoy a triumphant drive back to Quito where you can celebrate your achievement in town over a few well-deserved local beers. 

Your adventure ends today as you enjoy a final breakfast at your base in Quito. You're free to head to the airport in time for your onward flight, or the bus station if you are travelling on to other parts of Ecuador. 

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An epic hike through the snowcapped Andes to the top of the world's highest active volcano

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m)

Trailblazer Price - 4 spots left at 5% off

Trailblazer Price - 2 spots left at 5% off

Cross crevasses and snow bridges en route to the top of Ecuador’s most famous peak at a towering 5897m

Trek through rainforests and past snowcapped peaks, spotting condors soaring high above along the way

Sleep in traditional haciendas set on ecological reserves and in remote mountain refuges

Cross crevasses and snow bridges en route to the top of Ecuador’s most famous peak at a towering 5897m

Trek through rainforests and past snowcapped peaks, spotting condors soaring high above along the way


Sleep in traditional haciendas set on ecological reserves and in remote mountain refuges

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m)

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m)

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

PROPER
ADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

HASSLE
FREE

SMALL GROUPS
OF GOOD PEOPLE

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m)

Trek Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi's Summit (5897m)

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

PROPERADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCALGUIDES

HASSLEFREE

SMALL GROUPSOF GOOD PEOPLE

PROPER
ADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

HASSLE
FREE

SMALL GROUPS
OF GOOD PEOPLE