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Greetings from Cuzco,
The Otto's Tours Team
7 Summit Experiences & Historic Haciendas
7 Summit Experiences & Historic Haciendas
One of the most spectacular mountain tours in the mighty South American Andes awaits us! More than 50 picture-perfect volcanoes, many of them still highly active and some covered in eternal ice and snow, rise along the high valley between Quito and Riobamba, the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” named by Alexander von Humboldt. Our main travel route also follows this valley.
After arriving in the Ecuadorian capital Quito, we are welcomed by our mountain guide and
travel directly from the airport to a hacienda nestled in beautiful natural surroundings,
which will serve as our base camp for the following three nights. The many historic haciendas
of Ecuador offer an insight into the colonial era, old family histories and the daily life of
the Andean people today. During a cosy and elegant dinner by the fireplace, our mountain guide
will go over the tour in detail with us once again and answer any questions we may have.
Our overnight stay will be at the ****Hacienda Cusin or equivalent in Otavalo (No meals included).
Driving time: 1h10min
Early in the morning, we head to the nearby, famous Otavalo Market. Indigenous women lay colourful
fabrics, embroidered belts and handmade jewellery on the stalls. Proudly wearing their traditional
clothing, they are surrounded by bags full of spices, eggs, woven baskets and fresh vegetables.
The cloths on their backs are filled with fresh bread, fruit and fragrant herbs. The poncho
market merges into the adjacent food market, followed by piles of clothing and all kinds of odds and ends.
In front of blue wooden stalls, small benches and stools line up. Coffee, soups, fried meat, fresh juices – nobody leaves this market hungry.
After a hearty lunch in the nearby town of Cotacachi, where the inhabitants specialise entirely
in the production of various leather goods, we go on a hike around the turquoise-shimmering
crater lagoon of Cuicocha. The crater lake was formed around 3,100 years ago by a massive volcanic
eruption. Along the way, we enjoy picturesque views of the Otavalo Valley and the rocky peaks of the Cotacachi volcano.
Our overnight stay will be at the ****Hacienda Cusin or equivalent in Otavalo (breakfast and lunch included).
Driving time: 1h30min / Hiking time: 2h30min / Elevation gain/loss: 100 m ↑↓
After a leisurely breakfast at the hacienda, today we set out on our first acclimatization mountain
hike – and our first summit experience! At 4,279 m, Fuya Fuya is the highest elevation on the crater
rim of a heavily eroded caldera containing Laguna de Mojanda (3,722 m). The inactive volcanic complex
has a diameter of around 20 km at its base. The mountain originally reached a height of more than 6,000 m.
However, around 200,000 years ago, the mighty volcanic cone was destroyed in two enormous eruptions.
We hike through the typical páramo landscape, following a saddle between the eastern and western
summits to the eastern summit at 4,263 m, from where we enjoy magnificent views of the white glaciers of Cayambe Volcano.
Our overnight stay will be at the ****Hacienda Cusin or equivalent in Otavalo (breakfast and box-lunch included).
Driving time: 3h20min / Hiking time: 3h30min / Elevation gain/loss: 500 m ↑↓
After breakfast at the hacienda, we drive along the Pan-American Highway. We reach the Teleférico before noon,
one of the highest cable cars in South America. We ascend to 3,950 m on the Pichincha massif.
From the “Cruz Loma” viewpoint, we enjoy breathtaking views over Quito and its surrounding 13 volcanoes.
We then hike through a wild páramo landscape to the foot of the active Rucu Pichincha volcano.
Its slightly higher brother, Guagua Pichincha, rises to 4,776 m and is located only five kilometres away.
It last erupted in 1999, covering the city in a massive ashfall that kept all residents confined to their homes for three days.
A fairly steep trail takes us to the highest point at 4,698 m, from where, weather permitting, we can see the snow-capped Cotopaxi.
In the evening, we reach our next beautiful hacienda, located directly beside Cotopaxi National Park,
where we will spend the next five nights. Here too, we enjoy a delicious dinner by the fireplace.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hacienda La Cienega or equivalent in Lasso (breakfast, box-lunch and dinner included).
Driving time: 3h40min / Hiking time: 5h00min / Elevation gain/loss: 800 m ↑↓
Today, we drive along a gravel road to the foot of Pasochoa Volcano. This beautiful and relatively
easy-to-climb mountain does not require any major technical skills or exceptional fitness, making it perfect for acclimatization.
Following the páramo landscape, which is typical of the Andes and already familiar to us,
we ascend towards the old crater, which is now a biologically diverse protected area.
The terrain becomes increasingly rocky, and on a steep scree slope we need to use our hands
to help us climb until we finally reach the summit and enjoy spectacular views of the “Avenue of the Volcanoes.”
With a little luck, this day can also become a very special experience thanks to the Andean
condors that live here. Around 64 condors, Ecuador’s national bird, are estimated to inhabit
the entire region around Cotopaxi National Park and can often be spotted soaring in the distance.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hacienda La Cienega or equivalent in Lasso (breakfast and box-lunch included).
Driving time: 2h30min / Hiking time: 7h00min / Elevation gain/loss: 600 m ↑↓
Corazón (“Heart”) is an extinct and heavily eroded stratovolcano. Its highest point
lies on the former crater rim, which provides the route to the summit. The former
caldera is located on the western side. The mountain is relatively easy to climb
and offers perfect views of Cotopaxi and Illiniza. The distinctive shape of this
isolated, dark rocky massif immediately catches the eye from all the higher points
in the surrounding area. There are no glaciers or permanent snowfields here.
Occasionally, a light layer of snow covers the upper sections of the mountain,
but normally the ascent is entirely over rock. Only a few short and relatively
easy rocky sections need to be negotiated to reach the summit of this alpine-looking
mountain, which rises to a height comparable to that of Mont Blanc.
We ascend along the northern ridge towards the imposing summit. The route
takes us over dark lava rock. The rocky steps are quickly overcome, and only
rarely do we need to use our hands for support. Shortly afterwards, we reach the spacious summit plateau with its beautiful cross.
Above all, the ice-capped volcano Cotopaxi, rising in a perfect cone, captures
our attention whenever it is not once again hidden in the clouds. Even closer is
the double summit of the likewise glacier-covered Illinizas, which also clearly
exceeds 5,000 metres. To the north, the Pichincha rises directly above Quito at a similar altitude.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hacienda La Cienega or equivalent in Lasso (breakfast and box-lunch included).
Driving time: 1h30min / Hiking time: 8h30min / Elevation gain/loss: 1.250 m ↑↓
Today, we have earned ourselves a well-deserved rest day! After breakfast at the hacienda,
we soon reach Quito’s historic old town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Surrounded by the volcanoes Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe, it forms a truly majestic
backdrop. With more than 100 churches and 55 monasteries, historic buildings, streets and squares,
Quito has preserved its colonial charm like no other city in Latin America.
Our tour takes us from Plaza Grande past the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace to La
CompañĂa and the famous El Sagrario. We climb the bell towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional
for magnificent views over the city and watch the lively activity on Plaza Grande and Plaza San Francisco.
To round off the day, we stroll through the colourful Mercado Central, where our mountain guide
introduces us to delicious and exotic fruits to taste.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hacienda La Cienega or equivalent in Lasso (breakfast and lunch included).
Driving time: 2h40min
We set off during the night for the ascent of Illiniza Norte. Until the final section just
below the summit, the climb is technically not particularly difficult. Our vehicles take us
up to the base camp at La Virgen, at 3,960 m. From here, we begin our 2–4-hour hike to Refugio
Nuevo Horizonte, gradually acclimatizing to the altitude.
We continue up to the Ensillada Saddle at 4,770 m before setting off towards the summit of Illiniza Norte.
The route climbs steeply over rocky terrain to a viewpoint from where we enjoy an almost
indescribably impressive panorama of the surrounding volcanoes.
After dividing into rope teams, we continue for around 2–3 hours, negotiating several easy
climbing sections. After a short stretch of block climbing (Grade II; fixed ropes are
installed where necessary), we finally reach the highest point. We have certainly earned ourselves a break!
The view from the summit over the Andean landscape bathed in the early-morning mist is
particularly spectacular. The snow-covered Cotopaxi, our next objective, rises directly opposite us into the sky.
After our summit break, we make a swift descent.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hacienda La Cienega or equivalent in Lasso (breakfast and box-lunch included).
Driving time: 2h30min / Hiking time: 8h40min / Elevation gain/loss: 1.150 m ↑↓
Today, after yesterday’s strenuous day, we take things a little more slowly.
We drive up Cotopaxi Volcano to the parking area below the very basic José Ribas Refuge (4,600 m).
We then ascend to the refuge, where we leave our overnight luggage, before continuing to
the edge of the glacier at approximately 5,000 m.
Depending on the experience level of the participants, everyone receives intensive preparation
for the nighttime summit ascent during a three-hour glacier and crampon training session.
After returning to the mountain refuge, with its shared dormitory rooms, it is time to
go to bed early so that we are well rested for the midnight ascent.
Our overnight stay will be at the Refugio José Ribas in simple shared dormitory rooms (breakfast, box-lunch and dinner included).
Driving time: 1h10min / Hiking time: 3h00min / Elevation gain/loss: 600 m ↑↓
Around midnight, we begin our ascent of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on Earth.
Under normal conditions, the climb is not technically very difficult, but it is long and
strenuous. We ascend over several steeper sections, using ice axes and crampons, passing
to the right of the rocky crater formation that is visible from afar. Along the way, we
frequently have to navigate around crevasses.
Via a final, steeper slope, we reach the crater rim. Here, we are rewarded with a spectacular
view into the volcano’s crater and, above all, with the unique sight of the surrounding
snow-covered volcanic peaks of Cayambe, Antisana, Illiniza and El Altar at sunrise, as
well as our next objective, the 100 km-distant Chimborazo.
As the sun continues to rise, we begin our approximately two-hour descent, first to the
mountain refuge and then onwards to the parking area.
Tired but happy, we leave the national park and continue along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Baños (1,900 m).
The contrast could hardly be greater: it is noticeably warmer and greener down here.
A perfect place to recover from our strenuous mountain climb.
Our overnight stay will be at the ****Hotel Luna Volcan or equivalent in Baños (breakfast and dinner included)
Driving time: 3h10min / Hiking time: 8h30min / Elevation gain/loss: 1.100 m ↑↓
With the wonderful feeling of having conquered the perfectly shaped Cotopaxi summit yesterday,
we wake up today. The small town of Baños nestles in a valley at the foot of the almost
constantly smoking Tungurahua Volcano, surrounded by impressive cliffs and roaring waterfalls,
and enjoys a spring-like climate almost all year round.
After yesterday’s ascent, we can now relax in the thermal baths of Baños, with their hot,
sulphur-rich waters from the springs of Tungurahua Volcano. We also have plenty of time to
explore the town at our leisure and take a walk to the “Puente San Francisco”, a suspension
bridge connecting Baños with the steep slopes of the Vallecito, while the Rio Pastaza winds its way through the valley below.
The hot springs, pleasant climate and relaxed atmosphere make Baños the most popular holiday destination in Ecuador.
Our overnight stay will be at the ****Hotel Luna Volcan or equivalent in Baños (breakfast and dinner included)
A winding road takes us through a picturesque landscape, along deep gorges and across a
beautiful high plateau to the starting point of our Chimborazo ascent. Our driver
takes us up to the first refuge (approx. 4,800 m), from where we ascend for about one hour,
carrying only the luggage we need, to the Whymper Refuge at an altitude of 5,000 m.
We spend the night here in simple shared dormitory rooms.
Our overnight stay will be at Whymer Refuge in simple shared dormitory rooms (breakfast, box-lunch and dinner included).
Driving time: 2h20min / Hiking time: 1h00min / Elevation gain/loss: 200 m ↑↓
The mountaineering highlight of our journey now awaits: the ascent of Chimborazo, an extinct
volcano with numerous individual craters and five summits. The climb requires high-altitude
mountaineering experience and sure-footedness. Alexander von Humboldt considered it the
highest mountain in the world, although he himself failed in his attempt to climb the volcano.
Around midnight, we set off for the summit. The exact ascent route is determined by our
mountain guides the evening before, depending on the current mountain and snow conditions.
We initially ascend over scree and rubble slopes to the beginning of the glacier.
From there, equipped with crampons, we continue along the left side of the mighty
Thielmann Glacier on a very strenuous ascent lasting approximately 7–8 hours, depending on conditions, to the highest point in Ecuador.
From the summit, we enjoy magnificent views, with the city of Riobamba lying far below us.
The descent to the Whymper Refuge takes approximately 4–5 hours. After successfully
completing the ascent, we drive back to Quito.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Ikala or equivalent in Quito (breakfast and box-lunch included).
Driving time: 5h20min / Hiking time: 13h00min / Elevation gain/loss: 1.510 m ↑↓
If we successfully completed our ascent of Chimborazo yesterday, today we have a
leisurely day at our disposal to enjoy Quito.
If the ascent of Chimborazo was not possible on Day 13, today offers another
opportunity to reach the summit. Around midnight, we set off again, hopefully in
good weather conditions, and return to the refuge around midday. After a shared meal,
we drive back to Quito in the course of the afternoon of Day 14.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Ikala or equivalent in Quito (breakfast and dinner included).
The morning in Quito is free at leisure before we head back to Quito Airport.
It is time to say goodbye to a beautiful country, its impressive volcanoes and a
journey that will stay with us for a long time to come.
(breakfast included).
Driving time: 0h50min