2-day climbing trip to the Cayambe Volcano summit (Ecuador)

Cayambe Volcano in the Central Range of North Ecuador is the third highest volcano in the country. What’s more, it is the highest mountain of the Andes above the Ecuadorian line.

According to surveying of the Ecuadorian Geo-Institute, Cayambe has an altitude of 5-790 meters approximately. On its western foot is the city of Cayambe. Its name is, off course, due to the volcano.

Cayambe Volcano is the secret of many mountaineers in Ecuador because it is less famous than Cotopaxi but offers an equally beautiful ascent by a much less traveled route.

In the words of Humboldt after his visit to Ecuador:

“This mountain can be considered as one of the monument through which nature has made a big difference on Earth”

Cayambe is a result of to the rests of an antique volcano and nowadays you can smell some gas emanating from it. It is located 20 km far from the city and its summit is just 3 km north of the Line of Ecuador.

The Cayambe is part of the Central Northern mountain range (know as well as Real Range or Cordillera Real) and it includes other important snow-capped peaks such as the Cotopaxi. From the hut, you can admire and easily access the “Glaciar Hermoso”, an ideal place to practice some mountaineering activities.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: Quito – Cayambe Hut (4.600m)

From Quito we will drive north to the city of Cayambe and then, we’ll change the direction to the west. Depending on the route conditions we will get to Ruales Oleas Berge Hut after 3 hours.

By the afternoon, we will have a talk and some training in a nearby glacier. There I will teach you the basic use of equipment and some crampons and ropes techniques. The rest of the day is for having a rest till the dinner time. Overnight in the hut.

DAY 2: Hut- Cayambe Summit (5.790m) – Quito

We will get up at midnight and in 1 hour we have to breakfast and prepare the equipment to leave towards the summit.  The climb will take us about 6-8 hours. This ascent is more a height challenge than a technical one.

Most of the climb is a glacier walk on slopes of 30° to 40° with few sections exceeding 50°. If the weather allows, we have time to admire the surrounded mountains for a while. The return to the hut will take 2 or 3 hours. We will rest a bit, eat and drink something, pack our stuff and continue to Quito. End of our services. 

What to bring with you:

Small backpack, hiking shoes (better if waterproof), thermal pants, waterproof pants, long sleeve thermal shirt, an extra long sleeve thermal shirt, one fleece or polar, a windbreaker jacket, gloves, a cap, a buff, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle and… A lot of energy!

So, are you ready to climb Cayambe? Then contact us today and we will plan an amazing adventure!