Chimborazo climb with preparation in Cayambe and Illiniza

ASEGUIM certified guide Fernando and/or someone from his amazing team of guides will show you the way on the 6 days that it will take you to climb Cayambe and Illiniza North to then go for the summit of the amazing Chimborazo.

6 Days

Jan, Jun - Aug, Dec

Very high

Advanced

Description

Did you know that the Chimborazo is actually the highest mountain in the world? If you measure it from the centre of the earth, Chimborazo is even higher than Mt. Everest! So, if you want to reach the top of the world, you'll need to be well acclimatized.

My proposal for this 6-day trip is to climb two important Ecuadorian summits before attempting Chimborazo. This is a special program for beginner and intermediate climbers who need to prepare both mentally and physically before going for the big prize.

We will start by ascending two other well-known volcanoes: the Illiniza Norte (5126 m) and the Cayambe (5790 m). The approach to the top of Illiniza Norte requires about 3 hours of fairly easy scrambling. From the summit, we'll be able to look out onto other beautiful volcanoes in the distance.

Next, we'll climb Cayambe. The trek to its summit will be 6-7 hours long from the mountain hut. Cayambe is Ecuador's 3rd highest mountain and the highest peak in the world. The equator passes right through it. We'll hike on glacial terrain and marvel at the beauty of the icy peaks.

After summiting Illiniza and Cayambe, we'll be ready to climb the stunning Chimborazo. We will first spend a day resting and enjoying the town Baños de Agua Santa. In Baños, you'll also have the opportunity to go on short hikes or take part in other optional outdoor activities like zip-lining and bungee jumping.

Finally, the exciting day will be upon us. Our climb to the Chimborazo summit will take 8-9 hours and we'll arrive just in time to enjoy a gorgeous morning on top of the volcano. It will be a truly unforgettable experience. Remember that the summit is at 6268 meters, a challenging altitude that requires a good physical level and proper acclimatization.

So, don't hesitate to contact me and book this trip if you want to be part of this amazing adventure adventure. Send your request now! I'll be glad to be your guide.

And if you don't have time for all 3 peaks or you're taking your first steps in mountaineering, I also lead an interesting 2-day hike around the Chimborazo that I'm sure you'll love!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back
Luggage transfer

Price details

Use of group equipment such as crampons, ice axe, helmet, and harness are included in the price of the trip.
All meals during hikes and climbs are included, but not meals in the cities.

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito (2800 m) to Illiniza Norte (5126 m)

On the first day, we will leave Quito at 7:00 am and drive on the highway called “the Avenue of the Volcanoes” to the village El Chaupi. From there, we will head to the parking lot at the base of the Illinizas volcano. We will park and start our hike up to the Nuevos Horizontes Refuge. This will take about 3 hours. We’ll relax at the refuge for 15 minutes then continue hiking up to the saddle between Illiniza Norte and Illiniza Sur. We will head towards Illiniza Norte and scramble up for 3 hours. Once at the summit, we will admire the beautiful surroundings and then head back down. The roundtrip hike will take about 7 hours. We will spend the night at the Andes Alps hostel.

Day 2: El Chaupi (3300 m) to Cayambe Refuge (4600 m)

We will drive from El Chaupi for about 3.5 hours to the Ruales Oleas Cayambe Refuge. There we will rest and eat dinner, and then go to sleep to prepare for an early start the next day.

Day 3: Cayambe Refuge to Cayambe Summit (5790 m) to Quito

We will get up at midnight to have breakfast and put on our gear. We’ll start hiking at around 1 am. The full ascent takes about 6-7 hours. Though the route to the top follows a safe glacier terrain, there is a gaping bergschrund that sometimes presents a challenge. We will arrive at the summit (5790 m), take pictures and admire the views, and then head back for 2-3 hours to the refuge. We’ll rest at the refuge and get ready to head back to Quito.

Day 4: Quito to Baños (1800 m) FREE DAY

From Quito, we’ll drive south to the town Baños de Agua Santa. This day does not have planned activities but you can choose from the variety of activities the town has to offer, including waterfall hiking, cloud forest hikes, rafting, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and horseback riding. We’ll spend the night at a hotel in Baños.

Day 5: Baños to Hermanos Carrel Refuge Chimborazo (5000 m)

You can spend the first half of this day continuing to enjoy Baños. Then we will drive to the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve entrance and then to the Hermanos Carrel Refuge at 4800 m. There we will have dinner and rest until 11:00 pm. Just before we get ready with our gear to start climbing, a light breakfast will be served.

Day 6: Chimborazo Summit (6,268 m) to Quito

At midnight we’ll start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest mountain. It will take us 8-9 hours. We’ll get to the summit (6268 m) in the early hours of the day, which is the perfect time to rest and take pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Then we’ll start our descent to the refuge, which will take 3-4 hours. Once at the refuge we’ll pack our gear and drive back to Quito.

Details

More info

In Ecuador you can climb year-round, but the seasons are generally as follows:

High Season: June to August / December to January Low season: February to May / September to November

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Meeting point

Quito

FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Mansion Alcazar Cuenca Ecuador

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Hotel Santa Monica Cuenca Ecuador

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Hotel Carvallo Cuenca Ecuador

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About the guide

Fernando

4.5

(24)

Mountain Leader

ASEGUIM Guide from Ecuador.

I was born and raised in Cotopaxi Province – Ecuador and know the country’s peaks intimately. I have great mountaineering experience of more than 12 years of climbing in all Ecuador, and I also climbed in South America, Switzerland, and France.

I worked for the Nuevos Horizontes refuge on Ilinizas Volcano from a young age and have professional Guide Training, and I am officially Licensed as a Nature guide organized by the Ministry of tourism.

Some of the guiding courses I attended are:

* Mountain Guides Course by ASEGUIM (Ecuadorian Association of Mountain Guides),
* Mountain Guides Evaluation by ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme) in October 2006. An event organized by the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador and ENSA of France
* Pre-Course UIAGM an event organized by ASEGUIM and ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme)
* First Aids course, Ecuadorian Red Cross

I live and manage a hostel and lodge in El Chaupi, a beautiful mountain village an hour south of Quito, just in between Illinizas Ecological Reserve and Cotopaxi National Park. It looks like a typical Swiss town in the Alps, and has everything to become a great mountaineering center, the ‘Chamonix or Zermatt of South America’!

I speak fluent Spanish, English, and little German, French, Hebrew, and Quichua.

The guiding team I lead is committed and experienced. Contact me to help you organize an unforgettable adventure.

Languages

German | French | English

Certificates

ASEGUIM

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What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

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