El Altar Volcano 2-day climbing trip in Ecuador
Climb up to the summit of El Altar Volcano, in the Ecuadorian Andes. E-S Latam Adventure Guides, will take you up there in this challenging climb.
3 Days
Jan, Feb, Jun - Aug, Nov, Dec
Description
Join me in this challenging 3-day climbing tour to El Altar (5320 m) in Ecuador! This extinct volcano is the fifth highest mountain in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Climbing its summit involves some technical climbing. So, if you are an experienced mountaineer, join me and let's spend 3 great days! We will enjoy a spectacular view of the crater below. Also, the sights of Chimborazo an Sangay in the background.
El Altar lies in the western side of the Sangay National Park, 170 km south of Quito. The peak of this volcano was higher than Chimborazo (6268 m), but after an eruption all that remains is a long ridge with nine summits around a huge crater lake.
Each of the nine individual peaks have a different name. The highest one is Obispo (5320 m), at the southern end of the crater. And we will get to its summit on the second day!
Its name in quechua language is Capac Urcu, meaning the almighty or magnificent mountain. Spaniards named it El Altar because it looked like four friars and two nuns listening to a bishop around an altar.
Climbing this beautiful mountain, requires a certain degree of technical ability. Even more, it is one of the hardest climbs in Ecuador.
We will meet in the city of Riobamba, where we will start our trip. You can check the detailed itinerary below this text.
Contact me if you want to join me in this exciting climb to El Altar! I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this trip. You can also check my Chimborazo guided ascent program!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Itinerary
Day 1: Riobamba-Boca Toma-Italian Camp
Today we will leave Riobamba at 8 am. We will drive an hour and a half to the small village of Boca Toma (3,500 m). Once here, we will load the equipment on the mules and start the 6 to 7 hour hike through the highlands to the Italian Camp (4,550 m).
Day 2: Obispo Summit
At 3:00 am we will begin our ascent to the Obispo summit (5,320 m). It will take us approximately 12 hours for the complete round trip.
Day 3: Boca Toma-Riobamba
At 9:00 am we will begin the hike back to Boca Toma. Then we will return to Riobamba. End of the trip.
Details
More info
Contact me for information about the price and equipment.
Meeting point
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
E-S Latam Adventure Guides
5.0
(10)
Mountain Guide
Tomás and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides, leaders and rock climbing instructors (Alvaro, Juliana, Merlin, Rodrigo, Armin, Alfredo, and Camila) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Latin America.
Whether you wish to climb some of the most stunning mountains in the Andes or discover the vibrant peaks of Central America, among other amazing options, you will find yourself in good hands with this lively team of professional local guides that will not only show you the top spots in Latin America for outdoor adventures but also, bring you closer to the colorful local cultures of the places that you visit with them.
Tomás will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.
Pick one of the E-S Latam Adventure Guides' programs and start planning an unforgettable experience in the beautiful mountains of Latin America!
Languages
French | English
Certificates
AAGM | IFMGA
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.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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