El Altar Volcano 2-day climbing trip in Ecuador
Climb up to the summit of El Altar Volcano, in the Ecuadorian Andes. Pablo, an IFMGA certified guide, will take you up there in this challenging climb.
Andes
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
Pablo
Mountain Guide
UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide from Ecuador.
I fell in love with the mountains at a young age while climbing Ecuador’s volcanoes with my father. I guided in the Andes for 8 years and have been guiding for the past four years in the Northwest United States. In 1997 I expanded his adventure skills by taking on rock climbing. I represented Chimborazo province three times as the Ecuadorian National Rock Climbing Champion.
I completed his UIAGM certification with the Bolivian Mountain & Trekking Guide Association, accredited by the National School of Ski and Alpinism of Chamonix (ENSA), and completed Advanced Alpine and Rock Guides Courses with American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA).
I usually spend some months every year in Ecuador (from October to January, but it varies every year). The rest of the year I am based and guide in Europe.
Languages
English
Certificates
ASEGUIM
What people are saying about Explore-Share
Man
5
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
5
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
5
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
5
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
5
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
Read all our verified reviews
You may also like
Join our newsletter!
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.