El Corazon Volcano 1-day hiking ascent in Ecuador
Join Pablo, an IFMGA certified guide, in this hike to El Corazon Volcano, in the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador.
Private
Andes
1 Day
All year
High
Beginner
Highlights
* Take an easy ascent in the Ecuadorian Andes.
* Go through a beautiful natural area full of vegetation.
* Contemplate fantastic views of the surrounding peaks.
* Extend the program and reach the Illiniza Base Camp.
Description
I want to invite you to hike up to El Corazon Volcano (4,788 m), in the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador. Join me and let's climb up together to this extinct volcano, 40 kilometres southwest of Quito.
The name of the mountain, El Corazon, means "heart" in Spanish. Many think that the volcano got its name because of the heart-like peak. However, others claim it is because of the two gullies with a heart shape.
I think this program is a perfect acclimatization climb for travelers that have just arrived to Ecuador. Also, its ascent only requires an easy scrambling and climbing towards the summit. It's a beginner level program.
We will meet in Quito and drive to the base of El Corazon Volcano. Then, we will begin our climb. I will guide you in this hike through the beautiful paramo tall grass vegetation. It will take us from 3 to 4 hours.
Once at the top, we will have lunch and enjoy the amazing views. We will see peaks like Rumiñahui, Cotopaxi and the South and North peaks of Iliniza. Then we will hike down for 3 hours. You can check the detailed program below this text.
If you want to extend this program, you can do it in 2 days. There is an optional extension that will take you to the Iliniza basecamp. Then, we will climb up to the Iliniza peaks.
So contact me and let's start planning our climb to El Corazon Volcano! I will be happy to help you! I also offer another program for beginners: a 2-day climb to Cotacachi Volcano. Check it out!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito - El Corazon
We will leave Quito early in the morning, and drive southwest to the base of the mountain. We will start our climb here. It will take us 3 to 4 hours. Once at the top, we will enjoy lunch and the stunning views of the Ecuador landscape. Then we will begin a 3 hour descent, and then drive back to Quito.
Day 2: Iliniza Extension
We will hike along the ridge between El Corazon and Iliniza. Then, we will climb up to La Virgen (3900 m). We will camp at the base camp of Iliniza.
Day 3: Iliniza - Ascent
We will start the five-hour ascent at 6:00 am. We will hike up to the saddle where we will meet the trail that follows the ridge up to the summit. From there, we will enjoy spectacular views. We will then begin our 3-hour descent. Then, we will drive back to Quito.
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
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