Climbing Cotopaxi, (3 Days)

 
Day 1. Quito - Rumiñahui Base (14,108ft/4.300m).
Base del Rumiñahui (4.300m)

We’ll leave from Quito (9,186ft/2.800m) early in the morning and will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until getting to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From this point it will take us only 30 more minutes to get to the camping place Limpiopungo (12,139ft/3.700m), where we’ll leave our stuff and start our hike to the base of Rumiñahui Mountain (14,108ft/4.300m). We’ll have lunch during the hike and before heading back to the camp site. Round trip time, 6 hours. Dinner will be served by late afternoon. Overnight in tents. (BL/D)

Day 2. Camping Place (12,139ft/3.700m) - Cotopaxi Refuge (15,748ft/4.800m)
Refugio Cotopaxi (4.800m)
After having breakfast, we’ll pack the necessary things for the two-day Cotopaxi climb; the rest of the stuff will be left at the camping place. It’ll take us half hour driving to get to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4.500m), and then we’ll hike up for another hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge (15,748 ft/4.800m). In the afternoon we’ll head up to the glacier for ice practices and training. We’ll learn some basic techniques which will include how to handle climbing equipment (crampons, ice axe, rope, etc). We’ll go back to the Refuge for dinner and rest. (B/BL/D)

 

Day 3. Refuge - Cotopaxi Summit (19,347ft/5.897m) - Quito
Cotopaxi (5.897m)

Midnight will be our wake up time and the departure to the top (19,347ft/5.897m) will be around 01h00, not before having a light breakfast and get our stuff ready for the ascent which will take us about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit we’ll take our time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings, and then we’ll head down back to the refuge, which it will take us 2 to 3 hours.
Once at the refuge will pack our belongings, have lunch and go down to the parking lot where our transportation will be ready to take us to Quito (9,186ft/2.800m). (B/BL)

The price includes:
  • Private transportation to the whole tour
  • Professional ASEGUIM mountain guide (ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)     
  • Meals on the mountain as mentioned above (B: Breakfast; BL: Box Lunch; D: Dinner)
  • Accommodation in José Ribas hut
  • All the camping gear
  • Cotopaxi National Park Entrance fee
The price does not include:
  • Mountain equipment (double plastic boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, sleeping bags, mittens, sun glasses, head lamp, etc)
  • Extra drinks in the hut
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
Price:

1 Person: US$ 530.-
2 or more people: US$ 345 per Person