Itinerary: 

DAY 1

Your certified guide will pick you up from your hotel in Quito at 4:15 a.m. You continue through the Pan-American Highway until you pass the village of Machachi. In the bridge over the Jambelí River you turn right on the direction to “El Chaupi”, which is the entrance to the Ecological Reserve Los Ilinizas. At 6:00 a.m. you will arrive to the parking lot known as “La Virgen”, located at 3.700 meters above sea level (12,139 ft); there you will have a briefing about how to work with your team, then you start our ascension towards the Refuge “Nuevos Horizontes” (4.700 m - 15,419 ft). During the two-hour hike you will pass through páramo vegetation, pristine forests, and sandy steep slopes! At 8:30 a.m., once at the refuge, you will take our equipment and we will organize the teams for the ascension to the South Iliniza (5.300 m - 17,388 ft). Box Lunch. Approximately around 4:00 p.m. you will check in at a local lodge of the region, where you will have dinner and immediately you will go to sleep, to recover your energy!!

 
DAY 2

Breakfast. At 9:00 a.m. we depart towards Cotopaxi National Park, the second most popular adventure destination in Ecuador!! Then at 10:30 a.m. you will begin from the parking lot (4.500 m - 14,763 ft) the ascension to the Refuge “José Rivas” (4.820 m - 15,813 ft). Box Lunch. You'll hike up until 5.000 meters approximately to do the course known as “glacier school”, where you will learn all about the techniques to know how to handle our own equipment, and how to behave while we are sharing the rope! Around 4:00 p.m. you will go down to Tambopaxi (3.800 m - 12,467 ft) to rest and to have an early dinner.

 
DAY 3

Breakfast. You have all morning to recover energy and relax. You will do a short hike to “El Manantial” that will take maximum one hour. Then you'll have lunch between 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in order to have a nap. At 9:00 p.m. you will have some fruit, bread, tea or coffee. At 10:00 p.m. you will drive up to the parking lot again. At 11:00 p.m. you hike up to the refuge. At 11:55 p.m. you start your ascension towards the Summit of Cotopaxi Volcano, considered the second highest mountain of Ecuador, and also the second highest active volcano of the world!!

 
DAY 4

At  6:00 a.m. you'll arrive to the volcano´s summit (5.897 meters above sea level – 19,980 feet), then you will have time to rest and recover your breath, and of course, to enjoy the privilege of being in one of the most wonderful corners of the world! You start the way down back to the refuge and then to the parking lot. You will have breakfast around 11:00 a.m., so doing this last activity, your unique and unforgettable experience will be finished. Just few people in the world have had the privilege to reach this achievement!!

RECOMMENDED DAYS: Any day of the week. 

Include:

• Private Transportation
• 1 Mountain climbing guide per every 2 passengers
• Mentioned lodging or similar in dormitories (depending on availability)
• Lodging in mountain refuges
• Technical equipment: boots, crampons, pickaxes, mittens, harness and helmet
• Meals: 3 breakfast, 3 Box Lunch, 1 lunch and 2 dinner
• Entrance fees 

Exclude:

• Additional drinks
• Additional meals
• Additional hotel nights
• Snacks
• Extra expenses
• Clothing or climbing equipment
• Life insurance
• Personal equipment: sleeping bag, backpack, waterproof jacket and trouser, headlight, batteries, warm clothing

Level de Difficulty: 

• Challenging

Recommendations:

Important outfits: Camera, sunscreen lotion, cap or hat, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, backpack, comfortable hiking shoes, T-shirts, long sleeves shirts, long trousers, windbreaker and waterproof jacket, passport, clothing or climbing equipment, life insurance, personal equip: sleeping bag, backpack, waterproof trousers, headlight, batteries, warm clothing and some cash (US dollars) for snacks, drinks or extra expenses.

Tour average temperature: -8 C° - 18 C°  /  17,6 F° - 64,4 F°

Insurance: It is responsibility of every traveler that he/she is adequately insured against personal accidents and medical expenses during his/her trip to Ecuador, as well as having travel cancellation and baggage insurance to protect himself/herself.

Tour booking policy: Our tours are based on private transportation and guiding services. - All tour prices are given in US dollars. - All services should be fully prepaid before starting the tour. - Bookings must be done through www.ecuadorbesttours.com, or by paying directly at our offices. - For last minute bookings, our clients must request availability via phone call or email. After confirming availability, bookings must be fully prepaid before starting the tour. - Especial physical conditions, allergies and dietary restrictions must be informed to a EBT's representative in advance. - Our tours will be guided in fluent English or Spanish languages, as it is required. - EBT shall have no liability with passengers in case of accidents or sickness. Therefore, EBT deeply recommends a private travel insurance. - EBT reserves the right to cancel or suspend tours depending on weather conditions, natural disasters, government regulations, suspicious diseases, etc. Always regarding for the safety of the passengers. - Under no circumstances, EBT will refund any money on the same day that the tour takes place. - Cancellations must be done 5 days previous departure day. - Flights cancellations, or last minute flight changes are totally out of control or responsibility of EBT. - This tour is recommended for people older than 19 years old. - EBT never offers any refund if a cancellation happens within 5 days before tours departure date. - EBT always offers a 60% refund of the total amount if the client decides to cancel a tour 6 days or more, before tours departure date.