Ecuador Volcanoes

Overview

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Ascents of the equatorial summits of Illiniza, Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo

Introduction

This is a mountaineering expedition to Ecuador, with the aim of climbing the highest volcanoes in the country; Chimborazo (6,310) after acclimatising on Cayambe (5,790m) and Cotopaxi (5,897m). Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador and the highest point from the centre of the earth (due to the Equatorial 'bulge') and Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world. The mountains of Ecuador are easily accessible and mountain huts provide convenient accommodation at the foot of each climb. Between climbs, you'll stay in comfortable traditional haciendas.

Join us on Ecuador Volcanoes

• Guided ascents using English-speaking UIAGM-qualified Mountain Guides.
• Departures scheduled for the optimum time to climb Chimborazo.
• Stay in wonderful haciendas with great food in-between the climbs.

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Experience Required

This is an expedition for mountaineers operating at Alpine PD+ or Scottish Grade II. If you have limited mountaineering experience and would like to climb in Ecuador, we recommend our shorter Cotopaxi trip.
Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good skills preparation for an expedition.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Fri 19 Jun – Sun 5 Jul 2026	UK	Quito	Available Book now »
	£4,795	£3,495
Fri 6 Nov – Sun 22 Nov 2026	UK	Quito	Available Book now »
	£4,795	£3,495

This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
Click to Change currency for prices on this site.

Group size: 2 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £500

For comparison, this expedition starts from £206 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Ecuador on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless otherwise specified.)
• UK Air Passenger Duty (excluded if joining land-only and you make your own international flight arrangements).
• 2 group road transfers between Airport and hotel, connecting with flights (excluded if joining land-only).
• 4 nights' hotel accommodation (3 star) in Quito, on a bed and breakfast basis.
• 6 nights' hacienda accommodation, on a full-board basis.
• 4 nights' mountain hut accommodation, on a full-board basis.
• 1 nights' accommodation in tents on a full-board basis.
• All road transport by private vehicles.
• All costs for Ecuadorian UIAGM guides and local helpers.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Extraneous hotel bills (e.g. bar and laundry).
• Lunch and evening meals in Quito.
• Additional hotel nights in Quito, if the programme is changed.
• Travel Insurance.
• Optional trips.
• Tips.

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. Depending on your mountaineering experience, you may want a Jagged Globe leader or go ‘self-led’ with the assistance of local guides. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable, particularly if you take the self-led option. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Typical Itinerary

Day 1:	Fly to Quito Flights from London arrive late the same day. Quito is at an altitude of 2,850m.
Day 2:	Acclimatisation & City Tour
Day 3:	Ascent of Pasochoa (4,200m) You'll set off at 7.30am and begin the 1hr30 drive to the foot of the peak. The grassy trails winding to its summit are reminiscent of the Peak District, apart from the common swirling mists, which can bring the sulphurous smell of simmering lava from below! From the summit you may see condors - Pasochoa is one of the few volcanoes where these huge birds glide. Return to Quito for the night.
Day 4:	Walk to Guagua Pichincha (4,787m) The "Pichinchas" hang over the western side of Quito. Again, you'll set off at 7.30am and drive 1hr20 to the end of the trail at 3,750 metres. Being 600 metres higher than Pasochoa, you'll be pushing above the line of vegetation today, so expect the trail to be rocky and dusty, if it is dry. After 2 hours of steady walking, we reach a hut at 4,550m and have a break. About an hour beyond the hut, you'll reach a small rocky outcrop that is the top of the mountain. You can expect to be on top at about 12:30. There are grand views over the other Pichinchas and Quito. After the hike you'll drive to Illiniza and spend the night in a hacienda at 3,600m.
Day 5:	Iliniza Norte Summit Day (5,126m) After a 5am breakfast, it's a very short drive to La Virgen from where you'll trek for 2.5 hours to reach the halfway refuge. The next three hours is fantastic - scrambling up crenulated slabs and along castellated ridges. Where it's narrow the rock is sound and the holds big. The scrambling is never too difficult but you'll rope up in places. After the first hour on the ridge, you'll traverse the head of some steep amphitheatres. Then you'll climb open corners and up short steep steps, over rocks of red, yellow and orange sandstones and volcanic pumices. You'll summit around midday and will descend to the hacienda at 3,600m.
Day 6:	Drive to Yanacocha Refuge (3,800m) Today it's time to move into position ready for the next mountain, Cayambe. Overnight at Yanacocha Refuge.
Day 7:	Cayambe, walk to the refuge (4,600m) You'll set off at 9am for a two hr drive up the mountain. It's then too hazardous to take passengers so you'll walk to the refuge from here, while the bags continue up in the car. After soup, tea and a picnic you'll walk up to the start of the glacier (4,930m) to aid acclimatisation and perhaps practice crampon skills.
Day 8:	Training and acclimatisation on Cayambe Glacier Cayambe is the only glacier in the world which straddles the Equator, giving the rare experience of zero degrees centigrade at zero degrees latitude. Because of its easterly position and proximity to the Amazon basin, Cayambe receives heavy precipitation and has an impressive ice cap. Its gentle slopes are a good place to practice basic glacier skills, crampon and ice axe techniques. You'll return to the hut by mid-afternoon, and prepare for the big climb by having a good dinner!
Day 9:	Climb Cayambe (5,790m) You'll leave around midnight and crampon and rope up at the edge of the glacier. The slope steadily steepens and, as dawn approaches, the summit dome becomes silhouetted against the brightening sky. Before the sun breaches the skyline, you'll be tantalisingly close to your goal. Below the summit is a mini-ice garden, with crevasses and ice sculptures to wander through. Then there's a final 30m of 40-degree ice - the guide will belay you up and you'll soon be atop the third highest point in Ecuador. You'll see Illiniza, Cotopaxi, and the perpetually smoking Tungurahua. Then you'll descend to Otavalo and sleep between fresh sheets in a local hacienda (2,850m).
Day 10:	Rest day - visit Otavalo
Day 11:	Ascent to Cotopaxi hut (4,800m) Travel into the National Park today. Ascend 800m to the hut.
Day 12:	Climb Cotopaxi (5,897m) Leave at 1am for the climb to Cotopaxi's crater and summit. You’ll rope up to protect the team from hidden crevasses and steeper sections. The crater rim is ice encrusted - Cotopaxi's crater is a spectacular feature and the mix of ice and steam vents make an unusual combination. Descend and drive to Banos.
Day 13:	Rest day - Visit the hot springs of Banos
Day 14:	Drive to Chimborazo and trek to Western Ridge Camp (5,350m)
Day 15:	Summit Chimborazo (6,310m) We start the climb at about midnight following the western ridge at first before accessing the glacier. This variant to the normal Castle Ridge route, free from rock fall, makes it a much safer line to the top. From Western Ridge Camp it normally takes six hours to get to the Whymper summit, from where you will enjoy one of the most impressive views in Ecuador. The descent takes two hours to the camp. After returning to the camp, you rest, pack and descend to Plaza Roja, and drive back to Quito. Overnight hotel.
Day 16 - 17:	Fly home

PLEASE NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

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Reports & Reviews

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “

  The in-country service overall was superb, accommodation, food, road transport etc. were all excellent. Ecuador has to be one of the easiest and most comfortable countries to travel in.  My guide, Jose, was first class in every respect and I really appreciated the personal attention to detail by Javier and the local team. The itinerary worked perfectly for me, ideal acclimatisation and adequate rest days before each major summit. Having been to Ecuador before and having already climbed Cotopaxi, the alternative itinerary including Antisana was a major factor in my decision to book this particular trip. We were lucky to have perfect weather conditions throughout and managed to summit every volcano on the agenda, including Cayambe, Antisana and Chimborazo. One of the best trips I've ever done - couldn’t be happier.

  ” Ecuador Volcanoes - January 2024