one day climbing tours
- FUYA FUYA
- ESTIMATED TIME: 4 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.290 m / 14.074 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3.730 m /12.237 ft)
Fuya Fuya, with a maximum elevation of 4.290 m / 14.074 ft, is the tallest in the Mojanda chain and is located only 15 km / 9 mi from Otavalo. In order to summit, one must pass a short, yet steep, sandy section of the trail, and continue through winding segments of rocky traverses from where one can enjoy an incomparable view of the mountain chain and its lagoons.
- PASOCHOA VOLCANO NORTHEASTERN ROUTE
- ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.200 m / 13.779 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3,300 m /10.826 ft)
Pasochoa is an old volcano whose horseshoe-shaped kettle environment is home to hundreds of species within the remaining Andean forests, which are close-lying to Quito. We will travel to an altitude of 3.150 m / 10.334 ft. by means of the northeastern flank of Pasochoa from where we will take a less-demanding route to the summit. The descent route is a traverse through the northeastern mountain moor until it ends by directing us towards the rocky terrain of the tallest summit, located at 4.200 m / 13.779 ft.
- PASOCHOA VOLCANO ANDEAN FOREST ROUTE
- ESTIMATED TIME: 10 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.200 m / 13.779 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (2.800 m / 9.186 ft)
Pasochoa is an old volcano whose multiple summits form a horseshoe because of the million-year-old collapsed cauldron. We will travel to the Pasochoa Protector Forest entrance to begin hiking. The first section traverses through one of the remaining Andean forests, close-lying to Quito, and is home to hundreds of various species. After, we will continue through the moor to the rock that will start to appear. The ascension route is a traverse across the northeastern flank to the highest summit located at 4.200 m / 13.779 ft.
- RUCU PICHINCHA
- ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low-Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.712 m /15.459 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (4.000 m /13.123 ft)
Ruco Pichincha is without a doubt the most important, closest-lying mountain to Quito. Its name in Castilian means “old” which refers to it being the first rocky crater of the Pichinchas, as well as the oldest summit. We will ascend in the teleférico (gondola) to 4.000 m / 13.123 ft. where we will begin hiking through the moor until arriving to the sandpits that come before the final ascent to the summit, we will finish by crossing small, yet easy sections of rock.
- GUAGUA PICHINCHA VOLCANO
- ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low-Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.790 m / 15.715 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (4.000 m / 13.123 ft)
Guagua Pichincha with a height of 4.790 m / 15.715 ft, is the highest elevation of the Pichincha masive, the closest-lying mountain to Quito. Its name in Castilian means “baby” because it is the youngest crater of the Pichincha volcano. The hike start at 4.000 m / 13.123 ft, going by a steep moor section, then you will pass through a small chuquiragua (andean flower) forest before you get the refuge at 4.540 m / 14.895 ft. Finally you reach the crater ridge to continue to the main summit.
- CENTRAL RUMIÑAHUI VOLCANO
- ESTIMATED TIME: 7 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low-Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low-Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.630 m / 15.190 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3.900 m / 12.795 ft)
Rumiñahui is an active volcano inside of Cotopaxi National Park. This rocky mass, whose Quichua name means “Rocky Face,” has three main summits; the tallest being the north with an elevation of 4.722 m. / 15.492 ft. On this occasion, we will ascend from Limpiopungo Lake towards the central summit of 4.630 m / 15.190 ft. which is surrounded by beautiful scenic views of mountains and great expansions of moor.
- NORTHERN RUMIÑAHUI VOLCANO
- ESTIMATED TIME: 8 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL:Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.722 m / 15.492 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3.900 m / 12.795 ft)
Rumiñahui is an active volcano inside of Cotopaxi National Park. This rocky mass, whose Quichua name means “Rocky Face,” has three main summits; the tallest being the north with an elevation of 4.722 m / 15.492 ft. We will begin our ascent from Limpiopungo Lake towards the tallest summit where we will have to rappel down on fixed rope to descend. It is a unique opportunity to be able to experience the main attractions of Cotopaxi National Park.
- PUNTAS
- ESTIMATED TIME: 8 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low-Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low-Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.460 m / 14.632 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3,140 m / 10.301 ft)
Puntas Mountain is found within a less-frequented zone in the western Andean Mountain Range on the border of the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve. This unique mountain has various beautiful summits, whose tallest peak reaches heights of 4.460 m / 14.632 ft. We will travel for approximately 2 hours to the Checa Hacienda from where we will begin hiking through the moor to the base of the rock wall, where we will climb 20 m / 66 ft. to reach the summit.
- CORAZON VOLCANO
- ESTIMATED TIME: 9 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low-Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.780 m / 15.682 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3.100 m / 10.170 ft)
This 4.780 m / 15.682 ft inactive volcano is located inside of the Illinizas Ecological Reserve in the western Andes Mountain Chain. We will travel towards the hacienda, a few minutes from Aloasí, which is a small town at the feet of the mountain and the point from where we will begin the ascent. In the beginning, the route traverses through the expansive and pillow-like prairie moor, after which we must pass a windy section of rock to reach the summit.
- PICHINCHAS PEAKS
- ESTIMATED TIME: 9 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Average-High / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Low-Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (4.790 m / 15.715 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (4.000 m / 13.123 ft)
Pichincha masive is formed for three main elevatios, Guagua Pichincha, Ruco Pichincha and Padre Encantado. This route crosses all of the peaks begining with an ascent to the Guagua Pichincha summit from where you will be able to observe its crater and geysers, and continues descending alongside of the Padre Encantado to the final part, which is to climb Ruco Pichincha by means of the best face. Finally, we will descend to Cruz Loma and take a ride in the Teleférico (góndola).
- NORTHERN ILLINIZA
- ESTIMATED TIME: 9 hours
- PHYSICAL LEVEL: Average / TECHNICAL LEVEL: Average
- MAXIMUN ELEVATION: (5.126 m / 16.817 ft)
- MINIMUN ELEVATION: (3.900 m / 12.795 ft)
Northern Illiniza, which stands close to its southern neighbor, is a rocky, steep and beautiful mountain that exceeds 5.000 m / 16.404 ft. of altitude and offers the opportunity to realize a variety of itineraries of ranging difficulty; the normal route being an excellent opportunity for someone who has no prior experience. To ascend, one must hike through a Polylepis forest and cross a demanding sandy section to the refuge at 4.700 m / 15.419 ft , where afterwards begins a final section of rock with easy climbing passages that will take you to the summit at 5.126 m / 16.817 ft of altitude.
