Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
Pasochoa Hike (3,600-4,200m) -/L/-
We drive in an all-terrain vehicle to the starting point of our tour at the foot of Pasochoa in the Valle de los Chillos. The hike of the extinct volcano takes about 4 hours in total. We reach 3.600-4.200m. On a clear day we have a great view of Cotopaxi and the other nearby volcanoes. After the hike, we will drive down into the valley and south on the Panamericana to an original hacienda near Cotopaxi.
Accommodation in a local hacienda.
Day 2
Rose plantation visit and drive to Quilotoa (3,800m) B/L/-
Today you will visit a very beautiful rose plantation - roses are an export of Ecuador. This small rose plantation run by a family is on our way to Quilotoa Crater. Early afternoon drive across the western Andes via Zumbahua or Isinliví to Quilotoa Crater Lake.
Overnight stay in a hostal at the crater ring.
Day 3
Hike around Quilotoa Lagoon (3.950m) B/L/-
Hike around the turquoise blue Quilotoa Lagoon, the hike takes 5-7 hours depending on your condition and always leads on the ridge around the lake, a constant up and down through a grassy landscape. On the left hand glitters a few hundred meters further down the lake, on the right you have again and again beautiful views into the country, on canyons and mountains up to 6000 meters, which are covered with clouds. A beautiful scenery! Several steep climbs and the fact that you are at just below 4,000 meters make the hike strenuous and demanding.
Accommodation in a local hacienda.
Day 4
Iliniza North Hike (4.700m) B/L/-
Today we will drive to the foot of the Illinizas (La Virgen). There we will begin a three-hour hike until we reach the Nuevos Horizontes mountain hut (4,650 m). This full day hike will take you to one of the two Illinizas twin volcanoes. Illinizas North and Illinizas South were once one volcano, but today the two peaks are separated by a saddle of about 1 km. The volcano is excellent for those who want a challenging hike combined with non-technical climbing in a beautiful setting.
Accommodation in a local hacienda.
Day 5
Hike at the foot of the Cotopaxi glacier (4.800-5.000m) B/L/-
Today, take a trip to Cotopaxi National Park. The highest active volcano in the world has been awake since August 2015 and regularly spews ash into the air. Its fantastic geological shape of a cone-shaped volcano with a white snow coat has made it a kind of landmark in the country, especially since it is relatively often completely or partially free of clouds.
Laguna Limpiopungo can be surrounded in a splendid walk of about one hour for the observation of waterfowl, mountain panoramas and, not infrequently, wild horses.
From the main trail, a dirt road climbs quite steeply south up the volcano. After a few switchbacks, you reach a parking lot at 4,600 meters. Only on foot you can get from there via a gravel path to the nearby Refugio José Ribas at 4,800 meters, from where most climbers leave after midnight via the north ascent route to the summit. On a clear day, you will have a magnificent view from here. Here you can fortify yourself with a hot chocolate and get a stamp in your passport.
Accommodation in a local hacienda.
Day 6
Hiking on the volcano Carihuariazo (4.900m) B/L/-
Our journey takes us further south, via the town of Ambato to the volcano Carihuairazo. After about three and a half hours of driving and a meal break on the way in a restaurant, we reach the Mechahuasca refuge at the foot of Carihuairazo. Once there and "settled in" we can observe vicuñas (the wild form of domesticated alpacas) grazing in the Paramo grasslands until dinner. After the hike you will drive to the mountain village of Salinas de Guaranda.
Accommodation iat La Minga Hostal.
Day 7
Salinas de Guaranda (3.500m) B/L/-
We relax in the peaceful surroundings of Salinas de Guaranda and gain insight into the life of the highland Indians. Interesting visits are possible, but here in all seclusion on cooperative level many things are produced - Queso Suizo, chocolate, ceramics, jewelry, dried mushrooms, woolen things, footballs, salami etc.. From here we will take a beautiful 4hour hike to Verde Pamba.
Overnight stay at the Hostal La Minga.
Day 8
Hike to Chimborazo Volcano (5.000m) F/M/-
Today you will take an excursion to the highest mountain in Ecuador, Chimborazo. Explore the national park during different hikes of varying duration. The upper part of the mountain is from about 5,100m is completely glaciated and offers together with grazing alpaca herds in the background numerous great photo opportunities. The first person to reach the summit was the Briton Edward Whymper in 1880. The refuge below the glacier at 5,000m was named "Edward Whymper Hut" in honor of the first climber. If the air is not too thin up there, you can drive up to 4,800m by car and walk the last 200m to the refuge. If the visibility is good, you will enjoy a fantastic view.
In a valley of the park you can find a fairy forest, which consists of crouched polylepis trees. The oldest of these extremely slow-growing trees are 1500 years old. For protection against mosses, parasites, and cold, these plants are constantly shedding their skin and shedding orange parchment-thin bark. The locals call the Polylepis tree "paper tree" because of this.
Drive back to Quito.