DIFICULTY:
▲▲▲▲▲
DURATION:
8Days/ 7Nights
HIGHLIGHTS:
Iliniza North-South, Antisana and Chimborazo ascents
Ecuador EXTREMO Ilinizas North + South, Antisana and Chimborazo 8 days / 7 nights
Iliniza North-South, Antisana and Chimborazo ascents
This program starts with a good acclimatization program through the beautiful Northern Andes of Ecuador, then climbing Cotopaxi, visiting Natural Parks, thermal springs, lagoons, cultural sites, and ending with the Chimborazo. The Chimborazo 6,268 m (20,564 ft.) is the goal of the majority of experienced climbers who come to Ecuador. It is the highest mountain in the country and if measured from the center of the Earth it’s the highest mountain in the world!
Day |
Itinerary |
Accommodation |
Altitude in m |
Altitude Accommodation in m |
Walk |
Drive |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Iliniza Norte | Mountain refuge |
4696 |
2500 |
5 |
1 – 2 |
2 |
Summit Illiniza Sur | Mountain refuge |
5263 |
2500 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
Day off | Hotel in Puembo area |
2500 |
2500 |
– |
– |
4 |
Antisana | Camping |
5753 |
4600 |
2 |
15 min |
5 |
Summit Antisana | Lodge |
5753 |
2500 |
9 |
2 |
6 |
Chimborazo trekking or day off | Lodge |
2500 |
2500 |
– |
– |
7 |
Refuge Chimborazo | Mountain refuge |
4600 |
4600 |
– |
2 |
8 |
Summit Chimborazo | – |
5790 |
2500 |
10 |
2 |
*Approx. in hours
Itinerary 8 days / 7 nights
Day 1: Iliniza Norte 5116m
Early pickup from your hotel to start our next trekking adventure. The journey takes us about 1 hour and a half to the Virgin statue nearly at 4000m through a bumpy track. The hike to the hut will take us about 2hrs and 2 more hours from the cottage to the main summit of the Iliniza North. We descend to the refuge at 4750m to rest and acclimatize.
Accommodation: Mountain Refuge
Meals: box lunch, dinner
Day 2. Ilinizas refuge day short walk and Iliniza South at night
Today we have time to acclimatize and enjoy the views from the hut to the valley and the nearby mountains. We can do a short walk to the emerald lagoon in between the two Ilinizas. We come back to the refuge to rest. We have early dinner before we start our next ascent by midnight to Iliniza South.
Accommodation: Mountain Refuge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 3. Iliniza South 5248m summit
The Illiniza Sur is for sure one of the most beautiful and challenging mountains in Ecuador because you require technical experience in glaciers. This majestic mountain has lost over 60% of its glaciers in the last 10-15 years as a consequence of global warming. The Illiniza Sur is a lot more challenging that the Illiniza Norte and it’s only possible to get to the top of the summit with glacier and high mountain equipment. We will start our day at 3:00 am. Today we will climb to the top of the Illiniza Sur. We will need 4 hours to get to the top and around 2 hours to descend to the refuge, then an extra hour to descend to the car. We transfer to our hotel in Puembo to rest.
Accommodation: Hotel in Puembo
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 4. Antisana camp
Antisana is the fourth highest mountain in Ecuador and has a wide glacier top with four peaks and a crater. We start our journey at 8:30am from our hotel and will be driving for about 2 hours. We will cross through Antisana National Park. Due to the flora and fauna it is one of most varied national parks in the highlands. We visit la Mica lagoon for nice views of the moorlands and the mountain. From the car we will have a short hike (15min) to our tenting place at 4,600m. Here we rest and admire the beautiful landscapes at the foothill of Antisana. We rest in our camping site and have early dinner before the ascent.
Accommodation: Camp tents
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 5. Antisana Summit
Today we start climbing at 1:00am to the glacier, which will take 1 hour. From here on we will have to cross a numerous amount of crevasses. We will need around 6 hours to get to the peak and approx. 3 hours to descend depending on the weather. A beautiful climb on a fun glacier for experimented mountaineers. After a lunch box to regain strength we take our transfer to the southern Andes toChimborazoand rest at our lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 6: Chimborazo trekking
We enjoy a tranquil breakfast with views to imposing Chimborazo. Then we go for a wonderful trekking around the area and base of the mountain to admire the moorlands, views and meet the Andean camelid, alpacas and vicuñas. We reach the mountain refuges and reach up to 5000m at the base of the mountain. Today we rest, the big challenge comes tomorrow!
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 7: Chimborazo, Mountain refuge
After a light lunch we drive (4800m Carrel Refuge) up to the first hut of Chimborazo. Then we walk about 45min to the second refuge Whymper.Then we come dawn andwill have early dinner and try to rest. We sleep in the shelter and get up at 10pm. A steep climb awaits us to the top of Ecuador!
Accommodation: Mountain Refuge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 8: Chimborazo 6310 m and back to Quito or extension
The ascent of Chimborazo normally takes 7 hours to the main summit and 3 1/2hr. for the descent. We will thus be on foot for over 10 hours, which will certainly be working our legs. The summit is huge and breathtakingly beautiful. If we are lucky we can see the Tungurahua, an active volcano that spits out ash clouds from time to time, but is not dangerous. After the descent of Chimborazo we drive back to Quito or to our following destination.
Meals: box lunch breakfast, lunch
FULL PACKAGES
Included:
- Local certified English/Spanish-speaking mountain guide
Accommodation mentioned above
Private transportation
Meals mentioned in program above
Transportation, Accommodations,
Meals for all guides and driver
Not included:
- Airfare
Soft and alcoholic beverages
Extras and services not mentioned above
Insurance
Tips and gratuities
Glacier, climbing and extra trekking gear (we can assist with the rental)
Taxes