Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Quito. If you arrive early in the morning, you will have the afternoon free to explore Quito. (-/-/-) Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

We will leave from Quito (9,186ft/2.800m) early in the morning and drive southeast for about 2 hours through the Andean highlands until we get to the trailhead (10,827ft/3.300m). Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

The hike leads through an amazing primary Andean forest, great for bird watching. We will arrive on the summit (13,778ft/4.230m) and if the weather allows, we will be able to see the surrounding snow-capped mountains such as Antisana, Cayambe, Illinizas, Cotopaxi and even Chimborazo far away to the south on clear days. Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

The round-trip will take us about 6 hours. Transfer to the Hotel in Machachi town, by late afternoon. Overnight in the hotel (B/BL/-) Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

We start early in the morning and drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we get to the village of El Chapui. We will continue driving up until we reach the trailhead (13,120ft/4.000m), where we start our hike. The first part of the hike takes us up through low growing Andean grass. Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

Then we will get onto a sandy section, which will see us scrambling further up and leads to Corazon summit (15,702ft/4786m). We will have lunch during the hike, which will be about 8 hour long. Return to Machachi by late afternoon (B/BL/-) Climbing Chimborazo Ecuador

We will leave from Machachi in the morning and drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we get to the village of El Chapui. We will continue driving up until we get to “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3.900m). Once there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4.750m). We will relax for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner will be served by late afternoon (B/BL/D)

Our climbing day starts early in the morning. We will have a light breakfast, pack our climbing equipment and leave the refuge an hour later. We will continue hiking up towards the saddle formed between two peaks and then further on to Illiniza Norte summit (16,818ft/ 5.126 m). The approach to the top involves an easy 3-hour scramble. Once at the summit, we will enjoy and admire the beautiful surroundings. It will take us around 7 hours for the round trip. Overnight in the Hotel (B/BL/-)

We will drive from Machachi southern through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until we get to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From here we will drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (14,764ft/4.500m). We get our gear ready and hike up for an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge (15,748ft/4.800m). In the afternoon we will go to the glacier for ice practices and training. We will learn some basic techniques, which include last but not least proper handling of the climbing equipment (crampons, ice axe, rope, etc.). We will go back to the Refuge for dinner and rest. (B/BL/D)

We will wake up at midnight and depart to the top (19,347ft/5.897 m) around 1 am after a light breakfast. The climb will take us about 6 to 8 hours. The first part is about an hour hike to the glacier, where we put the crampons on and start the glacier ascent. Once at the summit we will take our time for pictures of the crater and surroundings and then we will head back to the refuge in 2 to 3 hours. At the refuge we will rest, pack our belongings, have something to eat, drink and go down to the parking lot, from where we will drive to Machachi. Overnight in the hotel (B/BL/-)

Rest day in the small town of Machachi, optional visit to Tesalia Water Springs, if it’s Sunday we will visit a local indigenous market (animal, fruits, goods, etc.); other options are horseback riding, cow milking, sampling of a local delicatessen: guinea pig, etc. Overnight in the Hotel (B/-/-)

From Machachi, we will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes for about 3,5 hours to the Chimborazo reserve. We will walk up from Hermanos Carrel refuge (15,744ft/4,800m) for about an hour to “Whimper’s Hut” (16,400ft/5.000m), where we will have dinner and get some rest until 11 pm. There will be an early light breakfast served just before we get our gear ready and start climbing up (B/BL/D)

At midnight, we will start our climb to the top of Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo, which will take us 8 to 10 hours. We will get to the top (20,702ft/6.310m) early in the morning. It is a perfect place for resting and pictures of the beautiful Andean surroundings. After some rest, we will start our descend back to the refuge. It will take us 3 to 4 hours. Once in “Whymper Refuge” we will pack our gear and go down to “Hermanos Carrel Refuge”, where our transportation will be ready to take us back to Quito (B/BL/-)

Transfer from the hotel to the airport (B/-/-)