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Ecuador Treks

Volcano Multisport (6 days/ 5 nights)

On this page: Overview | Itinerary | Pricing

Overview

Six days of horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking with optional summit attempt on Cotopaxi.

Itinerary

Day 1.- Horseback Riding - After a brief lesson to get acquainted with the horses and once outfitted in the typical "chagra" attire, we  begin our ride from Hacienda El Porvenir taking the lower route towards Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña passing by Pucará de Salitre, an Inca fortress. Riding in the shade of majestic Cotopaxi and passing trough impressive Andean landscapes. After 7 hours we reach Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña where an excellent dinner will wait for us.

Day 2.- Trekking and  Mountain Biking - On our second day we trek around Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña going to Chirimachay canyon through the highlands of Cotopaxi. The scenery of this area is unique because of the lava rivers that flowed through here during Cotopaxi’s last eruption. This trek takes about 5 hours. At Chirimachay we start a beautiful cross country descend on mountain bikes through trails and roads. Biking time 2 hours approximately. We spent the night at Hacienda El Porvenir.

Day 3.- Trekking Rumiñahui - Very early in the morning we begin climbing Rumiñahui Volcano, crossing vast highlands swept by the cold breath of the Andes.  Form the peaks of Rumiñahui at 4712 m (15,455 ft) on a cloudless day, one can admire in the distance  the peaks of Ilinizas and Chimborazo. Trekking time: 6 hours approximately. In the afternoon we trek back to El Porvenir farmhouse.

Days 4 & 5.- Climbing Cotopaxi - Transfer to  Cotopaxi National Park parking lot 4500 m (14,760 ft).  We climb up-hill to the climbers' refuge at 4800 m (15748 ft). We have lunch and rest. During the afternoon we hike up to the glaciers to practice some basic ice climbing techniques. We rest for the rest of the day until midnight when we begin our climb to the summit. We reach the summit just as the sun is rising and take advantage of the early morning light at the summit. The descent takes two hours and afterwards we return by car to the Hacienda El Porvenir where we will take a delicious lunch then we can rest until the dinner and lodging.

Day 6.- The Canopy Tour - In the morning a great breakfast will be waiting for us, then we will travel (20 minutes) in a van to Hacienda Santa Rita, where one of the most exiting activities wait for us. El Cañon del Salto Canopy is a transportation system based on harnesses and pulleys attached to an inclined cable, taking advantage of gravity. This system was used by scientists who were doing research in the forest canopy. They avoided coming down to the ground and climbing up the next tree by using this system.  El Cañón del Salto Canopy Tour is a safe way to enjoy high mountain forest from the upper part. This is an environmentally low-impact adventure; it gives people with few or no climbing techniques knowledge to live an exciting experience. This activity will take 3 hours aproximately. Finally, we will take a box lunch and come back to Quito.

Pricing