Cayambe Climbing and Acclimatization 6 Days/ 5 Nights

We will leave Quito early at 7:00 am (Foch and Juan León Mera) in our private car to the base of Ruco Pichincha, where we will take the cable car to 4,100 meters above sea level; Here we will have a panoramic view of Quito and the other Andean peaks in the area. We will have a walk of approximately 3 hours through the mountain. Total tour time: 6 hours. We descend and go to our accommodation at Hotel Ikala or similar. B/-/D 

AM: We pick you up from your hotel at 06:00 a.m. to begin our trip, to the Pan-American highway. After descending to the Guayllabamba valley (well known for its sweet and fleshy fruits, called custard apples), we will continue our trip to the Laguna Grande de Mojanda where we will take a 2-hour tour around the lagoon.

PM: After lunch at base camp, we will continue with our acclimatization walk and study the planned route for the next day. Your guide will also review with you the basics of using technical equipment to climb the glacier. We will later return to base camp for dinner and rest early. -/L/D

We woke up early and had breakfast at 07:30 a.m., after having enjoyed a good breakfast we left for our third acclimatization at the Imbabura volcano. With an impressive height of 4,640 meters above sea level, this volcano awakens our curiosity and challenges our resistance. We will carry out the ascent with the ASEGUIM certified guide, thus guaranteeing our safety and the best possible experience. As we ascend, we will witness changes in vegetation and temperature, a constant reminder of the magnitude of nature that surrounds us and the importance of respecting it at all times. B/L/D

We had breakfast at 07:30 a.m. Then we go to Lake San Pablo, located at an elevation of 2,700 meters above sea level and with a depth of 83 meters, where we can observe species such as herons, ducks and some amphibians. Here we can take boat rides and various water activities. Continuing our journey, we head towards the Peguche Waterfall, a natural jewel of Ecuador where you can feel the energy of this sacred place for local communities. Afterwards, we visited the Otavalo market, one of the most spectacular places in South America, famous for its cultural importance and its craft market, where local inhabitants sell artisanal products. We had a snack and headed to the hotel in the city of Cayambe to rest. B/L/D

We woke up, had breakfast 07:30 a.m. We head to the Cayambe volcano and will begin our walk with all our equipment to the refuge located at 4,600m. After a short rest and lunch, we will head to the glaciers where our guide will give us all the details and advice about the climb (how to use the equipment, how to walk on the glacier and what we would do in any type of emergency). Then we will go back down to the refuge to have dinner and rest for the night. B/L/D

AM: We will wake up before midnight to prepare for our ascent. After a light breakfast, we will leave the comfort of our shelter to begin the ascent to the summit of Cayambe. With good weather and physical conditions, we should reach the summit after 4 or 5 hours of walking. On the way to the summit, and also when we return, we will cross immense glaciers, ideal for skiing and seeing a spectacular landscape. The return to base camp will take us around 3 or 4 hours.

PM: After lunch, and a short rest in the afternoon, we will drive you back to Quito.

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