Day 1 - *Arrive Quito. Your guide will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel. Rest from a long day´s journey. (*Note: If you are already in Quito the itinerary begins on day 2).

Day 2 - Following breakfast, we visit the old town of Quito where we will enjoy the historic sights and sounds of this great city. Next we drive to the famous Mitad del Mundo, also known as the Middle of the World, where we will eat a hearty lunch and explore the mysteries of latitude 00. This day will also help your body acclimatize to the altitude.

Day 3 - Early breakfast in Quito then we head to the mountain, Pasochoa, via private transportation for a hike up to 4,200 meters. The hike is approximately 2-4 hours and provides a great way to slowly acclimatize. Lunch provided during the hike. Stay in a beautiful hacienda at the base of our next hike.

Day 4 - Following breakfast we begin the long trek up to the 4,786 meter peak, El Corazon. This extinct volcano takes approx. 4-6 hours to reach the summit and about 2-3 hours for the return. Again we acclimatize steadliy with more altitude and a longer trek. Spend the night in a relaxing hacienda.

Day 5 - After breakfast we head for the relaxing baths of Papallacta. These natural thermal baths will offer a great way to relax and rest your body for the mountaineering portion of the program. Spend the night at the thermal baths.

Day 6 - Wake up early and head to Cayambe, a peak famous for the fact that the equator passes through it. We normally drive door to door to the luxurious refugio where we will have time to review some basic mountaineering skills. Stay in the approximately 4800 meter refugio.

Day 7 - A full day of glacier practice, including ice-climbing and other important mountaineering techniques. Return to the refugio in the early afternoon to rest and fuel up for the evening´s climb.

Wake up at approximately 11pm and prepare for the ascent. Light breakfast or snack. Head for the summit around midnight. (The summit of Cayambe can usually be reached in 6-8 hours)

Day 8 - After the summit attempt we return to the refugio and then drive to a nearby hacienda where the rest of the day will be spent relaxing our tired bodies.

Day 9 - The next day private transportation takes us to famous markets of Otavalo where you can find some of South America´s finest clothing and jewelry at incredible prices. Use the day to shop and and relax. We return to Quito in the late afternoon and stay in our hotels.

Day 10 - Breakfast and departure for the refugio at the19,340 foot volcano Cotopaxi. The refugio is situated at approximately 16,000 feet. Afternoon rest, hot drinks and meals. Early to bed to rest for the evening´s climb.

Wake up about 11pm and prepare for the ascent. Light breakfast or snack. Head for the summit around midnight, hopefully with clear skies. (The summit of Cotopaxi can usually be reached in anywhere from 6-10 hours)

Day 11 - Hopefully your summit attempt will be successful and you will be rewarded with stunning views of Ecuador. Return to a nearby beautiful hacienda and relax.

Day 12 - Drive about 3 hours south and relax in the beautiful town of Banos. Overnight stay in Banos.

Day 13 - Travel to Chimborazo and spend the afternoon preparing for our final and most demanding ascent. We drive to within about half an hour of the refugio at approximately 16,500 feet. Relax in the refugio and get ready for the big ascent!

Generally we try to leave a bit earlier on Chimborazo as the climb is anywhere from 8-12 hours to the summit. Departures as early as 11 pm are not uncommon.

Day 14 - A lot of this day will be spent on the mountain as the ascent and descent take quite a bit of time. Most groups will return to the refugio in the afternoon where we will gather our equipment and head back down to meet our transportation. We will then return to a nearby hacienda to relax and celebrate the big climb.

Day 15 - Return Quito and relax.

Day 16 - Depart

This itinerary is subject to change depending on route/weather conditions in the mountains.

Trip Highlights
Visit to famous Otavalo market town
Beautiful acclimatization hike to Pasachoa Reserve and El Corazon
3 glaciated peaks:
Cayambe (5,790 meters)
Cotopaxi (5,897 meters)
Chimborazo (6,310 meters)
Thermal baths of Papallacta

Tour operators offering this adventure:

Ecuador tours and Galapagos cruises : www.latintrails.com