Day 1. Quito
Arrive in Quito late evening. Transfer to group hotel.

Day 2. Quito
At an altitude of 2890 metres, Quito is one of the highest capital cities in the world. Accordingly, we take it easy exploring the charming old city today. Overnight hotel.

Day 3. Quito - Riobamba - Hacienda Releche
We leave Quito and drive along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Passing through Ambato and Candelaria we reach our overnight accommodation at the Hacienda Releche.

Day 4. Hacienda Releche - Altar volcano - Collanes
After an hour or so of steady climbing the giant volcano of El Altar comes into view. A further 3 hours gentle trekking leads us to our overnight camp at Collanes (3800m.).

Day 5. Collanes - Laguna Estrellada
Trekking over the Gampala Ridge (4350m.) gives us spectacular views of Altar and Chimborazo. We descend to camp besides beautiful Laguna Estrellada (c.4000 m.).

Day 6. Laguna Estrellada - Laguna Negra
The paramo to the south of Altar is an area of exceptional natural beauty. We trek through this outstanding landscape to our campsite at Laguna Negra (c. 4000 m.).

Day 7. Laguna Negra - Aloa valley campsite
Trekking across the high paramo we reach the Aloa Valley, where we make camp beside one of its tributary rivers at 3600 metres.

Day 8. Aloa valley campsite - Culebrillas campsite
Today we climb out of the Aloa Valley, crossing the watershed at an altitude of 4200 metres, before descending to camp beside the Culebrillas River (3600m.).

Day 9. Culebrillas campsite - Yanayacu river campsite
Following the Culebrillas River and crossing several of its tributaries, we reach the confluence with the Yanayacu River. We camp here, at an altitude of 3800m.

Day 10. Yanayacu river campsite - La Playa campsite
We now follow the bank of the Yanayaca, through dense jungle to reach ‘La Playa,’ an immense red lava flow at the base of Sangay. Overnight camp.

Day 11. Sangay summit (optional) - La Playa campsite
Optional ascent of Sangay (5230m.) - Ecuador’s most active volcano. Return to camp at ‘La Playa’

Day 12. La Playa - Plazapamba campsite
We trek out from Sangay by a different route but one that still necessitates river crossings and traversing jungle to reach Plazabamba, site of our overnight camp.

Day 13. Plazapamba - Pucara River valley campsite
We climb away from the territory of the spectacled bear, to
cross a high pass at 4200 metres. We descend into the Pucara River valley to camp at 3700m.

Day 14. Pucara - Eten - Baños
Following the Pucara River downstream we reach the small village of Eten, where we drive to the spa town of Banos - the perfect place to relax after our trek. Hotel

Day 15. Baños - Cotopaxi
After a morning to relax and explore Banos, we transfer by road and make the short walk to Jose Rivas Refuge on Cotopaxi, our overnight accommodation at 4800m.

Day 16. Cotopaxi - summit - Quito
We make a midnight start for our ascent of Cotopaxi, across scree and glacier to the summit at 5895m. After returning to the refuge, we drive to our hotel in Quito.

Day 17. Quito
Free day in Quito to wind down and relax, shopping, re visit this beautiful city. Overnight in Quito

Day 18. Quito - home
Transfer out to the Mariscal Sucre airport for your flight home

Tour operators offering this adventure:

Ecuador tours and Galapagos cruises : www.latintrails.com