Sample itinerary
Day 1: Quito
Arrival in Quito and transfer to your hotel (meals on your own)
Day 2: Quito/Cotocchoa /Pitatambo River
A one-hour drive takes us to the small town of Cotocchoa (2,600m/8,528ft), where we start our trek. After setting off, we pass through delightful countryside in various hues of green, passing by haciendas and through typical villages. 4 hours of trekking brings us to a small valley through which the Pitatambo river flows (3,000m/9,840 ft). The surrounding areas are rich in cloud forest interspersed with orchids and bromeliads. There will be time to explore as well as to go swimming. Camp overnight.
Day 3: Pitatambo River/Huagrahuasi
After an early breakfast, we start our trek by crossing an impressive cloud forest with dense vegetation and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the bamboo, polilepys, bromeliads, fuchsias and other typical plants indigenous to this type of ecosystem. The scenery than changes as we are surrounded by large fields of crops and green land until reaching the barren paramo. Camp is by a small river (3,400m/11,152ft) in the foothills of the Sincholagua volcano (4,893m/16,049 ft).
Day 4: Sincholagua
Today is the most demanding day of the trek as our 5-hour hike takes us up to our next camp at 4,300m/14,104 ft. We skirt around the Sincholagua volcano, enjoying the spectacular view of the cloud forest and the nearby Cotopaxi volcano (5,897m/19,700ft). If conditions are favorable, we will be able to spot caracaras, falcons, eagles and the king of the Andes, the condor. Camp 2,000 feet below the Sincholagua summit.
Day 5: Sincholagua/Cotopaxi National Park/Quito
After breakfast, we continue our trek for another 4 hours until reaching Mudadero, a beautiful plain lying between Sincholagua and Cotopaxi, before walking on to Rumiñahui (4,712m/15,455ft) and the Limpiopungo lake in the valley of Cotopaxi. After lunch, a 2-hour drive, passing along the picturesque "Avenue of the Volcanoes" takes us back to Quito. Transfers to the airport or to your hotel are provided.
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Time of the year: June through December
Departures: 4th Saturday of each month
Minimum: 2 Passengers
Services include: Tour, hotel, meals, transportation and guide
Not included: Entrance fees, meals where stated, alcoholic beverages, laundry, taxes or communications, expenses and extras
EQUIPMENT LIST
Water proof windbreaker and hiking boots, sleeping bag, daypack, woolen gloves, woolen cap covering entire head and ears, warm trousers, good sunglasses, hat, sunblock (at least 15 spf), canteen, flashlight, pocket knife, camera, binoculars, and wash kit.
Tour operators offering this adventure:
Ecuador tours and Galapagos cruises : www.latintrails.com