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It’s finally time for your long-awaited departure to Ecuador. Wave goodbye to friends and family, before you board the flight and embark upon your challenge!
Today you will arrive in Quito in the morning and have the remainder of the day to rest and acclimatise to the altitude.
Today is spent touring Quito in order to acclimatise. First stop is La Virgen De Quito, from where there is a panoramic view of the city and the setting of your challenge: the Avenue of the Volcanoes. You then head to Mitad del Mundo, a monument on the equator dividing the northern and southern hemispheres. Later the guide will run through a final check list before the challenge.
Today you will drive towards our first hurdle, volcano Pasochoa. The trek meanders through verdant countryside, before continuing on to the volcano’s narrow ridge. It’s a steep climb, but team spirit will push you through to the summit. Return to Quito for dinner and overnight.
Hiking Rucu Pichincha is a relatively straight forward climb and very good for acclimatisation.
The active caldera of the Pichinchas is on the western side of the Guagua Pichincha Mountain. Both peaks (Rucu and Guagua) are visible from the city of Quito and both are popular acclimatisation climbs. Guagua Pichincha is usually accessed from the village of Lloa outside of Quito.
After an early breakfast, you will spend the day (6-8 hours) trekking around the Pichincha's Volcano valley (4,000m). Trekking at high altitude is an important aid to acclimatisation as you move onwards and upwards towards the summit of Cayambe. After lunch at the campsite, you will be transfered towards Otavalo City (North of Quito – 2.5 hours drive) to spend the night at a local hotel.
After breakfast, depart to Fuya-Fuya, located in the Mojanda paramo, an ecosystem where there are three beautiful lakes that originally formed part of glacial volcanoes. From the lakes you start your hike towards the Fuya Fuya Mountain, and once we arrive to the top we have a short rest and a boxed lunch. You start your descent and drive back for overnight at a local hotel in Otavalo.
After an early breakfast, you will depart towards Cuicocha Lake to enjoy breathtaking views during your 14km trek around the lake. On completion of your trek you will be taken to the 300 year old Hacienda Pinsaqui for lunch. In the afternoon you will have time to visit the famous Otavalo Market. Overnight at a local hotel.
After an early breakfast you will travel towards Cayambe’s Mountain hut (4,800m). Today will be spent practising crampon and ice technique in preparation for tomorrow. Your guides will help to ensure you feel comfortable for the ultimate challenge of summiting Cayambe. There may be an afternoon walk, as you continue to acclimatise. It's early to bed, as you try to sleep through nerves and excitement before the ascent tomorrow .
NB: To climb Cayambe you can hire crampons, helmets, harnesses and ice axes from the local supplier, but please inform your operations manager eight weeks before the trek departs. They will then be brought out to you for the summit and glacier practice by the climb support team.
There will be free time on this final day to explore Quito and pick up some last minute souvenirs. The flight home is the perfect opportunity to reflect on all you’ve achieved, before sharing your fantastic journey with friends and family.
You arrive back as victors on home soil. From here it’s a heartfelt goodbye to your new friends and trekking partners.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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