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It’s finally time for your long-awaited departure to Ecuador. Wave goodbye to friends and family at the airport, before you board the flight and embark upon your challenge!
Today you will arrive in Quito (2,800 metres above sea level) and be transferred to your hotel. You will then have the remainder of the day to rest and acclimatise to the altitude. Dinner and overnight in local hotel.
Today is spent touring Quito in order to acclimatise. You will be transported up El Panecillo to your first stop, La Virgen De Quito, from where there is a panoramic view of the city and spectacular views of the volcanoes. You then head to Mitad del Mundo, a monument on the equator dividing the northern and southern hemispheres. Later, at your hotel, the guide will run through a final check list before dinner.
Today you will drive for one hour, towards our first summit, volcano Pasochoa (4199m). The 6-7 hour trek meanders through verdant countryside, before continuing to the volcano’s narrow ridge. It’s a steep climb, but team spirit will push you through to the summit. You will drive on to a lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, tackle the strenuous and rewarding climb that is El Corazon (4790m), it is ideal for acclimatisation. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and return to your previous lodge dinner and overnight.
Today is an early start, take in the scenery as you drive along the Avenue of Volcanoes to reach Los Illinizas arriving at El Chaupi, the town closest to the mountain. The journey continues on to your campsite for dinner and overnight (3,950 m).
This morning, weather permitting, take in your incredible surroundings and view Cotopaxi, Pasochoa and Ruminahui from the camp. Today’s walk is along a ridge of Illiniza Norte up to a height of 5100m. You will continue to walk to the mountain’s end, then summit the peak via a rocky gully to take in the views. Following the climb, rest up on the drive to Cotopaxi National Park and your overnight lodge.
Enjoy a well-deserved slower pace today and take part in a gentle hike to Purcara, a pre-Incan archaeological site, and explore el Manantial. After lunch you have the afternoon to relax and gather your strength for the challenge in the days ahead. Dinner and overnight in lodge.
After a 45-minute drive to the refuge parking area at Cotopaxi 4550m, you will begin your ascent with 1 hour of tough walking to the refuge situated at 4800m. Now is the time to test out your ice hiking abilities and enjoy an early dinner before bed
at the the refuge.
The gruelling 8 hours of glacier climbing to the Cotopaxi summit begins at midnight. Using crampons and ice axes, the peak of the challenge is as tough as it sounds but will offer immensely rewarding views when conquered. Feeling on top of the world, you’ll descend back to the refuge for a warm meal. From the parking area, you will return by vehicle to Quito for a hot shower, dinner and to celebrate your accomplishment.
NB: To climb Cotopaxi you will need to hire crampons and ice axes from the local supplier, speak to your Operations Manager 8 weeks pre-departure to organise. 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 in Ecuador 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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