The Volcanoes of Ecuador

Cayambe and the Ecuador Volcanoes

Ecuador is a climbers' paradise and there is no where better to train for the highest mountains in the world. This trip will take you from the culture rich capital city of Quito to the grassy highlands, over rocky summits, and to the slopes of the country’s highest volcanoes. We will get to experience it all and get a taste of what Ecuador has to offer. Whether you are looking for your first international climb, or have traveled the globe, Ecuador is a great climbing destination which will leave you with lasting memories and an experience like no other.

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IMPORTANT BETA

CLIMB DETAILS

Price: $4350 Per Person
Length: 14 days
Guide-to-Client Ratio: 1:2
Difficulty: Strenuous
When: November 12-25, 2026
Type: Mountaineering
Type: Experiential
Deposit: $750

INCLUDED

All Transportation in Ecuador
All Lodging in Ecuador
Meals on the mountain and in the hotels
NEM Guide
Local IFMGA Guide
Climbing permit
Group gear

NOT INCLUDED

Airfare
Snacks and lunches
Souvenirs
Gratuity
Travel Insurance
Rescue Insurance

PREREQUISITES

Mount Washington in the Winter or similar
Familiar with crampon technique and self arrest
Extensive Winter climbing and/or mountaineering experience
Comfortable climbing 6000ft in a day at ~2mph pace.

BE INFORMED. BE PREPARED.

This trip requires an excellent level of physical fitness and the completion of a one day mountaineering skills course. Participants should be familiar with self arrest, crampon technique, and posses prior climbing experience. We reach very high altitudes on this adventure, so proper training is imperative.

Itinerary

Quito, Rucu pichincha, Cuicocha lake, Imbabura, Cayambe, Cotopaxi

Day 1: (November 12) Today we arrive in Quito, Ecuador. We will check in to our hotel and get ourselves settled and rested from the long travel day. Many flights arrive in the evening.

Day 2: We will meet for breakfast and an itinerary briefing. You will meet your teammates, NEM guide, as well as receive more information about Ecuador and our itinerary. We will spend the day adjusting to the altitude of Quito (approx 9,000ft). The day is spent sightseeing around the city. In the afternoon, we will take the Teleferiquo (gondola) to 13,000ft for a short hike to watch the sunset over many of the Ecuadorean Volcanoes.

CLIMBING ITINERARY BEGINS

Day 3: Today we will climb our first peak. Rucu Pichincha (15,696ft). We will again, take the Teleferiqo to 13,000ft and begin our climb to the exposed summit. The return trip should take between 6 and 7 hours.

Day 4: We will depart for the town of Otavalo. Along the way, we will stop at the Equator for a quick tour and some interesting experiments that can only be conducted at the middle of the Earth. We will have the evening to explore Otavalo and it’s famous marketplace.

Day 5: After a leisurely wake-up we will head out for our second acclimatization trek. The hike around Cuicocha Lake is beautiful and allows us to spend the day between 11,000ft - 13,000ft.

Day 6: We will wake up very early to climb Imbabura. Our third acclimatization peak is over 15,000ft and will take most of the day. This is a spectacular climb that starts out in fields and ends in a true alpine-feel summit. The climb requires 3rd-4th class terrain near the summit.

Day 7: After three acclimatization climbs, we get a rest day. We will have a late breakfast and before a presentation on ancestral Kichwa knowledge from the local community. We may also have time to visit the Parque Condor to learn about the birds of the Andes. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Yanacocha refuge at 11,800ft on Cayambe.

Day 8: After a delicious breakfast at the refuge, we drive to the higher refuge on Cayambe (15,000ft). The rest of the day will be spent here practicing roped travel, crampon technique, self and team arrest. In the early afternoon we will descend to the Yanacocha refuge to get a good nights rest at a relatively low altitude before our summit attempt.

Day 9: We will enjoy a restful morning at the hut before moving up to the higher refuge in preparation for our summit attempt on Cayambe.

Day 10: In the early morning hours, we will ascend the slopes of Cayambe for 6-8 hours before hitting the summit just after sunrise. From the summit of Ecuador’s third highest peak (18,996ft) we have unobstructed views of Antisana, Cotopaxi (our next objective), Chimborazo, Imbabura, and many more high peaks throughout the country. The descent will take about 3-4 hours before beginning our drive to town and a hot meal.

Day 11: Today we will enjoy a rest day at Atukpamba organic farm.

Day 12: Shortly after lunch, we will drive to the Cotopaxi refuge situated at nearly 16,000ft.

Day 13: Starting in the dark, we will climb Cotopaxi (19,347ft). We aim to be back at the refuge by late morning which allows us to get back to the Quito airport in the evening.

CLIMBING ITINERARY ENDS

Day 14: International Departures

Gear List

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR A COMPLETE GEAR LIST

We do not offer rental gear in Ecuador. You will be responsible for supplying the gear listed.

Gear List for the volcanoes of Ecuador

Click HERE then select "Ecuador Volcanoes" at the bottom.

FAQ's

Please read through the following frequently asked questions and answers. These will help you prepare for your trip and get a better understanding of what to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ecuador

Is Ecuador Safe?

Yes. The people of Ecuador are extremely friendly. Quito is known to have petty crime and pickpocketing but this can be avoided by sticking with the group and remaining in the hotel after dark.

Do I need to purchase additional insurance?

Yes. You should purchase trip and rescue insurance through Global Rescue. With this insurance plan, you will be reimbursed in the event you cannot attend the trip, your trip is cut short, or you require evacuation for covered reasons.

Do I need to bring extra medications?

Yes. You should bring basic medications in addition to any prescriptions that you need. Consider bringing a small kit with Ibuprofen, Tums, Ant-Acids, etc. Respiratory illness in the form of a cough and upset stomach are common issues associated with altitude.

Is the water safe to drink?

Boiled or purified water is available at the hotels and refuges. Bottled water is also available. We do not recommend drinking other water sources.

What temperatures will we experience?

Temperatures in Quito are often around 60ºF but temperatures on the summits can be closer to 0ºF.

Is there cell service and WiFi?

Your cell service provider likely has an international plan for Ecuador. These are often an extra fee. Alternatively, you can purchase a local eSIM for very cheap. Hotels will have WiFi.

What amenities do we have at the refuge?

The refuges have bunk beds, mattress and pillow. They also have running water and they provide dinner and breakfast.

Should I bring any luxuries?

We recommend that you bring a designated change of warm, comfy clothes for lounging around the refuge and hotels. A book or deck of cards is nice to have.

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General Policies

GENERAL POLICIES

NEMs Adventure itineraries are subject to change or be adjusted based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, terrain, group dynamics and many other factors. NEM has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including the discretion to change program schedule or itinerary, and change guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather or route conditions. In such a case, an NEM credit for the full value is given; however, NEM cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred in preparing for the program (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or rental, hotel reservations). NEM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a trip at any time if NEM determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program. This includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT

Northeast Mountaineering cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit or complete the objective you have signed up for. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities or the abilities of others may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire party will have to turn around without reaching the summit. Your program fee entitles you to one mountain experience on your specified dates.

MINIMUM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Most of our programs do not have a minimum enrollment. If you are the only one registered, it will likely become a private outing. For our Waterfall Rappelling adventure, we must have at least 50% enrollment (3 people) to run the adventure. In the event of low-enrollment, we will reschedule your adventure to another date. If another date cannot be accommodated, you will receive an NEM credit.

Safety First

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety is NEM’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains but they cannot eliminate them. NEM guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

Payments

NEW ENGLAND ADVENTURES

Payment in full is due at the time of booking. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check.

BEYOND NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING MOUNT RAINIER

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES

Cancellation Policy

CANCELLATION FOR NEW ENGLAND PROGRAMS

Up to 30 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 29 days - 72 hours before your adventure: Full Refund in the form of NEM credit Within 72 hours of your adventure: No refund will be issued*

CANCELLATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND

Up to 90 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 89 days - 30 days before your adventure: Participant will be responsible for paying 50% of the total balance. If the balance is paid in full, participant will receive a 50% refund in the form of NEM credit. Within 30 days of your adventure: No refund will be issued and participant will be responsible for paying the full balance.* *Travel Insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment. If NEM cancels your adventure due to weather or another unforeseen reason, you will receive an NEM credit.

CHANGE OF DATE

Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 7 days prior to your adventure without incurring a date change fee. Date changes may be requested between 7 and 3 days prior to your departure date for a $50 change fee. There are no date changes allowed within 72 hours before your adventure.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

NEM requires payment in full within 2 weeks of your program. If you have an outstanding balance inside of this time-frame, the reservation will be marked as an NEM credit and the date will be released.