10 Day Ascent of Ruco Pichincha, Illiniza Norte, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo - Departure Date: 20th of December.

Join us on that departure date: 20th of December. Final expedition price will be stablished once the group is finally closed. Check all details on
http://www.pioneerjourneys.com/10-day-ascent-of-ruco-pichincha-illiniza-norte-cotopaxi-and-chimborazo.html

Overview
This is a beautiful combination of acclimatization mountains and high altitude volcanoes. Climbing Ruco Pichincha (4.698 m / 15,413 ft) and Illiniza Norte (5.116 m / 16,785 ft) through its Andean grass carpets will let us to properly acclimatize for the following high altitude challenging mountains: Cotopaxi (19,347ft/5.897m) the second highest volcano in Ecuador and one of the most perfect cone shaped active volcanoes in the world; and Chimborazo (6.310m/20,702ft), the highest peak of Ecuador and of the World if we measure it from the core of the globe.

Itinerary
Day 1: Rucu Pinchincha (4.698 m / 15,413 ft)
We'll leave Quito in the morning and drive by car to the Cruz Loma, situated 10 kilometers west from the capital. From there it will take us approximately 3 and a half hours to reach the summit. Later in the afternoon we'll be back in Quito.

Day 2: Quito – El Chaupi Hostelry (4.650 m / 15,256 ft)
Leaving Quito in the morning, we’ll drive 2 hours to the base of the Illiniza. Today we will do a 3 hours hike around the base of the Illiniza to get a good acclimatization. We’ll accommodate in our associated El Chaupi Hostelry.

Day 3: Illiniza Norte Summit (5.116 m / 16,785 ft)
Our climb begins at 5 am following a rocky ridge. Under normal conditions, no special skills are required. Nevertheless, our guides will be always prepared to overcome any difficulty in order to reach the summit safety (some times our path can be pretty snowy or we may encounter bad weather conditions). From summit you’ll have a privileged view of the Avenue of Volcanoes: Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo…After our descent, we’ll head to enjoy a very good meal in our associated Tambopaxi Hostelry, right in the base of Cotopaxi Volcano.

Day 4: Refuge of Cotopaxi (4.800 m / 15,750 ft)
After breakfast, we’ll drive to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park and to the car park located at 4.600 m / 15092 ft. From there, we’ll hike for about an hour to the refuge (4.800 m / 15,750 ft). Once in the hut, we’ll take lunch and prepare for the climb to one of the most beautiful mountains of the high Andes: the perfect cone of Cotopaxi.

Day 5: Cotopaxi’s Summit (19,347 ft / 5.897 m)
Our climb will begin at about one in the morning. As all normal big Ecuadorian volcanoes routes, this is also quite physically demanding. After a 30 degree rocky and ashy slope, we’ll enter the glacier area and the several 30 to 45 degrees slopes that will take us to the edge of the one of most impressive crater formations. Having enjoyed the sunrise during our climb, from the top of that gigantic perfect cone shaped active volcano (19,347 ft / 5.897 m), we’ll be amazed at the views of the deep crater and the also caped mountains of Antizana, Cayambe and Chimborazo. After our 3 hours descent, we’ll head back to our hostelry where you’ll be able to rest and enjoy some good meals.

Day 6: Drive trip to the City of Riobamba and the base of Chimborazo Volcano.
This day is important in order to recover the strength and prepare for our last challenge in Chimborazo. We will drive for about 3 hours through the Andes till the City of Riobamba and to the comfortable mountain refuge Estrella del Chimborazo. We will have time to relax and visit some interesting historic points.

Day 7: Estrella del Chimborazo to High Campsite (5.047m/16,558ft)
After breakfast, we’ll get prepared for a three hours hike up to our high campsite. Once there, we’ll spend the afternoon preparing for the climb.

Day 8: Summit of Chimborazo (6.310m/20,702ft)
Chimborazo, with 6.310m/20,702ft, is the highest mountain in Ecuador and, somehow, the world’s highest point if we consider the distance from the center of the Earth (because of its ovoid shape caused by rotation). Although Chimborazo is considered an extinct volcano, its massive towering ice-capped peak can easily be seen from the Pacific Coast. Beneath the spectacular summit is a crater that today is eroded and contorted, suggesting that this mountain might have been even higher in more ancient times.
Our climb will start at midnight following the normal route. We should be reaching the summit after 8 to 9 hours of climbing. From there, you’ll enjoy one of the most extraordinary views in Ecuador: the Pacific Ocean, the Amazon rain forest, the peaks of Altar, Illinizas, Anizana and Cotopaxi, and the smoky active volcanoes of Tungurahua and Sangay.

The descent to the Estrella del Chimborazo takes around four hours. There, we will relax and recover our bodies with some delicious celebrating meals.

Day 9: Return to Quito
After having breakfast we’ll drive through the Avenue of Volcanoes back to Quito where we’ll accommodate in our hotel and celebrate the end of the trip with a great dinner.

Day 10: Extra Day
This extra day is highly recommended in order to improve the chances of climbing all of our goals. For instance, it can be used as an extra day for climbing Chimborazo if bad weather conditions delay our climbing attempt or and extra rest or acclimatization day is needed. If that extra day is finally not needed for climbing, it can be spent to do some cultural visits or even perform some activities in the cloud forest near Quito or relaxing in the hot springs of Baños, always according to your preferences.

Ask us any other detail you need to know, and join this group departure on the 20th of December.

Contact us:
Josep Nebot
Sales Manager
PIONEER JOURNEYS
The Custom Adventure Travel Company of Ecuador
Web: www.pioneerjourneys.com
Skype user: pioneer.journeys
E-mail: jnebot@pioneerjourneys.com