Trekking on the Avenue of the Volcanoes in the Andes

We set off to discover the colonial city of Quito, capital of the Caras and the Incas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Partly built under Spanish rule, the city of Quito will dazzle us with its architecture, its tranquility, and its history.

We visit the Jesuit church of La Compañia de Jesus, whose construction began in 1605, and its incredible gilding; the Plaza Grande, home to the cathedral and the Palacio del Gobierno (government palace); and the churches of La Merced and Santo Domingo. Next, we stroll along La Ronda, the famous colonial street of the Ecuadorian capital, lined with 17th-century buildings. Many artists, politicians, and writers once resided here.

At midday, a short transfer will take us to visit the Santa Clara market. Very local, even though it's a city market and not a tourist one, this market will show us the daily life of Quiteños (residents of Quito). Lunch is included at the market, where we can try the famous hornado, pork cooked in a traditional oven for 12 hours.

In the afternoon, we visited a charming little museum of pre-Columbian art, the Casa del Alabado, showcasing 5,000 pieces from all over the country. Through the various rooms we visited, we discovered the three levels of the cosmos with representations of the Gods, Humans, and Spirits.

Return to the hotel and dinner at your leisure.

Early in the morning, we head north to the Otavalo region, famous for its market. We set off towards the magnificent Cuicocha Lagoon, overlooked by the Cotacachi volcano (4,944 m). Shortly after starting our hike, we are already treated to a beautiful panoramic view of the lagoon and its surroundings. We walk around the lagoon and discover the various legends associated with this place. On the way back, we stop in the village of Cotacachi, renowned for its leather shops and products exported worldwide. In the late afternoon, we visit a Kichwa community living near Otavalo.

Overnight stay and dinner in the company of the indigenous community.

(5 hours of walking, +540m/-540m)

This morning we head to downtown Otavalo and visit its famous, vibrant market. It's the largest and most well-known indigenous market in Ecuador. We find three distinct sections: the animal market, held outside the city center (only on Saturdays), the typical fruit and vegetable market, and the craft market. After this visit, we continue our journey. Along the way, we visit "Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World) and its monument marking the equator. We cross from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere in the blink of an eye! We learn about the equinoxes and solstices through scientific explanations. In the afternoon, we head south to the area surrounding Cotopaxi National Park. We travel along the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes. We pass near the volcanoes Atacazo (4570 m), Rucu (4690 m) and Guagua Pichincha (4790 m), Pasochoa (4200 m), Corazón (4790 m) and Ruminahui (4720 m). We stop in the village of Machachi where we spend the night in a small rural inn.

Today, we begin our 2-day trek through the Western Andes. The total elevation gain for this first day will be slightly positive. From Isinlivi, we hike to the village of Chucchilan, located at 3200 meters. We'll have a picnic lunch during our trek. This trek takes us through rural, often arid valleys in a region of Ecuador that has remained natural and wild, like the famous Toachi Canyon. This is one of the most enjoyable treks in Ecuador. We arrive in Chucchilan in the afternoon and enjoy a pleasant late afternoon in this stunning setting. Overnight stay and dinner at the lodge.

(6 hours of walking, +630m/-450m, max altitude 3200m)

After breakfast, we continued our trek, which we had begun the previous day. Still traversing the Toachi Canyon, we reached the magnificent Quilotoa Lagoon. With 720 meters of elevation gain between Chugchilan (3200 m) and Quilotoa (3920 m), this hike was the most challenging of the trip. The end of the trek allowed us to appreciate the beautiful lagoon with its turquoise waters. Then, we headed to the town of Latacunga, where we had a centrally located hotel to rest and enjoy a good meal in the evening.

(6 hours of walking, +990m/-350m; Max. altitude 3920m)

This morning, we set off for the last day of the Quilotoa trek. Starting from the Quilotoa lagoon, we walk to the hamlet of Tigua, arriving after about 5 hours of walking.

During this day, we'll travel alongside impressive canyons and through numerous small private estates with fields often ablaze with color depending on the crops being grown, as well as simple dwellings where local indigenous families live. Rest assured, we won't be alone; some children will certainly follow us along the way and try to communicate with us!

Picnic lunch included or at the Posada de Tigua hostel (depending on the number of people in the group).

This typical rural inn in the Ecuadorian Andes is run by the family of former Ecuadorian president Guillermo Rodriguez Lara (1972-1976), considered by many to be a dictator. His grandsons, who now run the inn, will readily discuss this period if we engage in conversation. The atmosphere is peaceful, friendly, and very pleasant.

Then, we continue our journey towards the south of the country. Dinner included and overnight stay in a hostel located in Urbina, at the foot of the impressive Chimborazo volcano.

(5h30 walking time, D+350M/d-360m, Max. Alt. 3920m)

After a short transfer, we begin a two-day trek through the páramo (the typical vegetation of the Andean highlands) of the Chimborazo region, home to Ecuador's highest peak: the Chimborazo volcano (6,270 m). Circling the Chimborazo volcano, we walk alongside the Royal Road, a route that was certainly used by pre-Incan civilizations and was an important route during the Spanish colonization and the early years of the Republic (16th to 19th centuries). It was, in fact, the trade route that connected Guayaquil (on the Pacific coast) to Quito, the capital. Goods and people traveled along this route.

Edward Whymper also traveled part of this route in 1879 when he became the first man to climb the Chimborazo volcano, whose summit is the point closest to the sun and furthest from the center of the Earth.

We start this route at an altitude of 3160m, and we arrive at our first night's Casa Condor refuge after 14 km of walking at an arrival altitude of 3900m.

Picnic lunch. We're staying at the foot of the Andean colossus in a rustic but beautiful mountain lodge. Dinner is included at the lodge.

(6 hours of walking, +780m/-140m, max altitude 3900m)

After a short transfer by vehicle to the Hermanos Carrel refuge on the Chimborazo volcano, we embark on the second day of this magnificent trek around Chimborazo. This day will be long but relatively easy thanks to its predominantly negative elevation gain.

We will need approximately 5-6 hours to complete this trek. During the hike, with the Chimborazo volcano constantly on our right, we will see many vicuñas living in complete freedom.

Picnic lunch included

We arrive at the Mechahuasca refuge in the early afternoon, where our driver will be waiting for us. Then, transfer back to the hostel. Dinner included.

(6h30 walking time, +125m/-715m elevation gain, max altitude 4850m)

We'll depart early again to reach the foot of the Carihuairazo volcano. We'll retrace our steps, and after our guide pays the entrance fee to the Mechahuasca community, our vehicle will continue along a drivable road for another 2-3 kilometers. If the weather remains clear, we can observe the magnificent Chimborazo volcano, rising to 6,270 meters, as well as vicuñas roaming freely and the community's herds of llamas.

The ascent begins at approximately 4200m altitude. Up to the final peak, the slopes are gentle and present no technical difficulties. Then, depending on the time of year, generally from November to March, the last 200-300m of elevation gain, which are steeper, will be snow-covered and will require crampons to reach the summit safely.

Please note that the semi-automatic crampons we provide can be attached to some non-crampon-compatible boots. Otherwise, you will need to rent suitable boots on site. A helmet and ice axe will also be provided.

Picnic lunch included.

Return to the vehicle and transfer to Baños. Located at an altitude of "only" 1,800 meters, this charming spa town boasts both Andean and tropical vegetation. The town lies at the crossroads between the Andes and the Amazon. An optional visit to the town's thermal baths is available at the end of the day. Dinner is on your own in Baños, followed by an overnight stay in a charming hotel in the town center.

(5h30 walking time, D+750m/D-750m, Max. Alt. 5018m)

Departure towards eastern Ecuador on the Amazon Highway. After a short drive along the Waterfall Route, we will stop at the famous and spectacular Pailón del Diablo waterfall. A 40-minute walk will be required to fully appreciate the cascading water against the rock. We will also stop at the spectacular Manto de la Novia (Bride's Mantle) gondola.

which crosses the valley from one point to the other. The scenery is magnificent, and we'll be able to observe waterfalls, each more impressive than the last. Return to Baños and lunch on your own.

The afternoon is free, but the guide and driver will be at your disposal. If you wish (at an additional cost), you can take part in an activity such as canyoning, mountain biking, bungee jumping, horseback riding, visiting a small art gallery, visiting a craft workshop, hiking on the slopes of the active volcano Tungurahua, etc.

NOTE: All optional activities in and around Baños must be booked and paid for locally. Our guide can assist and accompany us during these activities at no extra charge.

Departure towards Cotopaxi National Park, one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador. The Cotopaxi volcano is the highest active volcano in the world, reaching an altitude of 5,890 meters. This magnificent volcano offers lunar landscapes, typical of the Andean highlands. We begin our hike amidst the volcanic terrain where wild horses roam. Along the way, we also encounter "chagras," the name given to farmers on horseback. We arrive at the Limpiopungo Lagoon, where numerous Andean birds breed and feed. After our picnic lunch in the heart of the park, we continue to the José Ribas refuge on the Cotopaxi volcano. The refuge is located at an altitude of 4,800 meters, almost the same as Mont Blanc. We descend to spend the night in a beautiful, typical Andean hacienda. Dinner at the hacienda.

Cotopaxi Option: If you wish to climb Cotopaxi, you will spend the night at the refuge. You will then set off to conquer the 5896m peak during the night, around 11 pm-midnight, in order to reach the summit by sunrise on Day 13. You will rejoin the rest of the group in the morning.

Note: People climbing Cotopaxi will not climb Rumiñahui the following day.

Important: Climbing Cotopaxi, as with other active volcanoes, depends on weather conditions and the activity of the volcano (access is sometimes closed, please consult us).

(1 to 4 hours of walking, max. altitude 4800m)

Today we're climbing Mount Rumiñahui, which rises to 4,720 meters. This peak is part of the famous "Avenue of the Volcanoes," named by the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt. After breakfast, we'll head to Limpiopungo Lagoon, where we'll begin our ascent. The three peaks that make up this volcano face Mount Cotopaxi (5,896 m), which dominates all the surrounding mountain ranges. Once we reach the summit, the view is breathtaking. The climb, while not excessively difficult, requires a good level of fitness. We'll be hiking on an arid terrain of rocks and sandy soil. A few sections near the top will require the use of our hands. We'll have a picnic lunch on the slopes of Mount Rumiñahui. Afterward, we'll return to the modern center of Quito to spend one last evening in a lively atmosphere.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay in Quito.

(4h30 walk, D+770m/D-770m, max altitude 4720m)

Depending on flight schedules, we will enjoy free time in the capital before being taken to the international airport for our return flight. Meals are not included.