IMG Ecuador Volcanoes Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather and conditions, tour availability, etc.
| Day | Date | Classic Cayambe & Cotopaxi Itinerary | |
| Day 01 | Depart home for flights to Quito. Most flights arrive at Quito just before midnight (Day 1) or just after midnight (Day 2). Hotel in Quito. | ||
| Day 02 | 31-Oct-25 | Morning gear checks followed by a hike above Quito via the Teleferico (Gondola). Afternoon will be spent seeing famous churches, the Mindalae Museum and other sights in Old Town Quito, continue to Otavalo. Hotel in Quito. | |
| Day 03 | 1-Nov-25 | Early morning departure from Quito. We will visit the famous indigenous Otavalo Market, lunch in Otavalo. Continue to Hacienda Pinsaqui to check in and drop off our belongings, then afternoon visit to Lake Cuicocha with a short hike along the lake. Overnight at the historic Hacienda Pinsaqui. | |
| Day 04 | 2-Nov-25 | After breakfast at hotel, hike to the top of Fuya Fuya (13,986’). On the way to cabañas San Clemente, visit the local indigenous cementery during festive “Día de los Muertos“ celebration. Overnight in San Clemente. | |
| Day 05 | 3-Nov-25 | Early morning to hike and scramble to the summit of Imbabura (15,109’). Spend the night at Cabañas Cayambe where we will sort our gear and pack for Cayambe. | |
| Day 06 | 4-Nov-25 | Drive to the Oleas-Ruales-Berge Hut (15,092’) on Cayambe. The group will spend the afternoon relaxing at the hut and discuss topics including high altitude and expedition climbing. | |
| Day 07 | 5-Nov-25 | Training day on the lower slopes of Cayambe. Review to include basic cramponing, proper use of the ice axe and roped travel. Second night spent at the hut. | |
| Day 09 | 7-Nov-25 | A nice recovery day spent visiting old historic haciendas, tasting Ecuadorian food and fruits at San Cuco and taking photos on the way to Hacienda los Mortiños (just in front of Cotopaxi volcano). Visit Guango (hummingbird observation), visit hacienda Las Herrerias. We'll meet Jorge Anhalzer, famed Ecuadorian explorer, climber, photographer, journalist, ultra-light pilot and old friend who occasionally flies over the top of the mountains when we are climbing. Nice views of the mountain, perfect altitude location before climbing Cotopaxi, excellent food and perfect resting place. | |
| Day 08 | 6-Nov-25 | Summit attempt of Cayambe (18,997’). Return to the hut, pack gear and transfer to Papallacta for the night at the famed hot springs and hotel. | |
| Day 10 | 8-Nov-25 | After breakfast, we start preparing our staff for climbing Cotopaxi. Lunch at noon followed by a 20-minute drive to the Cotopaxi parking area, (15,092'). From here we take about 40-minute hike to the hut where we will serve dinner around 6 pm, then go to our bunks to rest. | |
| Day 11 | 9-Nov-25 | Midnight wake up, climbers enjoy hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) before starting the summit attempt of Cotopaxi (19,347'). It takes us around 7 hours up and 3-4 hours down. Next we'll head to another incredible hacienda, La Cienega to overnight. | |
| Day 12 | We'll visit some Indian painters and have lunch in San Agustin amongst the historic ruins built at least 600 years ago by the Inca. Visit to old Hacienda Tilipulo, tour a flower plantation and finish with an early team dinner at Inca Hacienda. Those traveling home will depart for the airport in the afternoon while those climbing Chimborazo will spend another night at the hacienda in La Cienega. For those headed home, any flight after 8pm of Day 12 will work. | ||
| Chimborazo Extension Itinerary | |||
| Day 13 | Travel day to Chimborazo. Depending on the weather and conditions, we may stay at the Carrel Refuge (16,000ft) at the end of the road, or we climb to high camp for the night (17,400ft). | ||
| Day 14 | 12-Nov-25 | Summit attempt on Chimborazo (20,561') if weather allows. Long day of climbing followed by travel to Baños for famous hot springs and nice food. | |
| Day 15 | 13-Nov-25 | Contingency summit day for Chimborazo with travel back to Quito in the afternoon. If we summit on this day, then we will go straight from Chimborazo to Quito and be back in time for flights after midnight. | |
| Day 16 | 14-Nov-25 | Travel day home. Any flight after midnight on Day 15 will work well. | |