HIGH ALTITUDE TREKKING – Tres Volcan
Expedition Duration: 15 Days (includes Rest & Relaxation and white water rafting)
Description: Guided, supported High Altitude trekking peaks
Expedition Level: Intermediate/Advanced
A chance to scale three wonderful volcanoes in the Valley of Volcanoes!
Cotopaxi National Park
The National Park is set within the ‘Valley of Volcanoes’, a vast area stretching the length of Ecuador, along the central highland belt. It contains 10 of the world’s highest volcanoes. A brief hop from Quito the team will prepare in a little Hacienda set alongside the National Park. It’s important that we acclimatise sufficiently so accordingly we’ve built in a three day acclimatisation trek though this stunning park. The trek itself passes Inca temples; spring fed streams, lava flows and is constantly blessed with views of both Mt Ruminahui and Mt Cotopaxi. Our camp sites are selected to take in the best of the scenery and wildlife, but more importantly to give us the essential time at altitude!
Mt Ruminahui
Mt Ruminahui, adjacent to Mt Cotopaxi forms the initial peak of our three peak challenge. Named after an Inca warrior, this heavily eroded stratovolcano makes the ideal stepping stone for the forthcoming peaks of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. It affords the ideal opportunity to get used to each other, the equipment and the altitude. Remaining within clear view of towering Mt Cotopaxi, this mountain itself is a challenge and not a peak to be taken lightly. Without the necessary acclimatisation many fail to scale its dizzy heights. For us it’s the perfect precursor to Mt Cotopaxi, our next challenge.
Cotopaxi.
An almost symmetrical cone that rises from a highland plain and a perfect example of a stratovolcano. Located 75 miles south of Quito, the world’s second highest capital city, Cotopaxi is capped by one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world. The glacier encompasses the near perfect conical peak from 5,000m to the summit. Clearly visible on the skyline from Quito it forms part of the chain of volcanoes around the Pacific plate known as the Pacific Ring Of Fire.
The mountain refuge, located just below the glacier, is our starting point for the summit push. Assisted by experienced park guides (ratio 1:3) the summit push is carried out in one morning, leaving just after midnight to ensure the integrity of glacier’s ice fields.
Chimborazo
Mount Chimborazo’s summit at 6383m is widely regarded as the point on earth furthest from its core! First climbed in 1880 by Edward Whymper it offers numerous routes, all accompanied by outstanding views located as it is high above the Ecuadorian towns of Rio-Bamba and Ambato. It is scheduled as our ‘ultimate goal’ but we hope it will serve as a catalyst to many more climbs at altitude. Once more our summit trek will commence from its mountain refuge, making the most of the cold night and its advanced altitude. Guides from the National Park Guiding service (ratio 1:3) will accompany us to the summit from where we’ll descend to the mountains base and retreat to Ambato, where we’ll stay the night, celebrate and relax.
Banos
By way of celebration, or relaxation we’ll travel the short distance to Banos. Set into the mountainside deep within volcanic scenery the team will visit the wonderfully hot volcanic spring pools to rest and soothe our aching limbs.
Banos is a bustling little town, home to numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, craft shops and guest houses. In our opinion it’s a great place to unwind and appears to be loved by everyone that visits. Its mixture of friendly shop keepers, street acts and cuisine (including the local delicacy guinea-pig) it will round off our stay in Ecuador and send you home with some fond memories and new friends.
White Water Rafting
The Rio Pastaza runs directly through this huge volcanic valley picking up speed and volume as it careers toward the Amazon basin and eventually to the mighty river itself.
Our white water rafting excursion will take us along 25 km of the best rapids that the Pastaza has to offer. Although wild, (brown not white) the water is warm and the scenery stunning. Each rafting group is accompanied by expert kayakers who are there to guide the teams through the rapids and onward to the final ‘take out’ where we’re joined by the back-up crew and taken to a small café/restaurant for a meal before heading, home - content and happy.
