Slide 1

$55 per person | From Quito

Cotopaxi Summit

Ecuador's second-highest peak

See itinerary

Guaranteed departures

Available Every Day

Our itinerary

Cotopaxi Climbing Tour



AVG. TEMPERATURE
0°C / 32°F



TOUR RATING
4.8 / 5



AVG. ELEVATION
5,897 meters / 19,347 feet



DIFFICULTY
Challenging

1

Equipment Check & Departure from Quito

Start your adventure by meeting your guide at our Quito office at 10:00 a.m. We’ll go through a comprehensive equipment check to ensure everything is in order for the climb. This is an essential step to guarantee your safety and comfort during the expedition. Once all gear is checked, we will depart Quito, heading south toward our first stop.

Next activity

2

Lunch & Journey to Cotopaxi

We’ll drive to the picturesque town of Machachi, where we’ll pause for a hearty lunch. This stop allows you to enjoy local cuisine and provides a break before the ascent.

After lunch, we continue our journey in a sturdy 4×4 vehicle, navigating rugged terrain until we reach the parking lot at 4,600 meters (15,091.86 ft). At this point, you’ll put on most of your climbing equipment to minimize the load you’ll carry to the refuge.

Next activity

3

Hike to Refuge & Training

From the parking lot, we’ll embark on a 45-minute hike to the José Rivas Refuge, situated at 4,800 meters (15,748.03 ft). This hike helps with acclimatization and prepares you for the climb ahead.

Upon arrival, you’ll settle into the refuge. In the afternoon, we conduct a glacier school session to familiarize you with the use of climbing equipment such as crampons and ice axes. This hands-on training is crucial for your safety on the glacier.

We’ll have dinner at the refuge, followed by rest to prepare for the early morning summit attempt.

Next activity

4

Midnight Summit Attempt

The second day begins around 00:30 a.m. with a wake-up call and a cup of tea. After final preparations and packing only the essentials, we’ll set out on our summit attempt. The climb from the José Rivas Refuge to the summit of Cotopaxi typically takes about 5 to 6 hours. This slow and steady trek aims to reach the summit by sunrise, between 6 and 7 a.m. Although challenging, the ascent is incredibly rewarding, offering breathtaking views as dawn breaks over the Andes. This timeframe can vary based on weather conditions, the climbers’ pace, and acclimatization.

In the event that any member of our team cannot continue and needs to descend for safety reasons, we will need to make a collective decision. Please keep in mind that there will be two climbers per mountain guide. If one traveler is unable to continue, the entire group must return. In some cases, if there are other climbers attempting the summit, there may be an opportunity for the traveler who wishes to continue to join a different rope group. However, this is never guaranteed and may involve additional costs.

Next activity

5

Descent & Return to Quito

After reaching the summit and taking time to celebrate and capture photos, we’ll begin our descent back to the refuge.

Once there, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved breakfast. We’ll then pack up and start our journey back to Quito, aiming to arrive around 2:00 p.m.

Group Rate: 380 USD per person with a minimum of 2 participants.
Solo Traveler Rate: 640 USD for 1 participant.

Departures are every day of the week.

Important:

Please be advised that the itinerary is subject to change without prior notice due to external factors and at the discretion of the guide.

Activity times are approximate and may be adjusted if necessary.

Although we recommend participants have good fitness for the hike’s and climbs physical demands, please note that our experienced guide will always be there to provide support.

Please note that when you are a solo traveler and request us to match you with another climber, we cannot guarantee the physical condition or prior experience of your partner, just as we cannot guarantee your conditions and experience to the other climber. As a solo traveler with significant mountain experience and a strong desire to ensure a successful summit, we always advise booking a private tour.

Private transport in a 4×4 vehicle.

Certified ASEGUIM guide fluent in Spanish and English.

Meals: lunch and dinner on the first day, breakfast on the second day.

Accommodation at the refuge, including a bed, mattress, and thermal blanket.

Glacier school session, weather permitting.

Technical mountain equipment: plastic boots, crampons, harness, carabiner, helmet, flashlight (without batteries), external two-finger gloves, gaiters, ice axe, waterproof pants, waterproof jacket, and rope.

Extra food and drinks, 2 liters of water per day.

Personal clothing: Lycra-type shirt and pants, fleece jacket and pants, internal gloves, 2 to 3 pairs of socks.

Backpacks: one 40-liter and one 15-liter.

Buff (neck gaiter).

Sunblock.

Sleeping bag.

Sunglasses.

Camera.

Batteries for the flashlight (2 pairs of AAA).

Taxes Ecuadorian tourist and companies.

Get ready for climbing tour with this packing list:

Lycra-type shirt and pants

Fleece jacket and pants

Internal gloves

2 to 3 pairs of socks

1 large backpack (40 liters)

1 small backpack (15 liters)

Buff (neck gaiter)

Sleeping bag

Sunglasses

Camera

Flashlight batteries (2 pairs of AAA)

Sunblock

Extra food and drinks

2 liters of water per day

And for a Cotopaxi passport stamp:

Bring your original passport.

Back to all tours

Group Rate: 380 USD per person with a minimum of 2 participants.
Solo Traveler Rate: 640 USD for 1 participant.

Departures are every day of the week.

Important:

Please be advised that the itinerary is subject to change without prior notice due to external factors and at the discretion of the guide.

Activity times are approximate and may be adjusted if necessary.

Although we recommend participants have good fitness for the hike’s and climbs physical demands, please note that our experienced guide will always be there to provide support.

Please note that when you are a solo traveler and request us to match you with another climber, we cannot guarantee the physical condition or prior experience of your partner, just as we cannot guarantee your conditions and experience to the other climber. As a solo traveler with significant mountain experience and a strong desire to ensure a successful summit, we always advise booking a private tour.

Private transport in a 4×4 vehicle.

Certified ASEGUIM guide fluent in Spanish and English.

Meals: lunch and dinner on the first day, breakfast on the second day.

Accommodation at the refuge, including a bed, mattress, and thermal blanket.

Glacier school session, weather permitting.

Technical mountain equipment: plastic boots, crampons, harness, carabiner, helmet, flashlight (without batteries), external two-finger gloves, gaiters, ice axe, waterproof pants, waterproof jacket, and rope.

Extra food and drinks, 2 liters of water per day.

Personal clothing: Lycra-type shirt and pants, fleece jacket and pants, internal gloves, 2 to 3 pairs of socks.

Backpacks: one 40-liter and one 15-liter.

Buff (neck gaiter).

Sunblock.

Sleeping bag.

Sunglasses.

Camera.

Batteries for the flashlight (2 pairs of AAA).

Taxes Ecuadorian tourist and companies.

Get ready for climbing tour with this packing list:

Lycra-type shirt and pants

Fleece jacket and pants

Internal gloves

2 to 3 pairs of socks

1 large backpack (40 liters)

1 small backpack (15 liters)

Buff (neck gaiter)

Sleeping bag

Sunglasses

Camera

Flashlight batteries (2 pairs of AAA)

Sunblock

Extra food and drinks

2 liters of water per day

And for a Cotopaxi passport stamp:

Bring your original passport.

Back to all tours

Frequently Asked questions

Cotopaxi Climbing

Q: How difficult is the climb to the summit of Cotopaxi?

The climb is challenging and requires good physical condition. It involves a 5 to 6-hour ascent on ice to reach the summit by sunrise.

Q: Do I need prior mountaineering experience?

We require and appreciate a certain level of experience for this tour to ensure you get the most out of the experience.

Q: What if someone decides to turn back during the climb?

Please keep in mind that there will be two climbers per mountain guide. If one traveler is unable to continue, the entire group must return unless there are additional guides available to split the group.

Q: How should I prepare for high altitude on the climb?

Proper acclimatization is key. We offer other acclimatization tours recommended before your summit attempt. The itinerary includes gradual ascent and overnight stay at high altitude. Stay hydrated and follow the guide’s recommendations.