Join us this November for 10 days in Ecuador exploring the culture and climbing the second highest mountain in the country.

November 6-15, 2015.
Ecuador is a climbers paradise. This trip will take you from the culture rich capital city of Quito to the grassy highlands, over rocky summits, and to the glaciated slopes of Cotopaxi. We will get to experience it all and get a taste of what Ecuador has to offer. Whether you are looking for your first international climb, or have traveled the globe, Ecuador is a great climbing destination that will leave you with lasting memories and an experience like no other.

PRICE:
$2600/person

Included: All Transportation in Ecuador, All Lodging in Ecuador, NEM Guides, Certified Ecuadorian Guide, Cotopaxi climbing permit, rental gear.
Not Included: Flight to and from Ecuador, Meals, Souvenirs, Gratuities, Recommended Travel and Rescue Insurance.

ITINERARY:
November 6, 2015: Today we arrive in Quito, Ecuador. Plan for your flight to arrive on this date or earlier. We will check in to our hotel and get ourselves settled and rested from the long flight. Transportation to our hotel will be provided.

November 7: We will meet for breakfast and do some sightseeing in Quito today to acclimatize to the elevation of 9,350ft. There are many sights to be seen in this unique capital city.

November 8: We will meet early and take a cab ride to the Teleferico which will take us to 13,500ft. From here we will begin our climb of Rucu Pichincha, 15,696ft. This is our first taste of altitude and we will climb slowly through many alpine zones from beautiful grassy highlands to the rocky summit. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

November 9: After an early start we will drive to the trail-head for El Corazon, 15,718ft. This is our second acclimatization hike. Another beautiful peak on grassy slopes and rocky outcrops. After the climb we will spend the night at our hotel near the base of the mountain.

November 10: After two days of climbing we get a rest day. We will spend the day visiting the ruins of the Incas and completing a short hike. We will spend the night in our hotel near the base of Cotopaxi.

November 11: We now have our sights set on our main objective. We will drive to Cotopaxi and walk the last 45 minutes to Jose Ribas Refugio at an altitude of 16,000ft.We will spend the afternoon reviewing mountaineering skills. Overnight at the Refuge.

November 12: We will hike to the base of the glacier to stretch our legs and lungs at our new altitude. The day will be spent reviewing more skills on the glacier. We will get to bed early at the Refuge and get ready for our summit attempt.

November 13: The big day! Our summit attempt on Cotopaxi, 19,348ft. Our climb will wind us through mazes of crevasses and up the glaciated slopes of Cotopaxi. The views are magnificent, especially from the summit as we can see into the volcanic crater. The climb will take approximately 10-12 hours round trip. After returning to the Refuge, we will pack up and drive back to Quito for some rest, relaxation and a celebration dinner.

November 14: We have and extra day built into the itinerary to help us acclimate or wait out bad weather. This gives us the best chances of reaching the summit of Cotopaxi. If it is not needed, we will spend the day enjoying Quito and the surrounding area and make a visit to the Equator where you can have one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern.

November 15: Today we say our goodbyes and board our flights home. Transportation to the airport will be provided.