Day 1: Depart U.S.A. Most flights arrive in Quito in the late evening. Your guides will meet you at the airport and transfer with you to our hotel. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Alameda in Quito.

Day 2: We meet in the hotel lobby for an orientation meeting and our first team breakfast. The day is spent exploring Colonial Quito with a local tour guide. There is also time to relax and recover from our flights. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Alameda in Quito. (B)

Day 3: After breakfast we leave the city to explore Pasachoa Forest Reserve, a 1,000 acre park at the base of the extinct volcano. The Pasachoa caldera, with its steep flanks and dense vegetation, is surrounded by some of the last remaining high altitude forest of the highlands. This enjoyable hike helps with our acclimatization and prepares us for our upcoming climbs. We return to Quito and overnight at Hotel Mercure Alameda. (B)

Day 4: Leaving the city of Quito we travel to Illiniza Norte, a jagged peak just west of Cotopaxi National Park. This is our second acclimatization hike; this time to 15,000 feet. We spend the night in a traditional Ecuadorian farmhouse, located near the base of Cotopaxi. Overnight at Hacienda El Porvenir. (B)

Day 5: After breakfast, a short drive from Hacienda El Porvenir takes us to the end of the road at the base of Cotopaxi. A short 45 minute hike leads to the Jose Ribas Refugio at 16,000 feet. Overnight at Jose Ribas Refugio. (B, D)

Day 6: In the morning we hike out to the toe of the glacier to focus on reviewing basic mountaineering techniques that will prepare us for our summit attempt. We settle in early in anticipation of our alpine start. Overnight at Jose Ribas Refugio (16,000’). (B, D)

Day 7: Summit day on Cotopaxi (19,348)! With an early alpine start, we use the first hour to approach the glacier. A long, initial pitch gains access to an interesting maze of crevasses on the lower slopes of this beautiful volcano. The ascent then weaves through impressive crevasse fields for several hours before ascending the final steep slopes to the summit. The deep, sheer-walled volcanic crater is an incredibly impressive sight. After our summit celebration and photo session, we descend safely to the hut. Upon reaching the vehicles, we head out of the park to one of Ecuador’s most beautiful colonial haciendas, the 300-year old La Cienega. Climbing time is approximately 10 – 12 hours. Overnight at Hosteria La Cienega. (B)

Day 8: After a leisurely breakfast, we return to Quito for shopping and sightseeing. Prior to spending our last night in Ecuador, we enjoy an evening celebration dinner and overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 9: Early morning transfer to the airport for outbound flights.

Key: B, L, D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.