This is our longest Ecuador preset itinerary for those climbers that want a full mountaineering experience. This program gives a perfect acclimatization process while discovering the Ecuadorian Andes, culture, and scenery. Participants will gain elevation each day for optimal adaptation to the altitude and enjoy a high quality climbing experience.

Itinerary: 

Day 1: Arrival in Quito Ecuador 2800 m - 9350 ft
Pick up at the airport and transfer to Quito
 
Day 2: City tour 2800 m - 9350 ft 
You will meet in the morning at the hotel with your guide for breakfast, discuss any questions about the itinerary, and drive to Old Town for city tour. Visiting Quito’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site is a must see for any visitor to Ecuador. We will admire some well-preserved colonial architecture churches, buildings, and houses. At Quito’s altitude, this day consists the first part of the acclimatization process. We will also run a gear check in the evening. 

Day 3: Hike Pasochoa peak 4200 m - 13,779 ft
We will depart Quito at 8:00am and drive for about hour and a half and get at the trailhead of the Pasochoa at 3300 m – 10,400 ft. The hike is around 3 - 4 hours to the summit. We´ll arrive at the summit around noon, have lunch on top of the peak, and descend for two hours to the base where the transportation will pick up and return to the hotel. (Overnight at the same hotel in Quito)

 
Day 4: Hike Guagua Pichincha 4800 m – 15,840 ft 
You will meet your guide for breakfast at the hotel, discuss any questions about the itinerary, and drive east of Quito for a couple of hours. The parking place starts already at 12,100 ft and from there we will hike on a dirt road for about two hours to reach the trailhead. We will then traverse a scree and rocky ridge for an hour to reach the summit of this ancient volcano. We will descend following a steep scree slope to reach the main road, and walk for a half hour to reach our car and drive to Quito. We will have a complete gear check in the evening at the hotel. 

Day 5: Cayambe Hut 4600 m – 15,400 ft
After a delicious breakfast, we will load our car and drive 3 hours to Cayambe's hut. After lunch in the hut, we'll head out to the glacier entrance located at 16,000ft for further acclimatization. The hike is around 3 hours round trip. We'll come back to the hut and spend the night there.

Day 6: Glacier skills 5000 m – 16,000 ft
This day is dedicated to review climbing skills. We’ll head to the glacier to do the climbing skills practice. After spending 3 to 4 hours on the glacier we will return to the hut, have an early dinner, and make the final preparations for the summit ascent. We’ll go to bed early and rest until 11:00pm to start our summit attempt.

Day 7: Cayambe Summit 5790 m - 18,996 ft 

We will wake up at 11:00pm and gear up for the summit. We will hike for an hour and a half to two hours through a rocky-sandy section to get to the glacier entrance as in the previous days. There we will put crampons on, rope up, and continue a gentle icy field that heads to a snowy 35-45 degrees slope through some crevasses. After a few traverses and short sections of steeper slopes, we’ll arrive at the summit around 7 or 8 in morning.

After a successful summit we will return to the hut, pack up our gear, and drive down for about two hours to Hacienda Guachalá to rest and recover. Guachalá is the oldest Hacienda in Ecuador and is one of the largest and nicest resorts in the area.

Day 8: Rest day 
We will drive to Guaytara Hacienda in the Antisana Ecologic Reserve.

Day 9: Antisana Base Camp 4600 m – 15,180 ft 
Late breakfast and drive for two hours to the Advanced Base Camp of Antisana (night in tents) 

Day 10: Antisana Summit 5740 m - 18,827 ft 

We will wake up at 11:00pm and have a light breakfast before gearing up. The climb is about 6-7 hours to reach the summit. Descent will take 3-4 hours to the camp. After breaking down the camp, we will drive to La Cienega, an amazing old hacienda over 400 years old. 

Day 11: Riobamba 
Resting and recovery day. 
This day we’ll drive south of the country and stay in Riobamba, the closest city to Chimborazo.

Day 12: Chimborazo Hut 4800 m – 15,700 ft
After a late breakfast, we’ll start driving to the Chimborazo refuge. Depending of the route conditions, we’ll either stay at Whymper hut and climb the normal Veintimilla route or hike to Stubel glacier and camp at 5100 m – 16,567 ft for our ascent.

Day 13: Chimborazo Summit 6310 m -  20,702 ft 

Our final ascent. This is the hardest and most physically demanding day of the trip. We will wake up at 11:00pm and prepare for a 6 to 8 hour sustained climb. We’ll reach Whimper summit and be met with a spectacular view of the Ecuadorian Andes. Surrounding peaks such as Altar, Tungurahua, Ilinizas, Cotopaxi, and Antisana can all be seen in a clear day.
The descent to the hut or camp is about three hours, where we will pack up and drive to Banjos, a charming tropical town located at 1800 m (6000 ft). 

Day 14: Window day
If we need a day for weather or more rest.,we'll stay at the hut. If we summit early, we will spend this day in Banjos relaxing.

Day 15: Drive back to Quito
After a four hour drive we will get back to the Ecuadorian capital. You will have time for shopping in the afternoon (optional) and will spend the night at a hotel in Quito. Pack up and get ready for fly back home (you can also choose to fly this evening).

Day 16: Fly out

End of the trip.

Trip Includes: 

• Transfer from and to the airport
• All in-country private transport during the trip 
• Hotel accommodation in Quito, Chaupi, Riobamba and hut accommodation in Cayambe & Chimborazo 
• Professional, English speaking IFMGA-UIAGM certified mountain guide for the mountain in a 1 to 2 guide to client ratio.
•  3 healthy meals a day plus snacks during the wilderness components
• All park entrance fees 
• All camping & cooking equipment (if applicable) 
• Sleeping tents (if applicable)
• Phone emergency calling
• Medical kit

Not Included: 

• International flights
• Personal clothing and climbing equipment 
•  All Dinners in Quito
• Incidental personal expenditures, including emergency evacuations and medical expenditures 
• Travel, personal, and/or medical insurance
• Tips

I highly recommend Travelex insurance or similar to protect your trip and to provide emergency medical coverage. Travelex also includes coverage of pre-existing conditions if booked within 21 days of trip deposit.