Andes Climbing Adventure & Mountaineering School, Ecuador Essential Info
Ever wondered what it takes to become a mountaineer? Now is your chance to learn mountain climbing in the Andes. Conquer 3 different summits including the much revered Cotopaxi one of the highest volcanoes in the world (Ecuador's second highest summit), Imbabura an (inactive giant stratovolcano in northern Ecuador) and the mighty Chimborazo. The summit of Mount Everest reaches a higher elevation above sea level, but the summit of Chimborazo is widely reported to be the farthest point from Earth's center and Ecuadors highest peak.
Our 12 day gap year programme incorporates necessary acclimatization periods and a glacier school training at the Cayambe.
About This Course: Introduction To Mountaineering Skills
During the course you will be trained by the Ecuador's top instructors all of whom, have graduated from highly prestigious mountain schools and are members of ASEGUIM. Ecuadorians are well equipped to teach about high altitude techniques, with the Andes as their proving grounds. You will learn mountain climbing techniques like snow climbing, energy-saving, movement efficiency in the mountains, use of belays, construction and equalization of anchors, rope handling and rappelling. All of this on a glacier providing a magnificent setting.Andes Mountaineering School Highlights: Visiting Otovalo market town. Ideal if you want to stock up on handicrafts, souvenirs and lama fur jackets! Summiting Imbabuura (4630m) Climbing skills and glacier training in Cayambe mountain climbing school Summiting Cotopaxi Summiting Chimborazo, the furthest point from the earths centre.
Accommodation Shared in hotel and huts. Single person upgrade is an extra €80.
Getting ThereThe programme begins in Quito. If you would like assistance with your flights, we can assist with sourcing the best value flight options, just indicate on your booking form.
When To GoPlease contact us for prices and availability.
Why Xtreme Gap?If you thinking of waiting to book until you get out to the country you planning on travelling to think again. This is why you should book with us. Booking with Xtreme Gap ensures you will do it! Sounds obvious, but many people who put off booking prior to departure, find out that their chosen programme is full. By booking your programme up front, you can have peace of mind that you will achieve what you set out to do an because we are the best value gap year company booking with Xtreme Gap stretches your travel budget further, remember we are the best value gap year company.
Price and DatesPrice From €1.897
Included
- Transfer from your airport to hotel
- Private transportation to the whole tour
- Professional instructor-guides ASEGUIM registered (ratio of 2 climbers - 1 guide in Cayambe and Cotopaxi)
- Accommodation in Hotels
- Accommodation in huts Casa Aida, Ruales-Oleas-Berge (Cayambe), Jos, Ribas (Cotopaxi) and Whymper (Chimborazo)
- Meals on the mountains as mentioned in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; BL: Box Lunch; D: Dinner)
- National Park Entrance fees.
Excluded
- General climbing and trekking equipment like boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, mattress, sleeping bag, sun glasses, head lamp, etc (Available for hire)
- Lunch and dinner while you stay in hotels
- Single person supplement
- Extra drinks in huts
- Travel insurance
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Itinerary
Glacier School - Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo 12 days
Day 1: Quito - Otavalo
Travel to Otavalo town to visit its colourful and famous Indian market where you will have lots of opportunities to get souvenirs to take home. Then, we will drive to the Lagoon of Cuicocha, where we'll do some acclimatization hiking (approximately 4 and a half hours). Overnight at a little town La Esperanza.
Day 2: Otavalo - Imbabura summit - Otavalo (4.630 m)
We'll start our hike at about 7 am and after a climb along the ridge of 5 hours we'll reach the summit. Going down will take us another 4 hours. Return to Otavalo. (B - L)
Day 3: Otavalo - Cayambe hut 4600 m.)
We'll leave Otavalo in the morning and head north until we'll reach the village Cayambe, from where we'll go on to the Ruales-Oleas-Berge hut (4600 m). Hike up to the beginning of the glacier and start of the Glacier School . Throughout the day we will check the use of the ice axe, self belay and self arrest, snow climbing techniques and rest step and efficiency of movements. (B - L - D)
Day 4: Glacier School
After breakfast we will continue with our glacier School, we will check the ice climbing techniques.
placing various types of snow and ice protection, rope handling and rappelling, and self crevasse rescue Return to the refuge. (B - L - D)
Day 5: Glacier School
This day we will check glacier travel, crevasse rescue pulley systems and route finding. Return to the refuge and prepare our climb equipment. (B - L - D)
Day 06: Hut - Cayambe summit (5.790 m.) - Quito
Around midnight we'll get up and after 7 hours we'll reach the summit. Going down will take another 4 hours. In the evening we'll be back in Quito. ( B - L)
Day 7: Free day in Quito
This day we'll use to relax before starting the next ascent. (B)
Day 8: Quito - Cotopaxi hut
We'll leave Quito in the morning by car and after one and a half hours we'll get to the Cotopaxi National Park. We'll hike one more hour until we'll reach the Jose Rivas hut (4800 m). After doing some exercises in the glacier we'll have dinner and prepare the ascent. (B - L - D)
Day 9: Hut - Summit - Quito
We'll get up at midnight and after 7 hours we'll reach the summit. After the descent we'll rest a bit in the hut and then we'll return to Quito. (D - L)
Day 10: Free day in Banos
This picturesque town offers you a lot of possibilities to spend an unforgettable day, you can relax in the famous hot springs, visit some of the numerous waterfalls like for example the Pail del Diablo or do some biking or horse-riding. (B)
Day 11: Banos - Chimborazo hut (5000 m)
Our car will leave us at the Hermanos Carell hut at a height of 4800 m. From there we'll hike another 45 minutes until we'll reach the Whymper hut at 5000 m. We'll prepare our equipment for the ascent, have dinner and rest. (B - L - D)
Day 12: Hut - Summit Chimborazo (6310 m) - Quito
We�ll start the ascent at midnight and after 8 hours we'll reach the first summit (Veintimilla 6270m), from there we'll continue the climb until we�ll get to the Whymper summit at a height of 6310 m, the highest point in Ecuador. The tour ends with the return to Quito in the evening. (B - L)
For further information on South America Gap Year programmes see the following.
Argentina Gap Year | South America Gap Year | Venezuela Gap Year | Ecuador Gap Year | Peru Gap Year | Brazil Gap Year
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