A friend and I are traveling to Ecuador to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. We are both fit hikers who are excited for the climb. We will be in Quito for a week before climbing to help get acclimatized. I'd like your help understanding the options you have. We have 2 ideas in our mind: 1. Do a few acclimatization hikes from Quito by ourselves before coming (Pasochoa, Iliniza Norte), then do an express 5 day tour with you. 2. Do a longer 9 day tour with you which covers everything. Could you break down the cost difference between them for us, so we can decide. Also any recommendations you have.

Option 1: Self-guided acclimatization + Climbing express 5 day tour. Tour cost is USD 2,695 per person. This tour is focused specifically on Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, assuming you already arrive well acclimatized. Option 2: Full guided 9-day program. Tour cost is USD 4,815 per person. In both tours we take care of all the required permits and logistics. Our recommendation: If you prefer flexibility and already plan to acclimatize independently, the 5-day express tour is a good fit. If you'd like a fully coordinated experience with carefully planned acclimatization to optimize your chances on the biggest peaks, the 9-day program is the ideal option.

From

US $2,695 per person

Climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Express 5 Days Tour

5 days

•

Start and end in Quito

4.7

111 traveler reviews

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From

US $2,695 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Booking needs min. 2 travelers

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: GUIDEcuador Travel
Hiking & Trekking: Epic trails and breathtaking landscapes await
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
High Intensity: Travelers should be in very good physical condition and expect continuous demanding activities
Guided in English: Other languages on request: Spanish
Group Size 2 - 10
Ages 15+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
Start point
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (Pick-up will be at your hotel in Quito, if it is located within the central area of the city.)
Meals
Dinner (Dinner at the Refuge)
Included Activities
- Drive south through Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park
- Hike from Cotopaxi parking lot to José Ribas Refuge (approximately 1 hour)
- Learn basic climbing techniques and equipment handling (crampons, ice axe, rope)
Optional Activities
- Rent technical equipment including boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet
- Use common climbing gear (ropes, ice screws, snow pickets, rescue gear)
Landmarks
Cotopaxi National Park
José Ribas Refuge
Avenue of the Volcanoes
Day 2
Cotopaxi Summit to Machachi
Meals
Breakfast (Light breakfast before summit push)
Included Activities
- Climb to Cotopaxi Summit (19,347ft/5,897m)
- Summit rest and photography at the crater
Landmarks
Cotopaxi Summit
Day 3
Machachi
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tour to Tesalia Water Springs
- Local indigenous market visit
- Horseback riding
- Cow milking activity
- Local delicatessen sampling (guinea pig)
Landmarks
Tesalia Water Springs
Day 4
Machachi to Chimborazo High Camp
Meals
Dinner (Light dinner)
Included Activities
- Equipment check at Hermanos Carrel Refuge
- Hike to High Camp (approximately 3 hours)
Landmarks
Hermanos Carrel Refuge
Day 5
Chimborazo Summit to Quito
End point
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (Drop-off at your hotel in Quito, if it is located within the central area of the city.)
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Climb to Chimborazo Summit (20,702ft/6,310m)
- Summit rest and photography
Optional Activities
- Airport drop-off instead of hotel drop-off (available for additional USD 65)
Landmarks
Chimborazo Summit

Landmarks
Cotopaxi National Park
José Ribas Refuge
Avenue of the Volcanoes

Landmarks
Cotopaxi Summit

Landmarks
Tesalia Water Springs

Landmarks
Hermanos Carrel Refuge

Landmarks
Chimborazo Summit

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Transport
Free eSIM
TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
Optional Extras

What's Not Included

Flights
Additional Services

Adventure Type

Choose the type of organized adventure that suits your preferences.

Group Adventures
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships.
What to expect
- Group of 10 travelers max.
- Fast booking confirmation
- Carefully planned itineraries
- Travel with like-minded people
Starting at
US $2,695 / traveler
Check availability
Personalized Adventures
Customize an existing itinerary or create your own.
What to expect
- Travel with your own group of min. 2 travelers
- Choose your preferred dates and duration
- Upgrade your accommodation
- Customize the itineraries
After requesting a quote, we will get back to you with a price based on your requirements.
Request quote

Operated by

GUIDEcuador Travel

4.7

(111 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

4 to 80 years old

Response time

7 hours

Response rate

100%

Guidecuador Travel. is a Destination Management Company (DMC) offering...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Reviews from other tours by GUIDEcuador Travel

Tour Operator
4.7

cinci
February 11th, 2026
5
The trip was very smooth and our guide Daniel was easy to travel with and knew the country inside out.
Charles
January 22nd, 2026
4
GUIDEcuador did a wonderful job of curating our Galapagos adventure. It connected us with outstanding guides, and...
GUIDEcuador did a wonderful job of curating our Galapagos adventure. It connected us with outstanding guides, and most of the trips turned-out to be private tours. One exception was the tour of Isabela Island, for which we joined a larger group. The guide for that tour was knowledgable but had a sort of nervous energy that made it difficult to relax and enjoy sights. The logistics for handing-off between guides was mostly seamless; however, on the final day our "chaperone" arrived late, was a little young, and was very disinterested. He made sure that we arrived at the airport on time, but he sat apart from us and seemed to be trying to avoid any interaction. Overall though, both the scenery and the wildlife were unforgettable. Highly recommended!Show more
Boris
February 17th, 2026
5
We had wanted to visit Patagonia for a long time to see its unique nature and wildlife. Thanks to TourRadar, we found...
We had wanted to visit Patagonia for a long time to see its unique nature and wildlife. Thanks to TourRadar, we found the Best of Patagonia 11 Days Tour by GUIDEcuador Travel, and it turned out to be a great choice. We just got back, and the trip was amazing. We saw beautiful landscapes, visited both Argentina and Chile, went hiking, watched penguins and other local animals, and even did glacier trekking. It was a memorable experience from start to finish. We were also extremely lucky with the weather. It was windy, but we had no rain and great visibility of the mountains, which made the views even more impressive. The tour was very well organized. Transportation was always on time, the hotels had excellent service and great breakfasts, and all the local operators were friendly and professional. One thing to know: if you want to see penguins on the Beagle Channel, that activity is not included in the base tour. You need to request it separately. We also had an issue with the eSIM card offered by TourRadar. It connected to the network but didn’t give us internet access. I’d recommend checking with the provider and making sure everything works before you travel. Overall, we had a fantastic trip and would happily recommend this tour to others.Show more

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

From Tuesday
10 Mar, 2026
To Saturday
14 Mar, 2026
English, Spanish
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11 Mar, 2026
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15 Mar, 2026
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16 Mar, 2026
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T
Tammy
Asked on December 22nd, 2025
A friend and I are traveling to Ecuador to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. We are both fit hikers who are excited for the climb. We will be in Quito for a week before climbing to help get acclimatized. I'd like your help understanding the options you have. We have 2 ideas in our mind: 1. Do a few acclimatization hikes from Quito by ourselves before coming (Pasochoa, Iliniza Norte), then do an express 5 day tour with you. 2. Do a longer 9 day tour with you which covers everything. Could you break down the cost difference between them for us, so we can decide. Also any recommendations you have.
Price / Availability
Tour Details
- GUIDEcuador TravelOperator•Written December 2025
  Option 1: Self-guided acclimatization + Climbing express 5 day tour. Tour cost is USD 2,695 per person. This tour is focused specifically on Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, assuming you already arrive well acclimatized. Option 2: Full guided 9-day program. Tour cost is USD 4,815 per person. In both tours we take care of all the required permits and logistics. Our recommendation: If you prefer flexibility and already plan to acclimatize independently, the 5-day express tour is a good fit. If you'd like a fully coordinated experience with carefully planned acclimatization to optimize your chances on the biggest peaks, the 9-day program is the ideal option.

From

US $2,695 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Booking needs min. 2 travelers

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 332478

Currency
$
US Dollar
Ecuador
Plugs & Adapters
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Typhoid - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Hepatitis A - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Tuberculosis - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 3 months before travel.
- Hepatitis B - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 2 months before travel.
- Rabies - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 1 month before travel.
- Yellow fever - Recommended for Ecuador. Ideally 10 days before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 10th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 10th, 2026, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with GUIDEcuador Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and GUIDEcuador Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "GUIDEcuador Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of GUIDEcuador Travel. Please familiarize yourself with the GUIDEcuador Travel payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Express 5 Days Tour

Itinerary

Quito to Cotopaxi National Park

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Cotopaxi Summit to Machachi

Included Activities

Machachi

Optional Activities

Machachi to Chimborazo High Camp

Included Activities

Chimborazo Summit to Quito

Included Activities

Optional Activities

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What's Included

What's Not Included

Adventure Type