Day 1.- Pasochoa, an ancient and heavily eroded volcano, has been inactive since the last ice age. This area is unique in that it preserves the last of the original forest and other vegetation, including an enormous variety of flowers, that once covered the entire Quito basin. The Pasochoa Forest Reserve has almost one hundred species of birds. This is a good place to see the sword-billed hummingbird, the viridian metal tail, various mountain tanagers and the red crested cotinga etc.

Transport from Quito to Pasacho takes about 1 1/2 hours passing through beautiful valleys. There are two accesses points to Pasochoa. The hike can be as difficult or easy as we chose, depending upon which route we take.
Day 2: Valhalla Inn-Machachi-Chaupi. If possible we will drive to "La Virgen". From it is about 3 to 4 hours by foot to reach the first refuge. There are a few bulls in this area that are territorial and must be respected; thus, we will be proceed with caution.
Day 3: We will start at 4-6am. The average ascent time is about 2 to 3 hours. The first hour will be up a sandy screen slope and then we'll go towards the "Paso De La Muerte", which means the "deadly crossing" If you are takeing place in the 3 day climbing tour then you'll be taken back to Quito around 3pm.

Day 4: Today will be a resting day as we need to gather strength for our big climb up the Cotopaxi Volcano. We'll spend the day relaxing at the Valhalla Inn.

Day 5: We depart from Valhalla Inn at 10:30am and we'll reach the Laguna de Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National Park about two hours later. Then we will continue to drive up the mountain until we reach parking lot, which is found at an altitude of 4600m. The José Ribas Refuge is found at 4800m, and to reach t we have to engage in a short trek of 45 minutes from the parking lot, glacier training.

Day 6: Today the adventure starts at midnight. We climb the Whymper route in the direction of Yanasacha, which means large Black Rock in Quechua), and then on towards the summit with an ascending time of 5 to 8 hours. Once on the summit we will enjoy the greatest views of the crater and the neighbouring peaks.

Then we go to visit the museum and change clothes.

The descending time is much shorter taking from 2½ to 4 hours. Once back in the parking lot we'll drive back to Valhalla Inn, where we'll spend the nigh. (If you doing the 6 day climbing tour, you'll be taken back to Quito, arriving at this city around 3pm) (If you wish you could prolong your climbing to for three more days.)

Day 7.- Today will be a resting day and hence, we'll relax and take it easy either at the Valhalla Inn or at a cosy hostel in the city of Baños. The overnight stay in Baños will depend on whether or not the Tungurahua volcano will allow it, as in recent years this volcano has regaining its volcanic activity and preventing people form accessing the city of Baños.

Day 8: Today we'll leave Valhalla Inn at around 11:00 am ( or we'll meet in Ambato at 13:00 for those of you who will join a 2-day climbing tour) Then we'' drive to the first refuge (4800m) arriving in the late afternoon. We will have dinner at the first refuge and then we'll hike 30 minutes to the second refuge which is located at 5000m. We'll spend the night at the second refuge.

Day 9: We'll start our day and tough ascent very early in the morning. The average ascending of ??? time is 7 to 9 hours and the average decent takes about 3 to 4 hours. We return to Quito via Ambato. The refuges offer very good facilities to tourists and climbers (water, electricity, an open fire, safe storage facilities, lockers and a kitchen with all cooking utensils).

6-Day Climbing tour ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICE:	$545US
9-Day Climbing tour ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICE:	$ 893 US
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:	HIGH
MIN. - MAX. GROUP SIZE:	1 - 9 PEOPLE*
AVAILABLE:	ALL YEAR ROUND

The price of these tour include,

All ground transportation within Ecuador , 3 meals a day (non-alcoholic beverages included), all accommodation needed and Ecuadorian taxes.

The price of this tour does not include,

Cotopaxi National Park entrance fees ($10 USD)
Plane ticket from home country to Ecuador and back, departure from Ecuador tax ($40.80 USD), medical expenses, insurance, phone calls nor any extra activities you may wish to part-take.

To book this tour please use the on-line reservation form below. Otherwise just give us a call or write us an e-mail using the contact info provided.

Don't forget to check-out our suggested things to bring list and the immunization requirements needed for this eco-adventure tour.

(* = Required fields)

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU DO NOT HEAR FROM US WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER SENDING YOUR REQUEST THROUGH THIS E-FORM, IT IS BECAUSE YOUR RESERVATION DID NOT REACH US OR FOR SOME REASON OUR REPLY E-MAIL DID NOT REACH YOU (I.E. YOU MISSPELLED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS OR OUR REPLY IS IN YOUR JUNK MAIL FOLDER). IN THIS CASE PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT US FORM OR JUST WRITE US DIRECTLY TO OUR E-MAIL (reservations@ecuador-tierra-viva.com) WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MIGHT CAUSE.

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