Self-Launched Trek: Ecuador's Avenue of Volcanoes & Cotopaxi Summit (5897m)

Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). Take the Aeropuerto Express bus into central Quito for around £1.50, or a pre-booked taxi for roughly £18–22 (agree the fare before you get in, or use the official taxi desk in arrivals). Check into a hostel in the La Mariscal or La Floresta neighbourhood — both are well-placed for acclimatisation walks and have good eating options. Rest and hydrate; take the altitude seriously at 2850m.

🚌Aeropuerto Express bus from airport to Río Coca station, then city bus to La Mariscal (~£1.50 total). Taxi alternative ~£18–22.

🛏Hostel in La Mariscal or La Floresta — e.g. Casa Helbling, Secret Garden Quito, or El Cafeto Hostel. Dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night.

• →Arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
• →Take the Aeropuerto Express bus or official airport taxi to central Quito (~£1.50 bus / ~£20 taxi)
• →Check into hostel in La Mariscal or La Floresta
• →Rest, hydrate, and acclimatise

Spend the day acclimatising and sorting your gear. In the morning, visit local outdoor shops on Av. Colón to hire or buy any missing kit (plastic mountaineering boots can be hired here for ~£15–20 for the trip). Head to your chosen climbing agency to meet your guide, confirm logistics, and run through a gear check — book in advance with a reputable operator such as Compañía de Guías de Montaña, Andean Face, or Surtrek. In the afternoon, explore Quito's UNESCO-listed old town: Plaza Grande, La Compañía church, and La Ronda street. Take the Teleférico cable car up to Cruz Loma (~£7) for views and a gentle altitude test at 4100m. End the day at Panecillo Hill viewpoint, then take the city bus out to La Mitad del Mundo to straddle the equator (~£2 return bus + £3 entrance).

🚌City buses and Ecovía BRT throughout (~£0.25/ride). Taxi to Teleférico ~£3–5.

🛏Same hostel in La Mariscal or La Floresta as Day 1.

• →Visit outdoor gear shops on Av. Colón to hire plastic mountaineering boots (~£15–20 for trip)
• →Meet your pre-booked certified mountain guide and run through gear check
• →Explore Quito's UNESCO old town: Plaza Grande, La Compañía church, La Ronda
• →Take the Teleférico cable car to Cruz Loma at 4100m for acclimatisation (~£7)
• →Visit Panecillo Hill viewpoint
• →Bus to La Mitad del Mundo monument (~£2 return + £3 entrance)

After breakfast, take a local bus from Quitumbe terminal to the village of Santa Clara in the Valley of Los Chillos (~£1.50, 1.5 hrs). From Santa Clara (2750m), hike the ancient cobbled road alongside the Río Pita, passing rural shrines and farming communities. The route is approximately 15km with 400m of ascent and takes around 5 hours. Arrive at Hacienda Santa Rita (hacienda-santarita.com), set within a 500-hectare private ecological reserve. Book camping or a basic room at the hacienda directly — camping with meals included can be arranged in advance. Enjoy a cooked dinner under the Andean night sky.

🚌Local bus from Quitumbe terminal, Quito to Santa Clara (~£1.50, ~1.5hrs).

🛏Camping at Hacienda Santa Rita — tent pitch with meals ~£25–35pp/night (book directly with the hacienda in advance).

• →Bus from Quitumbe terminal to Santa Clara village (~£1.50)
• →Hike the ancient cobbled Camino de Los Incas alongside the Río Pita (15km, ~5hrs, 400m ascent)
• →Pass rural shrines and spot Andean birdlife en route
• →Arrive and check into Hacienda Santa Rita camping ground

An early start for a challenging day hike to the summit of Pasochoa (4200m), an ancient extinct volcano home to a stunning cloud forest crater reserve. The full route is ~17km with 1150m of ascent and takes 6–7 hours return. You can hire a local guide in the area or join a small group day tour from Quito pre-booked via GetYourGuide (~£30–40pp). The Pasochoa Forest Reserve is a protected area with over 110 bird species — keep eyes peeled for Andean condors riding thermals. Return to Hacienda Santa Rita for a well-earned dinner.

🚌Short drive or hike to Pasochoa trailhead from hacienda. Arrange with hacienda or hire a local taxi (~£5–8 each way).

🛏Camping at Hacienda Santa Rita (same as Day 3).

• →Early start hike to Pasochoa volcano summit (4200m) — 17km, 6–7hrs, 1150m ascent
• →Explore the Pasochoa Forest Reserve cloud forest crater
• →Spot Andean condors and 110+ bird species
• →Return to Hacienda Santa Rita for dinner

Break camp after breakfast and trek through humid Andean cloud forest, watching for hummingbirds among the canopy. The walk is approximately 15km with 350m of ascent and takes 4–5 hours. Arrive at Hacienda El Porvenir (hosteriaelporvenir.com), one of Ecuador's most iconic traditional farms, sitting at 3600m and surrounded by four volcanoes: Cotopaxi, Sincholahua, Pasochoa, and Rumiñahui. Book a room directly with the hacienda in advance — rooms are comfortable and authentically furnished. This is a great place to rest, explore on horseback if you wish, and mentally prepare for the days ahead.

🚌On foot from Hacienda Santa Rita. Alternatively, shared taxi back to the Panamericana highway and onward to El Porvenir (~£8–12).

🛏Hacienda El Porvenir — twin/double room with breakfast and dinner from ~£45–60pp/night (book directly).

• →Trek through Andean cloud forest from Hacienda Santa Rita (~15km, 4–5hrs, 350m ascent)
• →Spot hummingbirds and Andean flora en route
• →Arrive at Hacienda El Porvenir with views of four volcanoes
• →Optional: horse riding at the hacienda (~£15–20pp)

An early drive into Cotopaxi National Park (park entrance fee ~£3) to reach the Rumiñahui trailhead. Hike the central ridge to the summit of Rumiñahui (4600m) — named after the last Inca general to resist the Spanish — enjoying 360-degree views of the Andes, including the perfect cone of Cotopaxi. The hike is ~11km with 860m of ascent and takes 5–6 hours. Descend to Tambopaxi Lodge (tambopaxi.com), a sustainable mountain lodge at 3700m on the edge of Cotopaxi's ancient boulder field. Book a dorm bed or private room directly with Tambopaxi in advance.

🚌Arrange shared transport from Hacienda El Porvenir to Cotopaxi National Park via local taxi or the hacienda's shuttle (~£8–15pp). Park entrance fee ~£3.

🛏Tambopaxi Lodge — dorm ~£20–25pp/night, private room ~£45–55pp/night including breakfast (book directly).

• →Drive to Rumiñahui trailhead inside Cotopaxi National Park
• →Hike the central ridge to Rumiñahui summit (4600m) — 11km, 5–6hrs, 860m ascent
• →360-degree panoramic views of Cotopaxi and surrounding Andes volcanoes
• →Descend to Tambopaxi Lodge (3700m)

A lighter acclimatisation day based around Tambopaxi Lodge. In the morning, take a 2-hour gentle hike on the slopes of Cotopaxi, following trails that weave through páramo grasslands teeming with Andean wildlife. On clear days, you can see Cotopaxi perfectly reflected in the nearby Limpiopungo laguna — a truly spectacular sight. Carry plenty of water and snacks, wear sunscreen (UV is intense at altitude), and take it easy. Return to Tambopaxi for lunch, then spend the afternoon resting, reviewing kit, and ensuring your technical gear is ready for the summit push. Eat an early dinner and get to bed early — tomorrow is a big day.

🚌On foot from the lodge.

🛏Tambopaxi Lodge (same as Day 6).

• →Morning acclimatisation hike on Cotopaxi's lower slopes (~2hrs, spotting páramo flora and fauna)
• →Views of Cotopaxi reflected in Limpiopungo laguna on clear days
• →Afternoon rest and technical gear check
• →Early dinner and early bedtime in preparation for summit push

Arrange a lift or shared 4x4 taxi from Tambopaxi to the Cotopaxi parking area at 4600m (~£8–12pp). From here, hike the final 2km and 200m of ascent up burnt volcanic slopes to the José Rivas Refuge at 4800m on the north face of Cotopaxi. In poor conditions this can take up to 2 hours. Check into the refuge (book in advance via your climbing agency or directly — ~£20–30pp for a dorm bunk). Over lunch and the afternoon, your certified guide will run through glacier travel skills: crampon use, ice axe arrest, rope techniques, and roped-team protocols. Eat a full meal early (around 5–6pm), lay out all your summit kit, set your alarm, and rest.

🚌Shared 4x4 taxi from Tambopaxi to Cotopaxi car park (~£8–12pp). Book via Tambopaxi or arrange with your guide.

🛏José Rivas Refuge dorm bunk — ~£20–30pp/night (book in advance via your climbing agency).

• →Transfer by 4x4 from Tambopaxi to Cotopaxi parking area (4600m)
• →Hike to José Rivas Refuge (4800m) — 2km, ~200m ascent, up to 2hrs in bad weather
• →Lunch and afternoon glacier skills briefing with certified guide (crampons, ice axe, roped team techniques)
• →Early dinner, kit check, and rest before 1am summit departure

Rise at midnight, don all layers, crampons and harness, and depart the refuge at 1:00am roped to your certified guide. Ascend the glacier crossing crevasses and snow bridges by headtorch, tackling a final 40-degree snow slope to the crater rim of Cotopaxi (5897m) — the world's highest active volcano. From the summit, peer into the 800m-wide steam-emitting crater and take in the vast panorama of the Andes. Descend the glacier back to the refuge and car park, then arrange a return 4x4 transfer to Quito (~£15–20pp shared). Celebrate with lunch and local beers in Quito's La Floresta neighbourhood. Note: the certified guide fee for the Cotopaxi summit is the single largest cost of the trip — expect to pay £150–250pp for a certified ASEGUIM guide for the summit day (usually booked as part of a 2–3 day guiding package). This is non-negotiable and essential for safety.

🚌Shared 4x4 from Cotopaxi car park to Quito (~£15–20pp). Arrange via your climbing agency or at the refuge.

🛏Return to hostel in La Mariscal or La Floresta, Quito. Dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night.

• →1:00am summit departure from José Rivas Refuge with certified ASEGUIM guide
• →Glacier crossing by headtorch: crevasses, snow bridges, 40-degree final snow slope
• →Reach the summit of Cotopaxi (5897m) — peer into the 800m-wide active crater
• →Descend the glacier and return to the car park
• →4x4 transfer back to Quito (~£15–20pp shared)
• →Celebratory lunch and cold beers in Quito

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hostel and take your time over a well-earned coffee. If you have time before your flight, explore any corners of Quito you missed: the Guayasamín Museum (Capilla del Hombre) is one of Latin America's most powerful art experiences (~£7). Take the Aeropuerto Express bus or a pre-booked taxi to Mariscal Sucre International Airport in time for your onward flight. Alternatively, head to Quito's main bus terminal (Quitumbe) to continue your adventure down the Avenue of Volcanoes to Baños, Riobamba, or Cuenca.

🚌Aeropuerto Express bus to airport (~£1.50) or taxi (~£18–22).

🛏N/A — departure day.

• →Final breakfast at hostel
• →Optional: visit Capilla del Hombre (Guayasamín Museum) (~£7)
• →Aeropuerto Express bus or taxi to Mariscal Sucre International Airport
• →Or: bus from Quitumbe terminal onward to Baños, Riobamba, or Cuenca