The Carihuairazo is located in the western mountain chain, to the north of the Chimborazo mountain, separated through the Apraspungo valley. In Quichua its name means: Man of strong winds. To climb up Carihuairazo is relatively easy as it does not require any special climbing skills. If you are thinking about passing the 5000m frontier, this is your opportunity! Furthermore, you will enjoy amazing Andean views.
During the trek and climb you will enjoy spectactular views of the Chimborazo, the Altar and the Tungurahua. You might even observe the latter in action as it is very active lately and continuously exclaims ashes and vapor. You will also be able to learn about the Andean culture from the porters and acclimatize for higher peaks such as the Cotopaxi or the Chimborazo. This trek is the perfect combination for adventurers and explorers.
Day 1: Quito – Hacienda Posada la Estación
We will travel south from Quito on the Panamerican highway also called “The Avenue of the Volcanoes”. If the day is clear you might observe stunning views of Pichincha, Pasochoa, Corazón, Illinizas, Rumiñahui y Cotopaxi. We pass by Latacunga and Ambato until Urbina, where we will head towards the mountains until we reach the ancient train station “La Posada” at 3680m, just below Chimborazo. In the afternoon we will complete an acclimatization hike in the nearby areas. We will spend the night in tents or in the guesthouse. Accomodation and dinner included. Meals included: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Hacienda Posada La Estación – Plazapamba
After breakfast, we pack our stuff and walk towards Abraspungo Valley. We will ascend through cliffy Paramos for 5-6 hours until we arrive to our next campside in Plazapamba. Our natural guide will explain to you the biodiversity of flora and fauna that habituates this region. If the conditions allow it, there will be plenty of opportunities to take photos of the surrounding volcanoes and wildlife. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Plazapamba – Laguna Negra
We continue through the Apraspungo valley heading to the east and gaining altitude,until we reach the ridge that separates Chimborazo and Carihuairazo. At the black lake we will setup our third campsite. From here the paramos of Chimborazo can be observed, with its countless herds of vikuñas, llamas and alpacas. Finally we’ll have dinner and go to sleep. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Climb up Carihuairazo – Rio Blanco – Quito
We will have an early breakfast and walk for two hours to the base camp of Carhuairazo. Here we prepare the technical equipment and two hours later we will reach the peak of Carihuairazo at 5100m. We will have lunch at the summit and descend towards the west. After 4 hours we arrive at a place called “Rio Blanco” where the drivers will be waiting for us to begin the trip back to Quito, which will take approximately 4 hours. Arriving in Quito we leave you at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
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