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Ecuador and Argentina: Cotopaxi, 5897 m, Chimborazo, 6268 m, Aconcagua, 6963 m

Argentina - South America

Aconcagua, Argentine - Aconcagua
23.11 - 22.12.2019
The highest mountain in America, the 6962 m high Aconcagua, attracts all mountaineers in its spell. As one of the Seven Summits, it is technically simple but conditionally comparable to a simple eight-thousander.
Far away from our everyday life we ​​reach with this journey into a different culture and mountain world. The Indians, hearty and open-minded people, are shaped by their centuries-old ways of life and traditions. Your hustle and bustle on the markets and in the streets will fascinate and amaze us. And then these mountains: the highest active volcano of the earth, the Cotopaxi, the highest mountain of Ecuador, the Chimborazo, and the highest mountain of the American continent, the Aconcagua, are the highlights of this varied mountaineering and cultural journey. This journey has already been successfully carried out by us several times.

Your benefits at a glance

- Easy arrival by scheduled flight from Zurich to Quito, return flight from Santiago de Chile to Zurich
- Long-standing cooperation with a Swiss mountain guide IVBV / UIAGM in Ecuador and with one of the largest and most prestigious mountaineering agencies in Argentina
- Comfortable overnight stays in double rooms in Quito, Tambopaxi, Riobamba, Banos, Puente del Inca and Mendoza
- A tent for two participants in the base and high camps, single tent on request and for an extra charge
- Proven and highly reliable local team
- state-of-the-art safety equipment such as B. Satellite phone for emergencies is a matter of course
- proven expedition pharmacy with the necessary medicines for any height-related emergencies
- Guided tour by patented professional mountain guide IVBV / UIAGM with federal certificate
- Comprehensive area knowledge of the organizer and the mountain guide
- small groups with individual care
- Great experience in Ecuador and Argentina, this program has been successfully carried out several times

Guide

Thomas Villars
Certified Mountain Guide IFMGA and Snow Sports Instructor with Federal Certificate of higher vocational Education und Training

Price

CHF 8990.-   (per person / 6 - 10 Participants)

All inclusive, except the fee for the permit for Parque Provincial Aconcagua.

Requirements

Mountain and high alpine touring scale
PD Peu difficile -  
AD assez difficile
Requirements Physical condition on foot
Masterful condition  

Experience in summer mountaineering, safe and independent crampons, very good condition, stamina and team spirit are in demand on this trip.

For organizational reasons, registration is only possible up to 6 months before the start of the journey.

Program

Ecuador: Quito, Pasochoa, Rucu Pichincha, Illiniza Norte, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo. Argentina: Mendoza, Aconcagua.

The following route description is a general information about the approximate course of this trip. The definitive program depends on the weather, the snow and glacier conditions as well as the constitution and performance of the participants. These factors also determine the success of this exceptional company.

1st and 2nd day: A scheduled flight will take us from Zurich to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. In the afternoon we will pay a first visit to the city located at 2800 m.

Day 3: This day we use for the visit of Quito. Monasteries, churches, museums, squares and the Sala Capitular leave a powerful impression on us and give us an idea of ​​Spanish influence in South America. We will also visit the El Panecillo, a 3000 m high mountain and the equator.

Day 4: A first acclimatization tour takes us to the extinct volcano Pasochoa, 4199 m. The climb over pastures and steep grassy slopes offers a scenic hike with great distant views of Quito, the Rucu Pichincha and the Cotopaxi.

Day 5: Day trip on Quito's mountain, the 4698 m high Rucu Pichincha. On the way we enjoy a magnificent view of the city. And with a little luck, we will see in the distance the other dream destinations of this journey.

6th and 7th day: On the Panamericana to the south we head for the 5116 m high Iliniza Norte. After three hours drive we reach Saquisili and visit the local market, a special experience. Here you can buy everything that could be useful for daily life, from seeds and ropes to pots and cows. In the afternoon, continue on foot to the base camp at around 4000 m. The climb the next day is usually snow-free and offers little difficulty, with short climbing points under the summit. For better acclimatization we stay after the descent another night in the camp.

Day 8-10: Descent and bus ride to Cotopaxi National Park, where we may be lucky enough to see herds of llamas, wild horses and perhaps a condor. We will spend the night in the Lodge Tambopaxi. From the parking lot of the José Ribas hut at about 4600 m we will tackle our first highlight, the 5897 m high Cotopaxi. Today, the highest active volcano on earth only releases sulphurous gases and water vapor. Nevertheless, the view into the 800 m wide crater mouth is impressive and unforgettable. The descent takes the same route back to the car park and on to Riobamba.

Day 11 to 13: After a night in Riobamba we drive to the Refugio Hermanos Carrel and pay a visit to the Whymper Hut at 5000 m. For better acclimatization, we sleep another night at Refugio Carrel before ascending to Refugio Whymper the next morning. The highlight of our stay in Ecuador, the ascent of the Chimborazo, 6268 m, starts at midnight. The route follows the steep snowfields to the ridge and then turns into the ice-covered summit slope. The steepness is impressive, without a single piece of flat it goes up. First we reach the Cumbre Veintimilla and shortly thereafter the main summit, the Cumbre Whymper. The view of the Andean highlands will astonish us! The descent takes place on the same route and brings us back to the Refugio Carrel, from where our driver brings us with his bus to Banos.

Day 14: In Banos, at the gateway to the tropics, we relax in the thermal baths and enjoy the nightlife. Then we go back to Quito, where we tackle the preparations for our onward journey to Santiago de Chile, but not without saying goodbye to our crew at a last dinner together!

15th and 16th day: Flight from Quito via Santiago de Chile to Mendoza in Argentina. After picking up the permits for the Aconcagua National Park, we drive to Punte del Inca, the starting point for our ascent to Aconcagua.

17th and 18th day: Departure to Aconcagua Base Camp. The luggage transport takes place with carrying animals. We divide this approach into two sections and spend the night in the campsite Confluencia at about 3200 m. We are building our base camp at about 4300 m in the Plaza de Mulas.

Days 19 to 26: Full 8 days are now available for further acclimatization and ascent via the Normal Route. We set up our high camp at Nido de Condores at 5450 m and at Plaza Cholera at 5950 m. From here we will cover the remaining 1000 meters of altitude and climb past the huts of Independencia via the Filo de Viento to the infamous Canaleta Canal and finally to the 6963 m high North Summit. A magnificent view of the surrounding peaks such as the Tupungato, 6570 m and the endless and barren mountain ranges and valleys will compensate for all our hardships. After our summit success We descend to camp 1 and on to the base camp.

27th and 28th day: Return through the Horconestal to Puente del Inca and back to Mendoza by bus. If we still have some time, we can visit the interesting city with its lively pedestrian zones and pay a visit to a winery, depending on your mood.

Day 29 and 30: We leave the summery Argentina and fly back to Switzerland via Santiago de Chile and Paris.

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Additional Informationen
Member of the Swiss Alpine Club
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For offers with hotel accommodation (if possible)
Experience in alpinism
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