Corazon Volcano Acclimatization Trek

Summit at 4,791 m
About 6 hours to the top
Box lunch included
Certified bilingual guide
Confirmed from 2 participants

Duration
1 day
Difficulty
Moderate
Departure
Hotel pick-up in Quito at 07:00 a.m.
Departure days
Any day, with a minimum of 2 participants
Languages
English, Spanish

BOOK NOW

Tour overview

Corazon is an inactive volcano 30 km southwest of Quito, in the western range of the Andes. Seen from the west it looks like a heart – which is exactly where the name comes from. The summit stands at 4,791 m (15,709 ft).

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Cayambe get all the attention, but you do not walk onto a glacier without preparing for altitude first. Corazon is one of the best ways to do that: no glacier, no technical climbing, about 6 hours of walking from paramo grassland onto rocky ground and up to the summit.

The weather here is genuinely unpredictable, so warm layers are not optional. Your certified bilingual guide handles the briefing, sets the pace and carries the safety equipment. Helmet, harness and box lunch are included.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

Itinerary

07:00: Hotel pick-up in Quito

We collect you at your hotel and drive southwest towards Corazon volcano, in the western Andes.
Briefing: Weather, equipment and altitude talk

Your guide explains the conditions on the mountain, how to use the technical equipment and how to pace yourself at altitude.
Ascent: The climb begins

From around 3,100 m the route climbs through grassland and paramo onto rocky sections. Roughly 6 hours of walking to the summit.
Summit: Summit at 4,791 m

Time on the top of the heart-shaped volcano, then descent by the same route.
Return: Back to Quito

Return transfer to your hotel in Quito.

RESERVE THIS ITINERARY

What's included

Included

Return transport from Quito to Corazon volcano
Certified bilingual guide
Box lunch
Technical equipment (helmet and harness)

Not included

VAT
Tips
Anything not specified in the programme

What to bring

Fleece clothing
Sunglasses
Camera
Hiking boots
Gloves
Waterproof jacket
Sunscreen
Cotton trousers
Trekking poles (optional)

BOOK NOW

Good to know

Is Corazon a good first mountain in Ecuador?

Yes. It is one of the best first contacts with altitude: no glacier, no technical climbing, and about 6 hours of walking to a 4,791 m summit. Exactly the preparation you need before Cotopaxi, Cayambe or Chimborazo.
How should I dress?

In warm layers. The weather on Corazon is very unpredictable. Bring fleece clothing, a waterproof jacket, gloves, hiking boots, sunglasses and sunscreen.
What is the terrain like?

Mixed: grassland and paramo lower down, rocky sections higher up. The route runs from about 3,100 m (10,170 ft) to the 4,791 m summit.
How demanding is it?

Physical level moderate, technical level low to moderate. You need to be comfortable walking uphill for several hours, but no mountaineering skills are required.
Is lunch included?

Yes, a box lunch is included, along with return transport from Quito, your certified bilingual guide and the technical equipment. VAT and tips are not included.