Fuya Fuya Acclimatization Hike

Summit at 4,290 m
Views over Mojanda Lagoon
Box lunch included
Certified bilingual guide
Ideal first acclimatization day

Duration
1 day
Difficulty
Moderate
Departure
Hotel pick-up in Quito at 07:00 a.m.
Departure days
Every day, with a minimum of 2 participants (private excursion available for 1 person)
Languages
English, Spanish

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Tour overview

Fuya Fuya (4,290 m) is the highest point of the Mojanda knot, past the town of Pedro Moncayo and 17 km south of Otavalo. Its name comes from the Kichwa word Fuyu, meaning cloud – the peaks are usually wrapped in thick cloud.

This is the classic warm-up before Cotopaxi, Cayambe or Chimborazo. Three trails lead to the top: a short, steep grassland section, then rocky ground to the summit. No glacier, no technical climbing, real altitude.

From the top you look straight down onto Mojanda Lagoon and out across the valleys to Cayambe, Imbabura and Cotacachi. The Taxopamba waterfalls and the Mojanda lakes are right there too.

Departure is at 07:00 a.m. from your hotel in Quito. Return transport, a certified bilingual guide, a box lunch and technical equipment are all included for USD 130 per person.

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Itinerary

07:00: Hotel pick-up in Quito

We collect you at your hotel and drive north towards Cerro Fuya Fuya, near the Mojanda Lagoons.
Briefing: Weather, equipment and altitude talk

Your guide explains the conditions, the equipment and how altitude will feel, before you set off.
Ascent: The climb begins

One of the three trails that lead to the summit: a short, steep grassland section followed by rocky segments.
Summit: Summit at 4,290 m

Views down onto Mojanda Lagoon and across to Cayambe, Imbabura and Cotacachi.
Return: Descent and return to Quito

Down by the same route and back to your hotel in Quito.

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What's included

Included

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

Not included

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)

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Good to know

Why start acclimatizing on Fuya Fuya?

Because at 4,290 m it gives you real altitude with no glacier and no technical ground. Adapting on lower mountains first is what makes the summits of Cotopaxi, Cayambe or Chimborazo possible.
What will I see from the summit?

Mojanda Lagoon directly below you, and the nearby giants across the valleys: Cayambe, Imbabura and Cotacachi.
What is the weather like up there?

Changeable. The peaks are usually covered in thick cloud - which is where the name comes from, since Fuyu means 'cloud' in Kichwa. Come prepared for sudden changes, with warm and waterproof layers.
What is the trail like?

Three trails lead to the summit. You cross a short, steep section of grassland and then rocky segments to the top - walking only, no climbing.
What does the price include?

USD 130 per person covers return transport from Quito, a certified bilingual guide, a box lunch and technical equipment (helmet and harness). Tips are not included.