Rucu Pichincha Acclimatization Hike

Summit at 4,698 m
Cable car start at 3,945 m
Box lunch included
Certified bilingual guide
Cable car ticket not included

Duration
1 day
Difficulty
Moderate
Departure
Ecosportour agency, Venezuela N11-99 y Carchi, Quito Historic Center, 08:30 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

Rucu Pichincha, 4,698 m (15,413 ft), is Quito’s own mountain – the summit on the western skyline of the city, in the western range of the Andes.

The approach is hard to beat. We take the cable car up to 3,945 m and start walking from there, so you gain altitude immediately and spend the day on the ridge instead of in a vehicle. The terrain is dirt and grass trail, high-altitude grassland, then rocky and steep sections near the top.

Physical demand is low to medium and technical demand is basic, which makes Rucu the natural first day of any acclimatization plan before Cotopaxi, Cayambe or Chimborazo.

We meet at 08:30 a.m. at the Ecosportour agency in Quito’s Old Town. Return transport, a certified bilingual guide, a box lunch and a helmet are included; the cable car ticket is not.

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Itinerary

08:30: Meet at the Ecosportour agency

We meet at our office in Quito's Old Town and travel to the Rucu Pichincha cable car station.
Cable car: Ride up to 3,945 m

The cable car takes us to 3,945 m above sea level, where the hike begins. The ticket is not included in the tour price.
Briefing: Weather, equipment and altitude talk

Your guide explains the conditions, the equipment and how to pace yourself before the ascent.
Ascent: Climb to the summit (4,698 m)

Dirt and grass trails, high-altitude grassland, and rocky, steep sections in the final stretch to the summit.
Descent: Back down and return to Quito

We walk back to the cable car station, ride down, and transfer back into Quito.

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What's included

Included

Return transport from Quito to the Rucu Pichincha cable car
Certified bilingual guide
Box lunch
Technical equipment (helmet)

Not included

VAT
Tips
Cable car ticket
Anything not specified in the programme

What to bring

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

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Good to know

Is the cable car ticket included?

No. The cable car ticket is not included and is paid separately. It carries us up to 3,945 m, which is where the hike itself begins.
How demanding is the hike?

Physical level is low to medium and technical level is basic. You climb from 3,945 m to the 4,698 m summit over dirt and grass trails, high-altitude grassland and steep rocky sections near the top.
Where do we meet?

At the Ecosportour agency in Quito's Old Town (Venezuela N11-99 y Carchi) at 08:30 a.m.
Do we walk back down?

You hike back to the cable car station and ride the cable car down, then transfer back into the city.
Why start an acclimatization plan on Rucu Pichincha?

Because the cable car puts you at 3,945 m within minutes of leaving the city, so you can spend a full day between 3,945 m and 4,698 m without a long drive - ideal preparation before Cotopaxi, Cayambe or Chimborazo.