At CTSS, we offer a variety of different climb options to customize your Ecuador experience to your climbing style and ability.

Allowing you to customize your expedition to suit your needs is a huge priority for us.

As mountaineers ourselves, we understand that it’s the little things that can make the difference. Comfortable, well-rested climbers are successful climbers, and climbers who have objectives that are suited to their skill level are happy climbers.

What other activities can I do while in Ecuador?

Join us for one of our Add-On activities, or make it a three-mountain expedition:

• Pre-Expedition Acclimatization & Skills Training Add-On
• Chimborazo Climb
• Galápagos Islands Add-On

What is a good fitness and training program for this climb?

• Climbing conditioning – pack-loaded uphill hiking, walking, and stair climbing
• Strength training – for the lower and upper body
• Cardiovascular training – including both aerobic and anaerobic workouts without pack weight
• Flexibility training

What is the acclimatization schedule like?

Our entire expedition is slow in order to allow our bodies ample time to acclimate. We will be at moderate-to-high altitude on our climbs, and this slow process will allow us to avoid altitude sickness and improve the chance of success on the climbs. There will be some downtime because of this. Bring a Kindle/book and be patient. Make sure to communicate with your guides directly if you are experiencing any altitude issues or symptoms.

Will I need to share a room?

All our hotels in Ecuador are double occupancy. Often, these hotels are full during the busy climbing season so we will need to know in advance if you would like to book single supplements. On the mountain, you will be impressed with the hut facilities, but, like all mountain huts around the world, they are dormitory-style, so bring some earplugs and an eye mask if you are easily disturbed.

Will I be sleeping in a tent?

While your friends think you are suffering in the mountains, you’ll actually be staying in luxurious haciendas (think 400-year-old estates), boutique hotels, and well-appointed mountain huts. Not a tent in sight for our standard team climb of Cayambe and Cotopaxi. If you are adding on Chimborazo, you will use a tent at the High Camp.

What about food and water?

CTSS recommends that you stick to bottled or treated water throughout your expedition in Ecuador. While eating out, we recommend being careful around fresh vegetables as they may have been washed in poor-quality water. Use discretion when purchasing food from restaurants and street vendors.

Will I need to purchase trip insurance?

Yes. Trip delay and cancellation, rescue, repatriation, and medical insurance are mandatory for this program for your own benefit. We have seen too many times when people need to cancel their trip either before or during the expedition for reasons such as injury, health, family, and business matters. With such a long trip and so much at stake, climbers need to be prepared for contingencies.

How can my family and friends reach me?

There is cell service during much of our trip in Ecuador but roaming charges can be expensive, so please consult your carrier to determine data/calling rates prior to departure. In addition, many of the hotels have wi-fi that may be accessible during your stay. There may be a satellite phone with the team on the climb, but don’t expect to be able to use it on an unlimited basis as we typically reserve it for emergencies. We can make it available to the team at $3/minute.

If your family needs to reach you for an urgent reason, we encourage them to contact the office via info@climbingthesevensummits.com, and they can contact us to pass on a message or arrange a phone call. We contact base with updates most days, which are published on our blog. The blog is a great news source for family and friends wanting to follow along. Please also advise your loved ones that no news is good news and help manage their expectations that they won’t necessarily hear updates every day or be able to contact you as easily as on other expeditions.