Your safety and success are the top priorities, strictly in that order.

It should go without saying that a climbing company should invest heavily in, and plan for your safety. This includes big picture logistics like strategic itineraries, professional and experienced guides and top notch logistics, all the way down to a general attitude and company wide philosophy, that while success and summits are great, they aren’t the ‘be all and end all’. What is more important than any mountain top, is your safety, wellbeing and enjoyment.

It is easy to be drawn in by low price tags, but remember the mountains are hazardous environments and what you are doing is challenging physically and mentally and cheap trips often mean compromises in areas that should never be compromised. Be it old gear, undertrained, underpaid or overworked guide staff, poor climber to guide ratios, rushed schedules and slap dash logistics. Buyer beware.

Try to gauge a companies’ approach to safety for yourself, scan past climber reviews, ask questions and talk to them about their strategy, their risk management, their level of redundancy. It is those conversations that will give you a good sense on their priorities.

When you are considering an Ecuadorian Volcanoes expedition, one of the first things to look closely at is the schedule.

As soon as you land in Quito you are already at 2,850m | 9,350ft. Most human bodies start registering the effects of altitude at around 2500m | 8000ft. Formally “high altitude” is recognized as elevations above 8,000ft.

Look for relaxed time on the front end of the trip that allows your body to adjust before overtaxing it, for instance is there some sightseeing around Quito and the Equator, a gentle acclimatization hike or two where you retreat back down to Quito to sleep. You want at least 2x nights in Quito before you start moving higher.

Starting high out of the gate couple with the proximity and the accessibility of these mighty peaks themselves, (within a days drive and a days climb you can be at well above 6000m| 20,000ft!) its important to understand and be prepared that climbing in Ecuador, by its very nature is aggressive and jumps you up fast!

So inspect the itinerary – look for at least 3-4 days with in-built acclimatization hikes (to get high/sleep low) and training clinics, before you even attempt a summit to let your body adjust. Watch out for ‘churn and burn’ types who wants to move climbers through their season as fast as possible to get as many “bums on seats” as they can? Do they care about whether you get AMS and have to bow out early or not? Or is it a numbers game where sheer quantity over quality wins out?

Another clue is to look if the operator offers a ‘pretrip’ of some sort that allows climbers, for whom Ecuador may be their first true high altitude expedition, or even for climbers who know their individual bodies take longer to adjust, can get a jump start on acclimatization and a more gradual start before folding into the team.

Further you want to know that your Guide staff understand AMS (Acute Mountain Sickeness) and the more serious HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (Hight Altitude Cerebral Edema) and that they are quick to identify it, and responsive to the signs and symptoms.

Too often we’ve seen so called ‘guides’ being blasé about acclimatization. They probably live in Quito so their bodies have been adapted since birth and therefore they just don’t notice, understand or have the patience to help you adjust before setting out for the summit.

All our CTSS guides are top professionals who are valued because of their patient, understanding and conservative approach, especially when it comes to altitude and acclimatizing which is so important, particularly in Ecuador.

CTSS owner Mike Hamill oversees all of our Ecuador Volcanoes expeditions. Mike’s almost unparalleled experience based in the big mountains can make the difference between success and failure. He and his team have been constantly refining our logistics over many expeditions to Ecuador and hundreds worldwide. Let Mike guide you through the many nuances of climbing Cotopaxi and Cayambe that will allow you to be successful. From start to finish, he and his team will work with you to make sure you’re as prepared as possible to reach your goal of standing on top. Often, being able to troubleshoot problems before they occur can make a difference, and this is where Mike’s vast experience becomes crucial.

We feel that our guides are incredibly important to our success. CTSS employs only world-class leaders who are known for their focus on client care and experience.

Does an operator have strong values?

This is sometimes a little harder to identify as it’s more of a feeling than a sales pitch, but you should get a feel for a company through its little interactions, its care factor, its attention to detail, its corporate social responsibility, and its responses to you.

Mountaineering can be high-risk and stressful, so pick an operator who has strong core values and a team mentality that aligns with yours. When things get challenging, you can rely on open lines of communication, knowing they will do what they can to support you.

It is this team cohesiveness that flows through to each individual climber and helps them stand on top.

We emphasize experiencing Ecuadorean culture throughout our expedition. Ecuador has such a vast and beautiful history that it would be a shame not to experience it during a visit to the country. We immerse ourselves in the flare of the local people while sampling some of the best and most quintessential food and accommodations that the region has to offer.

Expedition Meets in: Quito, Ecuador
Continent: South America
Currency: United States Dollar
Population: 18 million
Official Language: Spanish
Seasons to Climb: November to February is considered to be the best time for climbing.

Getting There & Meeting Location:

Your first day is an arrival day, meaning you can book your flights to arrive in Quito at any time on that first day.

Flying into Quito is relatively straightforward as it is served by several major airlines with flights from Asia, North and South America, and Europe daily.

Ecuador issues visas on arrival for most countries. However, there are some exceptions. It is your responsibility to research travel requirements from your own country.

When you arrive in Quito, our local team will be at the airport to meet you and take you to our designated hotel. Upon exiting the plane, walk to the customs area and have your passport and visa form handy. Depending on the number of flights landing, it can take up to an hour to clear customs. You will be required to buy a visa upon arrival unless your country requires a pre-approved visa.

Once you have passed customs, claim your bags, head outside, and look for a CTSS representative in the arrivals hall.

If, for some reason, you miss this transport or your flight is delayed and you have been unable to alert us, simply grab a taxi and head to the hotel listed in your pre-trip emails. It is cheap and easy to get to the hotel.

Connect with your guide as you arrive at the hotel; if you arrive in the morning on Day 1 and feel good, they may do your gear checks the same day. If you arrive late at night, please ask reception to leave a message for your guide that you have arrived.

On the evening of Day 1, we will gather informally at the hotel and head out for dinner in Quito. This is just a casual meeting, as late or delayed arrivals may not be there. Don’t feel any pressure to join if you arrive later in the day or prefer to rest.

We will have our formal, official team meeting with the team at breakfast on the morning of Day 2.

Expedition Transportation:

CTSS will arrange all scheduled transport for the duration of the expedition.

We will drive from Quito to Cotopaxi, then on to Cayambe before returning to Quito at the end of the normal itinerary. Chimborazo extension climbers will leave from Quito to Chimborazo via CTSS-arranged transport on the day that the rest of the team heads to the airport.

Accommodation:

Your expedition includes all of your accommodations, as noted in the inclusions and exclusions.

All hotels are double occupancy unless you have chosen the single rooming option and paid the add-on fee. If you want single rooming, please let us know, and we can add the fee on to your balance to cover this added expense. Sometimes hotels are full during the climbing season and may not have enough space to accommodate single rooming, but we will do our best.

Money:

It is better to have more money than you need than not enough. Most things are covered on the trip once you land in Quito. You can review the inclusions and exclusions list for more details.

Bring cash to cover expenses for a potential early departure (not frequent, but sometimes this occurs), miscellaneous expenses like extra hotel nights, meals in town, if arriving early or departing late, shopping, alcohol, specialty coffees, bottled water or snacks, staff tips (customary, but optional), etc. In-town meals during the climb are at your own expense.

Generally, we recommend bringing $1,000 – $1,500 USD plus a credit card to cover all potential expenses, though it is unlikely that you will need all of this. Please let your credit card company know you will be traveling so you can use your card without triggering a fraud alert.

Tipping:

Tips are customary in Ecuador. Tip between 10-15% for meals, round up fares for taxis, hotel bellhops receive $1-$2 USD per bag, and housekeepers customarily get about $1 USD per day.

Language:

Ecuador’s official language is Spanish. While in Quito, you should expect difficulty finding English-speaking shopkeepers or among the general public. Most hotel front desk employees will have some command of English, and our logistics staff speak English well.

Cell Phone Coverage:

Ecuador Country Code: +593

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. Another option is to purchase a local SIM or rechargeable phone while in Quito. 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.

Local Emergency Contacts:

In Ecuador, you can reach emergency services by dialing:

Ambulance: 131

Fire: 102

Police: 101

International Arrivals & Visas:

Ecuador issues visas on arrival for most countries, although there are a handful of countries from which Ecuador requires pre-approved visas for entry. It is your responsibility to research travel requirements from your country.

We recommend flying with at least three (3) passport-sized photos for visa and customs. You may or may not need them, but they are important to have on hand.

You should keep a copy of your embassy or consulate information with you while traveling through Ecuador. For US citizens, this information is:

US Embassy Santiago

Ave. Avigiras E12-170 y Ave. Eloy Alfaro

Quito, Ecuador

Phone: +593-2-398-5000

https://ec.usembassy.gov/

Electrical:

The Ecuadorean electrical grid runs at 110 volts and 60 Hertz, identical to the U.S. grid. If you’re flying from a country other than the United States, check your device specification (especially their Hertz specifications) and plan on bringing an adapter to ensure compatibility.

Ecuador has adopted the same plug configurations as the United States Type A and Type B

Potable Water:

It is recommended to opt for bottled water or treat your own tap water while traveling in Ecuador, especially in the more rural regions surrounding our climbing routes.