El Altar Trek

We start our day with a scenic drive along the iconic Avenue of the Volcanoes, departing from your Quito hotel. We’ll be treated to views of the peaks of Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, Pasochoa, Illinizas, and Tungurahua as we journey towards Riobamba, about a 4-hour drive.

En route, we’ll pause for photo opportunities and savour the flavours of authentic Ecuadorian cuisine. After a four-hour drive, we’ll arrive in the charming town of La Candelaria, nestled at the foothills of the Andes.

Known as the gateway to some of Ecuador’s most challenging summits, La Candelaria is a hidden gem for adventure enthusiasts. This quaint town offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, climbing, horseback riding, and nature photography.

As we explore the town, you’ll encounter charming houses, fertile farmland, and warm, welcoming locals.

Overnight: Hacienda Releche, refuge-style accommodation

Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

We set off early on an unforgettable journey through the stunning Ecuadorian Paramo. This unique ecosystem, teeming with evergreen trees and vibrant wildflowers, is home to diverse wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of local fauna as we traverse the challenging trail.

Our knowledgeable guide will point out the region’s distinctive flora, including the orange chuquiraga, the pink gentian, and the plantago rigida. As we navigate the muddy terrain, we’ll put on rubber boots, if necessary, and embrace the adventure. The trail winds through glacial creeks and towering plant formations, offering amazing views and a serene atmosphere.

To lighten your load, we’ll transport your belongings via horse and mule, allowing you to focus on the journey. Don’t forget to bring water, your camera, and a sense of adventure!

We’ll walk for about five hours  today.

Overnight: Altar Basecamp

As the sun comes up, we’ll ascend the rocky foothills of El Altar.  Our destination is the stunning lagoons, Mandur and Azul.

First, we’ll reach Mandur, a smaller but equally impressive lagoon. On a clear day, you can see a panorama of distant mountains, their peaks resembling waves on the horizon. Along the way, keep an eye out for the region’s diverse wildlife, including white-tailed deer, caracaras, Andean lapwings, eagles, hawks, and other native species.

Our next stop is beautiful Blue Lagoon, where we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch as we admire the vibrant blue waters.

Afterward, we’ll retrace our steps back to the campsite.

Overnight: Altar Basecamp

After a filling breakfast, we embark on the most exhilarating part of our journey: a trek into the crater of the Altar volcano and Laguna Amarilla. Named after the seven surrounding peaks that resemble an altar, this majestic structure is a result of a volcanic eruption that caused the caldera to collapse.

As we ascend from the Collanes valley, we’ll see seven towering peaks: Los Frailes, El Canónigo, La Monja Mayor, La Monja Menor, El Tabernáculo, El Obispo, and El Acólito, all over 17,000 feet.

For those with a true sense of adventure, a refreshing dip in the chilly waters of Laguna Amarila awaits. Locals believe that those who dare to enter the frigid waters are blessed by the volcano and Pachamama, the Earth Mother.

After exploring the crater and perhaps taking a dip in the lagoon, we’ll enjoy a boxed lunch before heading back to base camp.

Overnight: Altar Basecamp

Today we will pack up before heading out of the reserve for the drive back to Quito.
End of services

Ecuador is the second smallest South American country, and one of the most varied.

It comprises three main geographical areas: the coast, highlands and Amazon plus is home to the Galapagos Islands.

Because of its relatively compact size, it makes a great holiday destination as you can move from highlight to highlight fairly easily and rapidly.

Landscapes vary from the drier south to the more humid north.

The Highlands, or sierra, encompass two Andean Cordilleras (the Central and Western), which run north to south through the country. Ecuador’s largest volcano is Chimborazo (6,310m) whose summit, because of its proximity to the equator, is the closest point on earth to the sun. Several of Ecuador’s volcanoes are still active, and it’s a great area for trekking.

Descending the steep, east-facing slopes of the eastern Cordillera, one passes through a transition zone comprising dense cloud forest and humid high jungle, before entering the Amazon lowlands.

This mainly primary rainforest covers a third of the country, accounts for 5% of the population and stretches across Ecuador, from its Colombian to its Peruvian borders.

The Galapagos Islands are simply unique. Lying 600 miles off the mainland, the archipelago comprises the summits of gigantic equatorial volcanoes.

The flora and fauna of the Galapagos, long separated from their continental cousins, have evolved differently. Charles Darwin used his observations there to develop his theory of Evolution.

Being at altitude, especially in the tropics, is usually a pleasure as it isn’t so hot, there are few insects and the air is clear.

However, when gaining altitude, air pressure drops and the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs is reduced. Although we build plenty of acclimatisation time into our itineraries, certain ill-effects are possible. Nevertheless, all of these can be minimised or prevented if care is taken.

On reaching heights above 2,500m (approx. 8,200 ft), especially when ascent has been straight from sea level, heart pounding, mild headache and shortness of breath are normal, especially on exertion.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a syndrome known locally as soroche, whose symptoms can include of bad headache, dizziness and nausea).

To avoid AMS, you should:

• Rest for a few hours on arrival at altitude and take it easy for the first couple of days. Note: you may feel fine on arrival and tempted to exert yourself as normal. Don’t be fooled: you might be benefiting from oxygen brought in your blood from sea level.
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (altitude is a diuretic). Coca tea (mate de coca) helps alleviate symptoms.
• Eat light meals, with high carbohydrate and low fat and protein content. Dine early, allowing digestion time pre-sleep.
• Avoid over-exposure to the strong highland sun (UV rays are very powerful) – especially in the early stages – making sure you wear a broad brimmed sunhat. Apply lip-salve to prevent chapped lips.
• Avoid or minimise consumption of cigarettes and alcohol. Avoid sleeping pills.
• If you do get AMS: Rest, take non-aspirin painkillers (for headache) and coca tea. Symptoms should subside after a day or two.
• Pregnant women, people with a history of heart, lung, kidney or blood disease or blood pressure problems, should consult their doctor before traveling to high altitude.

Official name: Republic of Ecuador

Country population: 15,000,000

Capital city: Quito (2.51 million)

Largest cities: Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca, Machala

Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua

Latitude/Longitude: 2º S, 77º 30 W

Official currency: US dollar

Major industries: bananas, shrimp, oil, gold, roses

Time zone: GMT-5 (Galapagos GMT-6)

Responsible Tourism – Code of Conduct:

• Find out about your destination – take some time before you go to read about the cultural, social and political background of the place and people you are visiting.
• Go equipped with basic words and phrases in the local language – this may open up opportunities for you to meet people who live there.
• Buy locally-made goods and use locally-provided services wherever possible – your support is often vital to local people.
• Pay a fair price for the goods or services you buy – if you haggle for the lowest price your bargain may be at someone else’s expense.
• Be sensitive to the local culture – dress and act in a way that respects local beliefs and customs, particularly at religious sites.
• Don’t undermine the local economic systems – we recommend you don’t give gifts, especially sweets as there are few dentists in the Andes. Much better to spend time chatting, playing and showing postcards of home. If you would like to donate clothes and shoes etc we are more than happy to do so through the relevant channels. Your tour leader can do this for you and some of the projects we support can be visited.
• Ask permission before taking photographs of individuals or of people’s homes – and remember that you may be expected to pay for the privilege.
• Avoid conspicuous displays of wealth – this can accentuate the gap between rich and poor and distance you from the cultures you came to experience.
• Make no promises to local people that you can’t keep – be realistic about what you will do when you return home.
• Minimise your environmental impact – keep to footpaths and marked routes, don’t remove any of the natural habitat and reduce the packaging you bring.
• Don’t pollute local water courses- use biodegradable products, and wash basins.
• Slow down and enjoy the differences – you’ll be back with the familiar soon enough.