DAY HIKES (Ecuador)

Service Description

Day hikes are typically 6-8 hours in duration and are a great option to get acclimatized, if you are pressed for time, or if you simply want to enjoy the natural beauty that Ecuador has to offer. Pick-up and drop-off for all day hikes are in Quito. At the time of booking, please let us know which of the following day-hikes you are interested in. 1. Rucu Pichincha - take the Teléforico from Quito and enjoy fantastic views of the capital city from the summit (4,669m) 2. Fuya Fuya - This is an extraordinary acclimatization hike. Fuya Fuya is located on the Northeast site of Quito, just beyond the town of Otavalo. It takes you into the heart of the Mojanda massif, reaching Laguna Mojanda which is a hidden sanctuary circled by the surrounding ridge peak of the Mojanda massif. The trail goes up by an easy slope covered with Andean grass until the last section that is steep and involves a little bit of scrambling on rock (4,263m). 3. El Corazón - situated 30km south of Quito, this hike follows the paramo and involves some easy scrambling to reach the summit (4,790m) 4. Rumiñahui - located 40km south of Quito, Rumiñahui offers great views of Cotopaxi and is a great acclimatization hike for those attempting higher volcanoes in Ecuador. Some scrambling is involved to reach the summit (4,721m) 5. Laguna Cuicocha - Located in Octavalo, the laguna is a 3km wide caldera and crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano in the Cordillera Occidental range of the Ecuadorian Andes. This is an easy hike with a fairly well-marked trail (3,246 m) 6. Pasachoa - Pasochoa is an extinct volcano located in the Guayllabamba river basin in the Ecuadorian Andes. Its distinct semicircular shape was formed approximately 100,000 years ago due to an eruption. This beautiful day hike is a popular one in Cotopaxi National Park (4,200m)