CÓNDOR TREK
Difficulty:
Altitude: 4500m / 14763ft
Distance: 58km / 36mi
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Date: All year
One of the most longed for excursions by lovers of nature and hiking trails is the famous ‘Condor Trek’. This excursion is popular since it crosses three of the most emblematic protected and ecological reserves of Ecuador: the Cayambe-Coca National Park, the Antisana Ecological Reserve and the Cotopaxi National Park; being in turn one of the most famous walks in the Ecuadorian Andes. This ‘Condor Trek’ requires high physical performance, resistance and being prepared for some extreme conditions that can be found on the road such as rain and snow storms. Our team will provide you with everything you need so that your experience is totally pleasant and you can enjoy this trek like no other. Our highest point will be at 4500 meters above sea level at the base of the Sincholagua volcano, in the middle of Cotopaxi and Antisana. Come and enjoy this incredible expeditions with us and visit one of the most popular treks in Ecuador.
DAY 1: Start of the Trek in the Cayambe-Coca National Park
Altitude: 4200m / 13779ft
We will pick you up from the hotel of your choice at 06h00 and we will start our adventure towards the Cayambe Coca National Park near Papallacta, once here we will register and enter. Inside the Cayambe Coca National Park we will begin our 4-day trek. The horses will help us carry part of our equipment and clothing, while we will carry a small backpack to store water, some snacks and some clothing. This first day we will walk through muddy paths and we will cross small streams of water together with a great diversity of flora and fauna. After approximately 5 hours, we will make our first camp near the “Laguna del Volcán” which is a perfect place to have dinner and spend the night. If we are lucky we will be able to spot a very clear and starry sky, perfect for photography lovers.
DAY 2: Approach to the Antisana Volcano
Altitude: 4300m / 14107ft
This day we get up at 07h00, we will have breakfast on the shore of the Lagoon and a walk awaits us towards the foot of Antisana, where our second camp will be. On this route we will have a terrain with small enchanted forests and muddy terrain, where our rubber boots will be super useful. Next we will find a flatter terrain with the typical vegetation of the Andean Highlands, with much drier soil. Finally, approximately 5 hours later, we will pass by the Santa Lucía Lagoon and we will be approaching the majestic landscape offered by the Antisana volcano. Next we will have a snack near the Antisanilla peaks and we will rest in our camp for the next day.
DAY 3: Approach to the Sincholagua Volcano
Altitude: 4500m / 14763ft
Dawning our third day within the páramos of the Ecuadorian Highlands, in the middle of the resplendent mountains and a delicious breakfast, we will take a small tour to admire this terrain full of life and admire the glow of the Ecuadorian páramo. This is a perfect space where you can see a wide variety of fauna such as: the Andean fox, condors, caracaras, among others. Then we get everything ready to leave our camp and continue our journey through the moraine of the old glacier, having in our eyes a spectacular view of the central and southern peak of the majestic Antisana volcano. There too, in the distance, we will see Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Rumiñahui and Sincholagua. Being this day the strongest, after about 8 hours of walking, we will set up our camp on the slopes of Sincholagua. Here we will have dinner and enjoy our last night of camping.
DAY 4: Approach to the Cotopaxi Volcano
Altitude: 4000m / 13123ft
On this last day, we will get up at 06h00 to have enough time to have breakfast and get ready to cross different regions of the high páramo, going through different trails with spectacular flora and fauna. In turn, we will cross different valleys, rivers and surrounding hills, until we reach the majestic Cotopaxi volcano, where we will visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon and probably the Cotopaxi’s José Ribas refuge. From this site we will have time to have lunch and then we will descend to our private transport that will wait for us to take us back to Quito or to the place of preference where we will end our 4-day trek.
CLOTHING REQUIRED (NOT INCLUDED):
Three layers of clothing for the legs and torso:
• Base layer: Thermal clothing for body and pants (usually made of synthetic material).
• Second layer: Warm jacket and pants, preferably water repellent (goose down, fleece or polar type).
• Third layer: Waterproof jacket and pants (in case of rain).
• An extra thermal or jacket (in case of extreme cold).
• Backpack between 25L and 35L.
• Gloves.
• Factor 4 sunglasses (with UV protection) and sunscreen.
• Buff.
• Thick socks.
• Rubber Boots.
FOR THE REFUGE:
• Sleeping Bag.
• Sleeping Mat.
• Grooming Kit.
• Headlamp.
In case you do not have something from the list of personal clothing, Mauna Expeditions can provide you with the rental or sale of said accessories.
The services included in the cost of the program are:
✓ Registration and preparation for the best experience of your life.
✓ Guidance for the trek with certified guides (ASEGUIM/UIAGM), one guide for every 4 people.
✓ Private door-to-door transportation for the entire day of the tour.
✓ Entry permits.
✓ Adventure video about the experience in the program.
✓ One tent for every 2 people and kitchen tent.
✓ All meals included during the 2 days.
✓ Mauna Expeditions thermo.
✓ Buff Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Lunch Box and hydration for the trek.
The following services are NOT included in the cost of the trek:
X Clothing and personal equipment.
X Airplane tickets.
X Hotel or hostel in Quito or place of preference.
X Life insurance or against some type of accident.
X Other expenses NOT specified in our program.
X Tips.
1 person: CONTACT US.
2 people: CONTACT US.
3-5 people: CONTACT US.
6-10 people: CONTACT US.
11-24 people: CONTACT US.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION OF THE PROGRAM
To book the tour, Mauna Expeditions requires a payment of 25% of the cost of the program. Full payment must be made up to a maximum of two weeks before the start date of the tour. We do not send vouchers or confirmation messages until full payment for the program is made. Our team reserves the right to cancel the tour if the full payment is not made until the start date of the program.
The Mauna Expeditions team has put a lot of effort into organizing your program. Therefore, any cancellation must be made at least 21 days in advance. After 21 days, Mauna Expeditions may make a 50% refund depending on the cause of cancellation. Any cancellation notified less than 21 days from the start date of the program will be charged a penalty of 100% of the value of the program.
COSTS
Costs vary depending on the size of the group. A minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 24 people are required to make the trek. For costs information please CONTACT US.
RECOMENDATIONS
Mountaineering is a high-risk sport, where we are exposed to conditions on extreme occasions. We do not recommend doing this activity for people with asthma or some kind of heart condition. The level of difficulty of this program is demanding and there is nothing that interests us more than your safety and that you enjoy our program without any external problem.
Altitude: 4,500m / 14,763ft
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
Date: All year
One of the most longed for excursions by nature lovers is the Condor Trek within Ecuador. This excursion is based on walking through three of the most emblematic protected and ecological reserves of Ecuador: Antisana National Park, Cotopaxi and the Cayambe Coca National Reserve. Being in turn one of the most famous walks in the mountains of the great Andes. The Condor Trek demands high physical performance, resistance and some extreme conditions. Mauna Expeditions provides you with all the necessary equipment and clothing to make your experience totally enjoyable. The Condor Trek walk takes place in four days and three nights, conquering the most incredible landscapes that Ecuador has. In turn, it is surrounded by paths of high straw, forests and a great variety of flora and fauna that we will explore throughout the journey.
DAY 1, 2, 3 and 4: Condor Trek
Altitude: 4,500m/14,763ft
DAY 1
We will pick you up from the hotel of your choice at 10:00 a.m. and we will start our adventure towards the Cayambe Coca National Park in Papallacta, once here we will register and enter. Inside the Cayambe Coca National Park we will begin our excursion. The horses will help us with our load, and we will carry a small backpack to store water and snacks. Thus, the first day will be a path through muddy trails and we will cross small streams of water along with a great diversity of flora especially. After 5 hours we will make our first camp near the “Laguna del Volcán” which is a perfect place to have a snack and spend the night, if we are lucky, we will be able to enjoy a starry night.
DAY 2
On this day we get up, have breakfast on the shore of the Lagoon and the tour awaits us at the foot of Antisana, where our second camp will be. On this route we will have a terrain with small enchanted forests and muddy terrain. Next we will find a flatter terrain with the typical vegetation of the Páramo, with much drier soil. Finally, approximately after 5 hours we will pass through the Santa Lucía Lagoon, and we will be approaching the majestic landscape of the Antisana mountain, the perfect place for some photographs. Next we will have a snack near the Antisanilla peaks and we will rest inside our camp for the next day.
DAY 3
Once inside the landscape of the páramos of the Ecuadorian Sierra, in the middle of the resplendent mountains and a delicious breakfast, we will take a short tour to admire this terrain full of life, and admire the glow of the Ecuadorian páramo. This is a perfect space where a great variety of fauna awaits, such as: the Andean fox, condors, caracaras, among others. Next we get everything ready to leave the páramo and continue our ascent through the moraine of the old glacier, having in our eyes a spectacular view of the central and southern peak of the majestic Antisana volcano, and there, far away from Cotopaxi, we will observe imposing mountains such as Cayambe, Rumiñahui and the Sincholagua, in which the latter we will go in a time of approximately 8 hours of walking; being day 3 the strongest.
DAY 4
On this last day, we will get up early to have enough time to have breakfast and get ready to cross different regions of the high Páramo, passing through different trails of cows, rabbits, deer, birds, etc. At the same time, we will pass different valleys, rivers and surrounding mountains, until we reach the majestic Cotopaxi volcano. From this site we will have time to have lunch and we will descend to our vans that are waiting for us to finally take us to Quito, or to the place of their stay where they will be able to rest from a majestic four-day excursion.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT (INCLUDED):
Helmet.
harness.
Shared equipment (rope, carabiners, cords, ascent and descent equipment).
PERSONAL CLOTHING (NOT INCLUDED):
Three layers of clothing for the legs and torso:
• First layer: Diver and dryfit pants (lycra type, fast drying).
• Second layer: Warm jacket and pants, preferably water repellent (fleece or polar type).
• Third layer: Waterproof jacket and pants.
• An extra diver or sweater (in case of extreme cold).
• Backpack between 25L and 35L.
• Preferably thick gloves.
• Factor 4 glasses (with UV protection).
• Buff or thermal cap.
• Thick socks.
• Sunscreen.
In case you do not have something from the list of personal clothing or equipment, Mauna Expeditions can provide you with the rental or sale of said accessories.
The services included in the cost of the program are:
✓ Registration and preparation for the best experience of your life.
✓ Guidance for the ascent with certified guides (ASEGUIM/UIAGM), one guide for every 4 people.
✓ Private door-to-door transportation for the entire day of the tour.
✓ Entry permits.
✓ Adventure video about the experience in the program.
✓ Necessary mountain equipment (specified above)
✓ Lunch on the way down on the day of the ascent.
✓ Take all of Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Buff Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Lunch Box and hydration for the ascent.
The following services are NOT included in the cost of the program:
X Clothing and personal equipment.
X Air tickets.
X Hotel or hostel in Quito or place of preference.
X Life insurance or against some type of accident.
X Other expenses NOT specified in our program.
X Tips.
For more details about prices, please contact us to give you a complete and full price. This will depend on the number of people and your plans.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION OF THE PROGRAM
To book the tour, Mauna Expeditions requires a payment of 25% of the cost of the program. Full payment must be made up to a maximum of two weeks before the start date of the tour. We do not send vouchers or confirmation messages until full payment for the program is made. Our team reserves the right to cancel the tour if the full payment is not made until the start date of the program.
The Mauna Expeditions team has put a lot of effort into organizing your program. Therefore, any cancellation must be made at least 21 days in advance. After 21 days, Mauna Expeditions may make a 50% refund depending on the cause of cancellation. Any cancellation notified less than 21 days from the start date of the program will be charged a penalty of 100% of the value of the program.
COSTS
Costs vary depending on the size of the group. A minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 24 are required to make the ascent. For cost information please CONTACT US.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Mountaineering is a high-risk sport, where we are exposed to conditions on extreme occasions. We do not recommend doing this activity for people with asthma or some kind of heart problem. The level of difficulty of the program is demanding and there is nothing that interests us more than your safety and that you enjoy our program without any external problem.
BOOK YOUR TREK
Choose and reserve the date, then our team will contact you to confirm all the details.
