The Illinizas, the Avenue of the Volcanos at 3,860 meters (12,664 ft) MSL, Mejía, Ecuador.
I got to trundle past the many mighty peaks of the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
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Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve extends across approximately 150,000 hectares of volcanic peak, small-cropper fields, páramo (grasslands), cloud forest and valley. It is accessed just 55km south of Quito and extends through much of the Quilotoa Loop area. There's great hiking here – much of it on unnamed trails that locals can point out.
The small village of El Chaupi is your best northern access point to the park's twin peaks, Iliniza Norte (5,126m/16,817ft) and Iliniza Sur (5248m/17,217ft), respectively the sixth- and eighth-highest mountains in Ecuador. Once part of a single volcanic cone, the two spires are now separated by a narrow, sloping saddle.
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Although they’re close in height, Iliniza Sur has a permanent glacier due to greater humidity and so is a highly technical climb requiring training and a slew of ice-climbing tools. Extremely popular as an acclimatization hike, Iliniza Norte is a more approachable, but still demanding, ascent, with scree, rocky scrambles near the top and sometimes snow. Guided climbs (one-/two-day trip $90/$180), mountain-bike rentals (per day $15) and horseback rides ($35, three to four hours) can be arranged at the Hostal La Llovizna in El Chaupi. La Llovizna also rents climbing gear, sleeping bags and mountain bikes.
To get into the park, continue from El Chaupi, on foot or by hired pickup, for about 3km to the national park control and then another 6km to the parking lot at La Virgen shrine. From there, it is a roughly two-hour hike to the Refugio Nuevos Horizontes. It's a further two hours' climb from the refugio to the peak of Iliniza Norte; be sure to go with a qualified guide.
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I wish I had climbed the Northern Illinizas, but the climber agency had the guides busy by the end of January / 2020.
The Illinizas, the Avenue of the Volcanos at 3,860 meters (12,664 ft) MSL, Mejía, Ecuador.
I got to trundle past the many mighty peaks of the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
***
Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve extends across approximately 150,000 hectares of volcanic peak, small-cropper fields, páramo (grasslands), cloud forest and valley. It is accessed just 55km south of Quito and extends through much of the Quilotoa Loop area. There's great hiking here – much of it on unnamed trails that locals can point out.
The small village of El Chaupi is your best northern access point to the park's twin peaks, Iliniza Norte (5,126m/16,817ft) and Iliniza Sur (5248m/17,217ft), respectively the sixth- and eighth-highest mountains in Ecuador. Once part of a single volcanic cone, the two spires are now separated by a narrow, sloping saddle.
***
Although they’re close in height, Iliniza Sur has a permanent glacier due to greater humidity and so is a highly technical climb requiring training and a slew of ice-climbing tools. Extremely popular as an acclimatization hike, Iliniza Norte is a more approachable, but still demanding, ascent, with scree, rocky scrambles near the top and sometimes snow. Guided climbs (one-/two-day trip $90/$180), mountain-bike rentals (per day $15) and horseback rides ($35, three to four hours) can be arranged at the Hostal La Llovizna in El Chaupi. La Llovizna also rents climbing gear, sleeping bags and mountain bikes.
To get into the park, continue from El Chaupi, on foot or by hired pickup, for about 3km to the national park control and then another 6km to the parking lot at La Virgen shrine. From there, it is a roughly two-hour hike to the Refugio Nuevos Horizontes. It's a further two hours' climb from the refugio to the peak of Iliniza Norte; be sure to go with a qualified guide.
***
I wish I had climbed the Northern Illinizas, but the climber agency had the guides busy by the end of January / 2020.