Cordillera Oriental (Ecuador)
Overview
As one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, with a nearly perfect conical shape, Cotopaxi attracts more visitors than any other volcanoes in Ecuador. This is the classic volcano people imagine when they think of volcanoes.
Cotopaxi is the second highest mountain in Ecuador (5,897 m / 19,347 ft.) and the most popular high altitude climb in the country because of the relative simplicity involved in the climb.
But although, climbing Cotopaxi is considered not difficult, it is considered a technical climb too, because of the technical climbing gear necessary for the ascent, such as: crampons, ice axe and crevasse rescue gear.
It is also known as the world’s third highest active volcano after volcan Ojos Del Salado (6,893 m / 22,615 ft.) and Tupungato (6,550 m / 21,490 ft.) in the Argentine/Chilean border.
Its volcanic activity can be easily perceived by those who have reached its summit or the proximity of its external northern crater walls known as Yanasacha (black rock in kechwa language).
The summit or highest point it’s actually the northern rim of the crater, which is rounded and measures approximately 480 meters wide. The smell of sulfur and the presence of fumaroles are evident from up there. A circuit of its inner crater rim can be done in about one and a half hours depending on snow conditions. Several visits into the crater have been undertaken, most of them by Ecuadorian parties.
Please note that because of the high altitudes involved in climbing Cotopaxi, being acclimatized is highly advised in order to enjoy your climb and to avoid any kind of AMS symptoms, very common among visitors.
A bit of history
These are few of the most important events recorded during Cotopaxi’s volcanic activity:
1742. Cotopaxi erupted three times, destroying Latacunga and killing hundreds of people. The volcanic activity continues for the following 4 years.
1768. Latacunga is destroyed again by another eruption killing many lives once more.
1853. Cotopaxi enters in activity once again. The volcanic activity lasted almost a decade.
1877. Cotopaxi erupts again wiping out Latacunga and surroundings.
1904. Cotopaxi erupts. (Small eruption).
Other important events:
1872. Cotopaxi is climbed for first time by Wilhelm Reiss (GER) and Angel Escobar (COL).
1972. First descent into the crater by a Polish-Czech Expedition.
1996. An avalanche partially buried the refuge killing 13 people.
Getting There
Cotopaxi National Park is located approx. 55km south of the capital city of Quito. This is one of the reasons why Cotopaxi can be seen unmistakably from the north and center of Quito in a clear day or as your plane overflies the city before landing on its airport.
From Quito, take the southbound trolleybus (USD. 0.25) or a taxi (USD. 5,00 – 6,00 from downtown) to the brand new Main Bus Station (Terminal de buses Quitumbe). Once there you can take any of the buses heading south to the city of Machachi or Latacunga, depending on the entrance you’d like to take for access into the park.
There are two ways to enter into the park. One is by the North Entrance or control norte and the other by the South Entrance or control sur.
Control Norte or El Pedregal:
From Quito (Terminal Quitumbe), take Transportes Mejia (green buses) or Transportes Carlos Brito (purple buses). Both can be found at the eastern side of the terminal, right outside the food court. It’ll take you a bit less than an hour to get to Machachi (the final stop) for only USD. 0.75. Once in Machachi, make sure you get off the bus at the main square or at the market “Mercado Amazonas”, where you can hire a pickup truck for USD. 35,00 one way up to the parking lot (one and a half hours approx.). You can also fix arrangements for your return trip.
Machachi is a good option if you have to stock up on last minute supplies. There are many small stores (tiendas), bakeries (panaderias), internet access, restaurants all over town. You can even find a big market (Almacenes Tia) where you can get some provisions for your trip.
Optional transportation:
There’s a bus company “Transportes Machachenas” a block away (north) from the main square. These buses leave every 45 minutes – 1 hour towards El Pedregal (USD. 0.50), which is a village located half way to the north entrance. From there you’ll need to hike to the north entrance for about 1 hour and about 5 hours to the parking lot. There’s not much traffic going that way, therefore catching a ride would be difficult. This is a good option for saving a few bucks, not for saving energy for the climb, though.
Control Sur or El Chaspi:
Cotopaxi as seen from the parking lot.
From Quito (Terminal Quitumbe) take any of the southbound buses along the Pan American Highway to Latacunga located 30 minutes after the south entrance junction. There are at least three bus companies providing their transportation services to Latacunga. Don’t forget to show your boarding pass to the driver to make sure you’re on the right bus.
It’ll take you about 1:15 hours to get to Cotopaxi south entrance. Let the driver or his helper know you need to get off there. There is a pickup truck company offering rides to the parking lot for USD. 35,00 one way at the entrance. You can bargain the price and also arrange to get picked up the next day after the climb. It takes an extra one and a half hour to get to the parking lot from the south entrance.
The differences between entering by the north or south control are road conditions and scenery. The road to the north control is not as well maintained as the south one is, but it’s more scenic.
Another option is to stay in Quito, and typically you can hire 4WD transportation at any of the local agencies to take you straight to the entrance of the National Park and to the parking lot. This is much easier than trying to take a bus and etc. Rates are between USD. 80,00 – USD. 100,00 a day.
At this point, from the parking lot (4,600 m / 15,088 ft.), you do have to hike up a ways. Climbers normally arrange to get picked up the following day around 10 am – 1 pm.
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Red Tape
Starting Nov.12 2012 nobody is allowed to climb any glaciated mountain in Ecuador without hiring an accredited mountain guide. This restriction was issued by Ecuadorian Goverment after the last fatal accidents that happened in 2012 in Illiniza Sur and Norte. There are not fees to enter Cotopaxi Park.
Refuge fee is: USD. 22,40 for foreigners and USD. 11,20 for Ecuadorians and residents.
Please note that Refuge fees increased in June 1st, 2011. Fares: USD. 42.70 for foreigners and residents. By paying this fee you'll be entitled to have breaksfast and lunch prepared for the refuge's staff, but nobody will be allowed to enter into the kitchen to prepare meals, or boil water. Changes are being put into consideration by the new management, few of them are still uncertain.
For more information about the refuge and fares please click here.
Cotopaxi North Face. Panoramic View.
When To Climb
Cotopaxi is blessed with the highest number of clear days per year in the Ecuadorian Andes. Climbs can be attempted year round. June and July are the driest months, but extremely high winds blowing for days on end are not uncommon. December and January are almost as dry and much less windy.|
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Camping and Refugio Info
The refugio Jose F. Rivas is located at 4,800 meters (15,744 ft.) and was built in 1971, extended in 1977 and remodeled in 2009. It is about a 45 minute-hike from the parking area and the cost is USD. 22,40 per night. This two story building is very nice in comparison to the Mexico huts. For a nominal fee they can provide dinner and H2O. You will find 50 bunks, water, electricity, a kitchen, bucket flush-toilets, a fireplace and lockers to store your extra gear while you climb. Most parties do their summit bid directly from the hut.
Jose F. Rivas Refuge. (4,800 m / 15,744 ft.)
For the ones who search for tranquility, you can camp on a nice plateau a 50 meters right from the hut. The view is stunning and you are separate from the touristic crowd that passes by the hut every day. Keep in mind, if you choose to tent it and not pay the refugio, you cannot use ANY of their facilities. The Inn Keepers sees to that. No H2O, no restrooms etc.
You can either stay at the refugio or head over the ridge (right) to tent it. I recommend tenting, it obviously requires more gear, stove, food, tent, etc, but is worth it as it is much quieter and the views are stunning! (as long as the weather is good, of course).
For more information about Jose Rivas refuge and other pleasant mountain lodges within the park, click here.
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Routes
NORMAL ROUTE (Grade II/PD)This is the actual route up to the summit. It starts on the scree slope located right above the refuge (North Face). It runs by a series of switchbacks that end up at the glacier line, clearly seen from the refuge. It is scenic and not boring at all.
It continues all the way up to the lower flat section below Yanasacha, after traversing through a labyrinth of crevasses and tall seracs. Few deep and huge crevasses should be negotiated. In fact, you may need to get in and out (climb) a deep crevasse at 5,500 m in order to reach the mid section of the glacier. After a few long traverses in west direction you'll reach Yanasacha's right side plateau.
The steep slope at the right side of Yanasacha must be climbed in order to set yourself right at the bottom of an easy steep gully. Climb it up to its upper part, then you'll be set again at the base of another easy steep gully (hand-made) located right below the summit. Ecuadorian guides shoveled a canal up to the lower part of the summit, in order to avoid traversing through the expossed pass above Yanasacha. You'll be topping out after making a long easy traverse south towards the summit.
ROMPE CORAZONES (HEART BREAKER). (Grade II/PD)
This is a variant of the normal route and it’s not currently climbed. Its name says it all since it was hard to find a good resting spot for the first two or three hours on its steep terrain. It actually was a long and tiresome. It starts at the right side of the refuge and continues diagonally up for about two and a half hours on steep terrain. This route joins the actual normal route after crossing a huge deep crevasse at 5,500 m which at the moment can’t be negotiated. This route was opened in 2000 but is no longer being climbed since 2009.
SOUTHWEST ROUTE (Grade II/PD)
This was the very first route climbed back in 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss (GER) and Angel Escobar (COL). This route started to register fewer ascents since Jose Rivas refuge was constructed on the actual normal route (North face).
Mountain Conditions
As I pointed out before, the mountain is not difficult but does require crampons, ice axe and rope. The mountain is well crevassed, all the way up to the summit. For the most part, the crevasses are spectacularly large and open thus easy to avoid but beware of the multiple snow bridges...travel by night and come back early as the snow gets very slushy.Some climbing tips:
Snowstorm on Cotopaxi.
Crevasse crossing.
The route is well beaten in but here there is some advice that could help your climb to be more enjoyable and successful:
Get up at midnight, be off at 1 am and you can summit in 7-9 hours.
You’ll be climbing up for the first 1 – 2 hours on steep scree (sometimes covered by snow) on switchbacks. Be patient and don’t run up. Saving energy during the first hours will help you considerably once you reach the glacier, where you may want to rope up.
Some aluminum ladders as well as climbing protection (fixed lines) can be set up on exposed sections (depending on climbing season). Feel free to clip in with your carabineer if you don’t feel confident enough to negotiate them without their aid. Better being safe than sorry.
You hit the crux, or steepest section, just above the Yanasacha or the black band. Keep your head down and persevere, the route winds around just a bit and continues up by a couple easy gullies, then you hit, easy type ridge. Here the steepness eases to the summit after negotiating the last couple deep crevasses.
Spend a day or two is better (if you have the time), acclimatizing and your climb will be smoother.
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Guidebooks
Ecuador: Climbing and Hiking Guide, 6th Edition, by Rob Rachowiecki and Mark Thurber, (2008) Ecuador : A Climbing Guide by Yossi Brain. (September 2000)
Maps:
Maps 1:50,00000 Sincholagua and Cotopaxi are available at IGM (Instituto Geografico Militar) in Quito, sector El Dorado. They can be purchased at some of the main bookstores in La Mariscal area in Quito.
Other Information
Links: Andre Hangaar (2010) Trip Report. Third time to Cotopaxi
Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
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| Scott | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | Cotopaxi used to be the highest active volcano in the world but it lost that distinction decades ago (though if traveling in Ecuador locals still quote it as such). Tupungato (Chile-Argentina) and Sabancaya (Peru) are both higher and more active than Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi at 5897 meters had its latest eruption in 1904 and some very minor steam eruptions in 1975. Sabancaya, at 5976 meters has had many eruptions between 1990 and 1998 and is set up to go off again at any time. Tupungato, at 6550 meters (though the active crater is a few hundred meters lower) had its last major eruption in 1986, and several minor steam eruptions since then. Ojos del Salado, at 6880 meters is often quoted as active because of the steam vents, but this is very debatable, as by most definitions it is not an active volcano. By any definitions however, Sabancaya and Tupungato are certainly active volcanoes, and higher than Cotopaxi. | |
| Posted Sep 4, 2004 8:06 pm | ||
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