Hi,

Am looking for a reliable guide/outfitter to attempt Cotopaxi and Chimborazo in week 33/34

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

thank you very much for helping out

Rob

I used Freddy and his services, good guy!
http://sierranevadatrek.com/

I heard Freddy is a good guy too. Personally I used Patricio Salazar who worked for Moggely (located in Mariscal of Quito), Marco who also worked for Moggely at the time was great too.

Woodie

I stayed at Freddy’s Hotel (Sierra Nevada) in Quito in Jan 2012, although I didn’t use his guiding services, he was very generous with information even though he knew we already had a guide. He seemed very professional and knowledgeable.

I used the guiding Services of Edgar Vaca for Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Climbs. I did all acclimatization climbs (Pasochoa, Ruccu Pichincha and Illiniza Norte) on my own (I was traveling with a friend). I highly recommend Edgar Vaca. He has lots of experience guiding in Ecuador’s mountains. You can reach him at EDGARGUIDE63@GMAIL.COM or his cell 593-099842258

Good Luck,

Mario

Hey,

Just a heads up to anyone interested in climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. There is a new regulation being enforced at Chimborazo. ALL climbing parties must be accompanied by licensed guides. This regulation has always been in place from what i understand but they are now taking it very seriously and enforcing it after a few accidents that occurred in the last couple months. From what i have been told a 20 goes a long way if your trying to bribe your way in. Else you can just say your going to stay up at the Whymper Refugio for acclimatization and not climbing. I doubt anyone will say anything to you at 11pm when your preparing for your ascent.
Cotopaxi also requires a guide from what i can tell but it was very easy to bypass and we were not hassled about it at the refugio.

Good luck and be safe out there,
~Matt

Matt - is there a press release or written policy or something on this? Or were the park rangers/guides just trying to milk money out of people? I'm trying to throw a budget together and that would certainly affect things.

logikal wrote:There is a new regulation being enforced at Chimborazo. ALL climbing parties must be accompanied by licensed guides..

Monster - I do not know of a press release. I was told that it is the policy of the park and has been for quite some time. However, they just did not enforce it as much. Recently however they have taken a strong stance due to the accidents that have occured on the mountain over the past few months. If you just go up there saying your going to stay at the hut for a night to help acclimization then you can probably get up there with out much issue and just go for it. Also, i hear 20$ can go a long way (you didnt hear that from me). The other option you have is to attempt some route other than the "El Castillo" route since you wont have to go through the main gate. You would need to bring shelter in that case due to the lack of a Refugio.

From what i could tell, most outfitters there will do 2:1 ratio max so if you have a team of 3 you would need 2 guides. There are some smaller outfitters that can work with you if you have some experience and your own gear. Here is an email of one of the guides down there that may be much more affordable if you just need somone to get you into the park and show you the route (Baniostrekk@hotmail.com)

Good luck!

If you just go up there saying your going to stay at the hut for a night to help acclimization then you can probably get up there with out much issue and just go for it.

Also, if you are an experienced climber and don't need a guide... there's a transportation company located right at Cotopaxi's south entrance (white trucks) and in the town of Machachi as well (Transportes "La Dolorosa" At Mercado Amazonas). All of its drivers have Native Guide Licences and can help you going through the National Parks entrances (Cotopaxi and Illinizas) with no problem, as long as you pay for the ride up to the parking lots. You can arrange pick up time for the following day too. Rates are about USD. 30,00 - 35,00 one way.