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Moving to Machachi, Saturday, 16th
“Machachi—Home of the $3 haircut”
It took an hour to drive to Machachi. Once there, Javier found a hotel right in the center of town. Amanecer del Valle. Great hotel for $20 night. Nice room with shower. 50 feet from market. 2 blocks from bank. 1 block from bus stop (to return to Quito). Got a great haircut for $3, changed some money. walked around, watched a concert.
Note: Hotel address is: Calle Luis Cordero 635 y Jose Mejia. Telephone is: 2315910 or 2314660. E-mail is: hotelamanecerdelvalle@hotmail.com
Getting ready for Rumiñahui
Farted around until the evening. We planned to climb Ruminahui early Monday AM. I passed on sleeping on the peak because of the continual terrible weather. It rained and turned overcast Sunday afternoon, so I knew there would be no pic/videos at the peak. I told Javier and his cousin, Ernesto, that a hike up to the cloud line would be fine, wherever that would be on the volcano.For $60, Ernesto would pick me up and drive me up to a trail-head. This trail was a common one, but would take about 4 hours to the peak. This was a lot better than paying the guide/agencies $160.
NOTE: No one posts what they pay for guides because they are embarrassed to say so. For me, paying guides is okay, but not what they charge in Ecuador. You will not find a guide or agency on the Internet who will charge less than $160/1 person to climb a volcano. If you have time like I did, go there and start asking around until you get some leads.
![Route up2]()
Route up2
It took us 2 hours to get half way up the trail where we stopped and I made the decision to hold and watch for any break. There was no weather break by 6:30ish, so we moved back down for about 15 minutes to a rock wall where we built a fire and rested again. I found a hill knob to lay down on and caught some of the sun coming over the left ridge. Here we sat until 8:00 when I decided to go back down.![Route up]()
Route up
Hiking 1/2 of Rumiñahui, Monday, 18th
At 300AM, Ernesto came by with his 4WD and we drove up to his property where the trail started. We parked and started off at 400AM. The trail was easy to pick up after a while. There were 2 streams at the beginning of the trail to load up with water. This trail went up a mountain finger between the two peaks, just to the left of the main peak.
Route up2
It took us 2 hours to get half way up the trail where we stopped and I made the decision to hold and watch for any break. There was no weather break by 6:30ish, so we moved back down for about 15 minutes to a rock wall where we built a fire and rested again. I found a hill knob to lay down on and caught some of the sun coming over the left ridge. Here we sat until 8:00 when I decided to go back down.
Route up
Of course, the weather broke more and more as we descended. By 900AM, we were down at the trail head, and the weather on top looked great. I really hated the weather during this trip. Ernesto drove me to the hotel where
I showered and packed up. I walked a block to the corner where the “Mejia Express” picks up to go to the “Trebol” bus stop in Quito. This bus leaves every 30 minutes to Quito and cost .70cents. 1 hour later we arrived at a turnabout where taxis waited.
It was only a $3 taxi fare to Casa Kanela hostal, the same hostal I stayed at when I arrived. Got a private again with breakfast for $18. Dropped clothes off to get washed. Went to mini-mart to buy some food and took along nap. Chatted with the guys at the mini-mart for the evening then retired.
NOTE: If you want to try this route and pay $60 for guide to the peak rather than paying $160, contact Javier from Pasochoa Adventure in Ecuador at 0991889076, or contact Pasochoa Adventure to pass message to him.
NOTE: The Quito airport is vacant during the weekdays. When we pulled up to the departures wing, we were the only vehicle, car or bus, at the curb.
Flight from Quito to home via COPA. Had no issues with COPA coming or going, and no problems with connections. Got free meals/drinks on all four flights.
If you have any questions about my trip to Ecuador, shoot me an e-mail.
I showered and packed up. I walked a block to the corner where the “Mejia Express” picks up to go to the “Trebol” bus stop in Quito. This bus leaves every 30 minutes to Quito and cost .70cents. 1 hour later we arrived at a turnabout where taxis waited.
It was only a $3 taxi fare to Casa Kanela hostal, the same hostal I stayed at when I arrived. Got a private again with breakfast for $18. Dropped clothes off to get washed. Went to mini-mart to buy some food and took along nap. Chatted with the guys at the mini-mart for the evening then retired.
NOTE: If you want to try this route and pay $60 for guide to the peak rather than paying $160, contact Javier from Pasochoa Adventure in Ecuador at 0991889076, or contact Pasochoa Adventure to pass message to him.
Going home, Tuesday, 19th
Breakfast at 7:30, taxi to airport by 800AM.NOTE: The Quito airport is vacant during the weekdays. When we pulled up to the departures wing, we were the only vehicle, car or bus, at the curb.
Flight from Quito to home via COPA. Had no issues with COPA coming or going, and no problems with connections. Got free meals/drinks on all four flights.
If you have any questions about my trip to Ecuador, shoot me an e-mail.