ALTAR CAMPING TREK 3D/2N
INCLUDING:
- Entrance permit Sangay National Park
- English speaking naturalist guide
- Private transportation from / to Riobamba
- Accommodation in tents
- Meals and coffee, tea, purified drinking water
- Pack horses + muleteer for the equipment
- Use of equipment (sleeping bag with fleece sheet, tents, thermarest mat, rubber boots, thermos bottle)
INFORMATION:
El Altar (5319 m. / 17.451 ft.) is one the most spectacular mountains of Ecuador. The Incas called it Capac Urcu or sublime mountain. A long time ago, this was the highest volcano of Ecuador, and some studies even say that it was the highest of the world. A huge eruption almost completely destroyed the cone, leaving 9 snow-capped summits in a horseshoe shape around an enormous crater lake. El Altar is part of the Sangay National Park, home to condors, Andean gulls, white tailed deers and foxes.
ITINERARY
Day 1. Pickup from your accommodation in Riobamba at 8.15 a.m. After a 1-hour drive we reach Candelaria, at 3200 m. / 10.499 ft. altitude. We put our equipment on pack horses and start to hike up a steep hill. After 1 hour we reach the trail to El Altar and soon we will enjoy the first views of the extinct volcano and the valley of Collanes river. We continue hiking for about 5 hours
until we reach the campsite at about 3850 m. / 12.632 ft.
Day 2. After breakfast we follow the Collanes Plain to El Altar’s crater lake. From the plateau at 4300 m. / 14.108 ft., the highest point of this trek, we have marvellous views of the turquoisegreen lake and the snow-capped peaks. With some luck, you can spot the Andean Condor around here. In the afternoon we return to the campsite.
Day 3. In the morning we hike down from the campsite to Candelaria. From here we drive back to Riobamba. Arrival at about 13:00 p.m.