Both Pichinchas are twin volcanoes, and they are located only a few miles west from Quito and are very visible for the capital. Being the city’s guards witnesses after to our long Independence Battle, The two volcanoes are very distinct Gagua Pichincha which means BABY Pichincha is the highest and still active, RUCU Pichincha is lower and closer to Quito but inactive. Actually its last eruption took place in October 1999 and now one can evidence the smoke holes and the new dome formed at the bottom of the crater. They can be independently climbed in one journey each. They became an important historic and touristic symbol of Quito and Ecuador. Both, Guagua 4780mt. and Rucu Pichincha 4627mt.offer excellent conditions for soft acclimatization and breathtaking views of Quito and the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Many colorful endemic plants and crops as well as several Andean birds decorate the evergreen Páramo landscape. For further info or bookings feel free and contact us at info@sierranevada.ec.
Day 1 – Teleferic – Rucu Pichincha Summit
Short drive to the Cable Cab Station in Quito where we will use the gondolas to go up till we arrive at Cruz Loma at 4000mt. about. Here we will take a trail along the Eastern flanks of the mountain that lead us to a steeped scree area before we reach Rucu Pichincha summit 4627mt. This is an easy mountain trail and dot present any technical skill. after lunch, on the summit, we will descend to the cable cab and be back down to Quito.
Day 2 – Quito-Lloa-Guagua Pichincha Summit
Depart after breakfast along with South Quito’s districts till we arrive at Lloa Village, driving with a 4×4 vehicle up to a flat area where we leave the vehicle and start hiking up to the summit of Guagua Pichincha. A lot of endemic plants and flowers before we reach the Crater edge and the summit, we will observe the smoke wholes and new dome as a result of the recent eruption in 1999 after lunch on the summit we will walk down to the parking lot and drive back to Quito.
