Best Cotopaxi Climbing Guides 2025

This was my second trip with ITT. The first was Cotopaxi in Ecuador -Fabulous!!!! As a women travelling solo it was really important for me to choose a company that valued safety and security first. I chose well!. All of my questions & concerns were always promptly addressed prior to the trip. What a great extensive team on the ground. From the moment I was picked up at the airport to the day I was drop off at the end of trip I was so well supported. All details of the trip were meticulously taken care of including extra resources to deal with the unexpected! I really appreciated the flexibility which allowed me to make last minute changes to the planned trek. In doing so I was able to join 2 other climbers (friends now!) & see a different part of the Himalayas before climbing Island Peak. Great attention was given to proper acclimatization, hygiene, healthy food, good accomodations and training. We had 2 days of training on the mountain to review and practice the skills required to climb Island Peak - This is NOT a trekking Peak!!!!! The training helped me feel confident and relaxed on summit day. Shout out to Ang Kami Sherpa (lead climbing guide) & Jimi (guide) and all the other extraordinary guides, cooks, Yak managers (made sure to get our duffles from one place to another through crazy terrain!) and the admin staff on the ground. Always dealt with in such a courteous way and really felt that the team itself was so cohesive and respectful of each other which is I imagine is a reflection of a good leader. Thanks Ian for another awesome & safe experience. Had such a blast. Already dreaming of my next adventure :-) Diane

We would like to take a moment and give our Gratitude to Andean Summit Adventure. It’s taken a week to write this review because I wanted to find the best words that I could to write a 5 star review. Paulina and I had been in touch with Elisabeth for over a year prior to our trip. She was very attentive and knowledgeable. She answered the million question we had for her as well. Elisabeth put us both at ease that we had chosen the best guiding service to take us to the summit of Chimborazo. At Andean Summit Adventure, they make you feel not like clients but family and people that you can call friends. We did the 8 day trip, this included climbing Ruco Pacincha 4,696m, Iliniza Norte 5,127m, Cotopaxi 5,897m and last but not least Chimborazo 6,270m. With Andean Summit Adventure safety and the well being of the people comes first before anything. This was an incredible touch that really made us feel that they cared and had our best interests in mind. After planning and training to climb Chimborazo for two years Andean Summit Adventure made this happen. With Elisabeth’s knowledge of all the mountains and great organizations she matched us up with Jaime our Guide. He is a top grade guide with lots of experience to help you succeed. I would not hesitate for a second to use them again to climb in Ecuador or other countries for that matter. Much regards, Project Chimborazo: The Climb to Inspire Kevin Mallia

My husband and I booked with Andean Summit and Adventure to climb 4 mountains in Ecuador's highlands....best decision ever!!! Right from the beginning, I knew both Elizabeth and Jaime were personalble and super caring. We summitted successfully Rucu Pichincha and Iliniza Norte. We reached about 100m to the glacier of Cotopaxi and had to turn around due to unsafe weather conditions. I had suffered altitude sickness and wasn't able to summit Chimborazo, but all throughout the 8 day accilmitization process, Jaime always had a plan for me so I could see the other summits throughout successfully. We could not ask for a better guide and mountaineering tour company. 5 stars all the wayyyyy👏🏽💯🤗 You guys rock❤️ Paulina Jimenez

We summited Cotopaxi with Jamie as our guide. It was an unbelievable and perfect experience. Jamie was very knowledgeable, skilled, and personable. He shared just enough information with us for each part of the trip for us to be prepared but not too overwhelmed. It was very easy to communicate with our guide and the company before the trip. The food was really nice and the whole experience staying at the refuge and meeting other climbers and guides. We were very confident in Jamie’s skills and ability to keep us safe. His saying “never give up!” was very motivating for our successful summit. The gear was all very nice and up to date, we were given every tool we needed. I felt every emotion during this day from excitement, to fear, to fatigue, to gratitude, I cried very much at the summit because it was so beautiful and it was such a big accomplishment for myself and my husband. Overall this experience was our favorite for our time in Ecuador and even one of my favorites of my whole life! Highly recommend Jamie and Andean summit adventure. Worth every dollar as an investment for an experience of a lifetime!

I climbed Tungurahua together with Jaime in November as a preparation for successful attempts to climb both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. The trip was perfectly organized by Elisabeth and Jaime did a great job as a guide. My girlfriend just went to the refuge and did not go for the summit, but she had a great time anyway. I would absolutely recommend Andean Summit Adventure and I hope that I can do some further tours in Ecuador in the future with them!

You guys are the best and the level of professionalism you bring to the climbing world is un-matched!! Andean Summit Adventure is a very good (One of the best) for climbing in South America. Safety is a top priority while pushing for the summit. Jaime helped me get to the summit of both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. What a great experience!!!!!!!!!

I had the pleasure during the last two weeks of climbing some mountains with Andean Summit Adventures. This was a great experience. The planning & communication up front with Elisabeth was perfect. The response time was very quick and she was always trying to fulfill my needs & wishes. The climbing with Jaime was fantastic. He has excellent knowledge and vast experience in the mountains. He always made sure I was well and whenever possible that we reach the summit. Out of 7 summits I made 6 (Antisana unfortunately not because of a heavy snow storm). We also did not so well known mountains like Sincholagua, a very beautiful & interesting mountain with some climbing in the end. During the ascent we had very heavy storms, but we continued. And finally we got to the summit with no wind. A great experience! And thanks to Jaime I could also climb Cotopaxi as he changed the schedule because of the weather conditions. He heard that all the nights before nobody reached the summit and everybody turned around. So we decided short-term to do a daylight ascent (which under some circumstances you can do) to have at least a chance with the actual weather conditions. And we reached the summit! This kind of analysis & flexibility is also the strength of Andean Summit Adventures. And then of course we also climbed the Chimborazo!

I would highly recommend Andean Summit Adventures to anyone considering summiting the high peaks of Ecuador.  I used their services 4 separate times to climb Cayambe, Cotopaxi (twice), and Chimborazo while living in Ecuador for three months in 2019/2020. I successfully summited all 4 attempts, thanks in part to the amazing guides Andean Summit Adventures works with.  I used 4 guides with the company (Paul, Manuel, Fabian and Diego), all were incredibly capable guides who not only know the mountains but who also are fun to talk with and learn from. Each guide was also great at making each mountain a personalized approach to ensure that the pace and style fit what I needed to make it to the top. Also, while not necessarily part of the guiding services, I had a lot of fun talking with my driver for three of the climbs (Rigoberto) and learning about the history, culture, and flora/fauna of Ecuador. I would recommend him if you need a driver in country. Last, Elisabeth really does pull everything together in the best way possible, as others have mentioned. She answered all my questions promptly, helped me with gear rental and training suggestions, and even helped with rescheduling a climb after I got unexpectedly sick the night before. She was organized, helpful, and in communication throughout the whole process. I did a lot of research on guiding options in Ecuador, and based on my experience am confident that Andean Summit Adventures is one of the best.

In January 2019 we went summit hunting in Ecuador for around 2 weeks with Andean Summit Adventure. Pasochoa, Rucu Pichincha, Ilinizia Norte and Sur, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo were our destinations. The entire tour was perfectly planned from A to Z and tailored to us with a good mix of mountaineering and rest days, which were necessary for such a program. The care left nothing to be desired. You could contact the organizer with any questions or requests and you would always receive an open ear and they would always ask if everything was okay. We were also able to make a small change to the program and add Ilinizia Sur to the program at our own request, as well as adding a few days at the end of the trip to enjoy Ecuador a little more. The mountain tours to the various peaks were led perfectly, conscientiously and safely by the mountain guides, initially Fabian and then Jaime (the boss himself). This is also why we were able to successfully climb all the peaks. I and my partner can therefore only recommend this organizer. Many thanks again to Elisabeth and Jaime for the unforgettable adventure!!

My husband and I booked with Andean Summit and Adventure to climb 4 mountains in Ecuador's highlands....best decision ever!!! Right from the beginning, I knew both Elizabeth and Jaime were personalble and super caring. We summitted successfully Rucu Pichincha and Iliniza Norte. We reached about 100m to the glacier of Cotopaxi and had to turn around due to unsafe weather conditions. I had suffered altitude sickness and wasn't able to summit Chimborazo, but all throughout the 8 day accilmitization process, Jaime always had a plan for me so I could see the other summits throughout successfully. We could not ask for a better guide and mountaineering tour company. 5 stars all the wayyyyy👏🏽💯🤗

This was a 10 Star Experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We would like to take a moment and give our Gratitude to Andean Summit Adventure. It’s taken a week to write this review because I wanted to find the best words that I could to write a 5 star review. Paulina and I had been in touch with Elisabeth for over a year prior to our trip. She was very attentive and knowledgeable. She answered the million question we had for her as well. Elisabeth put us both at ease that we had chosen the best guiding service to take us to the summit of Chimborazo. At Andean Summit Adventure, they make you feel not like clients but family and people that you can call friends. We did the 8 day trip, this included climbing Ruco Pacincha 4,696m, Iliniza Norte 5,127m, Cotopaxi 5,897m and last but not least Chimborazo 6,270m. With Andean Summit Adventure safety and the well being of the people comes first before anything. This was an incredible touch that really made us feel that they cared and had our best interests in mind. After planning and training to climb Chimborazo for two years Andean Summit Adventure made this happen. With Elisabeth’s knowledge of all the mountains and great organizations she matched us up with Jaime our Guide. He is a top grade guide with lots of experience to help you succeed. I would not hesitate for a second to use them again to climb in Ecuador or other countries for that matter. Much regards, Project Chimborazo: The Climb to Inspire Kevin Mallia

Amazing time in Ecuador summiting Cayambe & Chimborazo! The acclimatization part of the trip climbing other mountains such as Pasochoa, Rumiñahui and Cotopaxi glacier worked great and made the whole program very interesting. Jamie is a very skilled mountain guide and pleasant person to hang out with. Communication in English was always easy with both Jamie and Elisabeth. I highly recommend Andean Summit Adventure to anyone looking to climb the Ecuadorian volcanoes in good hands.

My wife and I traveled to Ecuador seeking to climb Cotopaxi with a climbing guide. I researched guiding services and kept coming back to Andean Summit Adventure. The reviews were all strong and I researched their guides who were all certified at the highest level. Ultimately we ended up on Cayambe due to the ongoing volcanic activity on Cotopaxi, and there our expectations were exceeded. Our guide, Jose Salazar, was exceptionally patient, highly skilled, fluent in multiple languages- the consummate professional and gentleman. Unlike many other guiding services I have used in the States, where the focus seems to be on rushing clients through at the pace of a 30 year old guide so the next group can make their attempt, Jose's focus was on us- our abilities, pace, expectations and of course safety and well being. Ultimately our experience was one of delight and wonder- and of course the desire to return to Ecuador and again find ourselves on Jose's rope experiencing the beautiful mountains and rarified air of Ecuador's highest elevations. A big thank you to Jose, Elizabeth and the entire team at Andean Summit Adventure!

Fantastic experience. Elizabeth was professional and well organized. Easily changed our summit attempt on Cotopaxi to Cayambe after Cotopaxi closed due to volcanic activity. Jaime was the best. We climbed multiple different peaks ending on the summit of Chimborazo ! Will definitely be back. Thank you for putting together such an amazing trip and experience for us!

We used Andean Summit Adventures guide service for a Cotopaxi acclimatization and climb. They were absolutely stellar. Everyone we worked with was professional, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable. Elisabeth was flexible and supportive as plans evolved and the guides were a lot of fun. I highly recommend this service.

Andean Summit Adventure is a top level company with top level service. Elisabeth helped me customize my trip so that I could accomplish all of my goals. This is the best value that can be found when climbing in South America!!!!! I can not stress enough how helpful and professional she is. On the climbing side, Jaime, is equally as impressive! He helped me learn new climbing techniques while keeping me safe. He is a professional among professionals. It is also comforting that every where we went people know him and would ask him all types of questions. Obviously others value his expertise too! With his guidance we summitted both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. Thank you Jaime!!!!!!!!

We summited Cotopaxi with Jamie as our guide. It was an unbelievable and perfect experience. Jamie was very knowledgeable, skilled, and personable. He shared just enough information with us for each part of the trip for us to be prepared but not too overwhelmed. It was very easy to communicate with our guide and the company before the trip. The food was really nice and the whole experience staying at the refuge and meeting other climbers and guides. We were very confident in Jamie’s skills and ability to keep us safe. His saying “never give up!” was very motivating for our successful summit. The gear was all very nice and up to date, we were given every tool we needed. I felt every emotion during this day from excitement, to fear, to fatigue, to gratitude, I cried very much at the summit because it was so beautiful and it was such a big accomplishment for myself and my husband. Overall this experience was our favorite for our time in Ecuador and even one of my favorites of my whole life! Highly recommend Jamie and Andean summit adventure. Worth every dollar if you want to climb Cotopaxi, as an investment for an experience of a lifetime!

Jaime and Elisabeth made an excellent team coordinating and guiding my climbs up to Pasachoa, Iliniza Norte, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. Thanks to Jaime's guidance and climbing pace, I was able to summit all four peaks without feeling winded or succumb to altitude. Elisabeth goes the extra mile, promptly answering all questions and consistently stays in touch to make sure clients are safe and satisfied with their services. There are many qualified guides in Ecuador, but Andean Summit Adventures is without a doubt the best option to take when climbing in the Andes. After searching the internet and reading reviews, I'm pretty sure you'll come to the same conclusion. The mountains themselves were stunningly beautiful and easily worth the trip from Oregon to Ecuador, but proper acclimatization, especially for Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, is a must. Out of three rope teams, my guide and I were the only ones to summit Chimborazo, and I suspect the reason was due to inadequate acclimatization.

We signed up for climbing Illiniza Norte and Cotopaxi. Though we did not attempt Cotopaxi by choice (weather wasn’t looking good) we truly appreciated Pablo as our guide. Elisabeth(the owner) and Pablo were both great in working with us and truly went above and beyond in every way. Would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone traveling to Ecuador. Thanks for everything!

I climbed Tungurahua together with Jaime in November as a preparation for successful attempts to climb both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. The trip was perfectly organized by Elisabeth and Jaime did a great job as a guide. My girlfriend just went to the refuge and did not go for the summit, but she had a great time anyway. I would absolutely recommend Andean Summit Adventure and I hope that I can do some further tours in Ecuador in the future with them!

I had the pleasure during the last two weeks of climbing some mountains with Andean Summit Adventures. This was a great experience. The planning & communication up front with Elisabeth was perfect. The response time was very quick and she was always trying to fulfill my needs & wishes. The climbing with Jaime was fantastic. He has excellent knowledge and vast experience in the mountains. He always made sure I was well and whenever possible that we reach the summit. Out of 7 summits I made 6 (Antisana unfortunately not because of a heavy snow storm). We also did not so well known mountains like Sincholagua, a very beautiful & interesting mountain with some climbing in the end. During the ascent we had very heavy storms, but we continued. And finally we got to the summit with no wind. A great experience! And thanks to Jaime I could also climb Cotopaxi as he changed the schedule because of the weather conditions. He heard that all the nights before nobody reached the summit and everybody turned around. So we decided short-term to do a daylight ascent (which under some circumstances you can do) to have at least a chance with the actual weather conditions. And we reached the summit! This kind of analysis & flexibility is also the strength of Andean Summit Adventures. And then of course we also climbed the Chimborazo!

My mom and I had the pleasure of climbing Cotopaxi with Jaime, the head guide for the agency. He was genial, professional, safety focused, overwhelmingly experienced (he has been guiding in Ecuador for over 20 years, and estimates he has led somewhere around 400 trips up Cotopaxi). Nearly as important as all of his qualifications, he was a fun and insightful person to be around with a vast knowledge of Ecuador and the climbing world. Elizabeth was incredibly helpful and on top of coordinating our trip she was willing to provide us with some great recommendations for other hikes and activities to do in the area. We had a great experience with Andean Summit Adventure and I look forward to doing more climbing with their agency on my next trip to Ecuador!

I had the pleasure of going for a quick one day tour with Elisabeth and Jaime at the end of January. We climbed ruminahui in the Cotopaxi park. The climb turned into a run that was fast and fun, just as I like it! I was initially supposed to do a three day tour but my travel plans changed. Elisabeth was super helpful with the logistics and even drpped me off at the airport for my flight home. Hopefully I'll be able to come back for a climb with you guys sometime soon!

I met Elisabeth and Jaime at an ultra-running event in Ibarra, Ecuador in February 2017. In December 2017, I hiked Iliniza Norte with Jaime as an acclimatisation hike and then Cotopaxi with Manuel. I told Elisabeth I wanted to move fast up the mountains and that was communicated to the guides. I really appreciated Elisabeth’s quick responses via email / WhatsApp to all of my questions. I plan to do more hiking/climbing with this group in the future.

This was my 3rd trip with Ian Taylor Trekking and each time they set even higher standards! Ian and Laura were super helpful in answering questions before the trip. Our itinerary in Ecuador was perfect; we got to see quite some of the sights including Quito and 'Middle of World' on the equator. Most importantly it acclimatised us to the altitude with climbs to 4200m and 4600m before the big stuff of Cayambe (5800m) and Chimborazo (6300m). The final climbs were harder than I ever imagined but we made it and it was so worthwhile. Our guide Joaquin was fantastic; so passionate about his country and the mountains and keeping us safe. The hotels and food were outstanding and all in all a fantastic experience. I highly recommend Ian Taylor trekking and their Cotopaxi (or Cayambe) and Chimborazo trip.

We booked a Cotopaxi tour with Julio Verne travel. Although we did not reach the summit (we were evacuated from the mountain due to the volcano becoming active in the night of our climb), we can fully recommend the agency. They were very friendly, responsive, and helpful, the provided climbing gear was in very good shape and our guide Paúl was very experienced and friendly. Definitely our go-to tour provider for our next visit in Ecuador!

We enjoyed a fantastic holiday in Ecuador including climbs on Carihuairazo and Cotopaxi as well as some days on the Galápagos Islands. THANK YOU to Julio Verne Travel for an excellent organization of our Ecuador experience ! It was outstanding !!! Everything was organized perfectly well: - The hostals - All Guides ( Big thanks to Marcial, Juan Gonzales, Paul & Patricio and Juan ) - Complete transportation services ( everyone was in time, amazing ! ) - Food, including vegetarian option - Equipement - Planning overall, including Galapagos tours Thanks again for all your efforts

I booked a 2-day climbing tour to the top of the Cotopaxi with Julio Verne Travel. Everything was well-organized and worked out great, a perfect experience. PLANNING: After some reading, I decided to book the tour with Julio Verne, which is based in Riobamba. After some previous emails, I finalized the booking only one week before the tour and by email. The whole communication was easy, quick and professional. Julio Verne provided a full equipment list of what they provide and what I need to bring. In the evening before the tour I dropped by the store in Riobamba and checked the rental gear. Everything was in perfect condition and my sizes for shoes and cloth were available. The equipment was exactly as described previously and I didn't have to pay anything extra. At that moment I also signed a travel contract with the agency. All in all a very reliable and processional procedure. TOUR: The tour worked exactly as described on their homepage. There were no unpleasant surprises and everything was perfectly organized. My guide, Patricio, made a great job. He had years of experience, a lot of knowledge about the landscape and history, and was good company. Before the ascent, he talked me through the whole plan. Then, during the ascent at night, he set the pace and made me arrive at 6 am at the summit, perfect timing for the sunrise. He was also very supportive explaining the handling of the equipment and made the whole tour a very save experience. Great work! All in all, Julio Verne Travel provided a perfectly organized tour to the summit of the Cotopaxi. Organization was easy, the tour included everything that you might need in terms of equipment and food, and the guide did a perfect job. I can recommend the agency to everyone that plans a climbing tour to one of Ecuadors mountains.

To date, we have booked 5 trips with Julio Verne - all of them a "10". I can say without reservation, that this is the most accurate, helpful and interesting agency I have come across. I have been impressed time and again with the level of service that I receive. Popkje works hard to put together outstanding experiences. In fact, she doesn't stop until every detail is nailed down perfectly. Follow up and communication are timely. She is also very thoughtful, and carefully considers our desires and abilities. At each visit, the guides and other people I observed working at the agency seemed to really enjoy what they were doing, and enjoy one another. The whole place has a great and welcoming vibe. Equipment for each trip with tip-top. A sampling of our trips to date: Hidden Valley Bicycle - really fun ride near Chimborazo. Vicunas, geology, beautiful vistas, twisty country road along river and past several rural communities. Serious fun for my family! Galapagos - a lifelong dream beautifully fulfilled. Last-minute 8day/7night cruise on m/v Majestic. Family trip of a lifetime! El Alter & Cotopaxi - A beautiful hike up to the high country to acclimate for the Cotopaxi climb. Great fun and challenging experience for two fat gringos. It must also be said that each of the guides selected for the trips were likewise outstanding. I feel that Julio Verne represents great value for money spent and also provides some truly amazing experiences. I look forward to more trips with Julio Verne down the road. Erik Knudsen

Me and my girlfriend just climbed Mount Cotopaxi with Lonely Summits. Our mountain guide Edgar suggested to go during the day, which pointed out a brilliant idea. We did the whole trip in less than 7 hours, having sun and almost no winds at the ascent and a beautiful sunset at the descent. Moreover this constelation allowed us after the climb to stay overnight at the Tambopaxi Lodge, which brings along a way more comfy night, due to the less altitude and better facilities. If ever again in south america, we would not hesitate to do another climb with Edgar and Lonely Summits.

2021 - Just finished another climbing adventure with Lonely Summits. This time Cotopaxi and Antisana in Ecuador. It was again a fabulous experience. Edgar is an incredible guide and person with tons of mountain experience. Very professional yet super friendly. There is never doubt in trusting his decisions on the mountain. Safety is always first, followed by getting to the top and having fun doing it! The company is very flexible and recommends and adjusts to individual needs as appropriate. I look forward to future adventures with Edgar and Lonely Summits! 2019 - Climbed in Bolivia with Edgar as our guide. Could not have had better experience. Loved every second of the adventure and it was mostly due to Edgar, his professionalism, experience and most importunity, fun and honest attitude. Safety always came first, but it didn't prevent us from having great time climbing and reaching our goals. Edgar is an excellent guide...the best I ever had and would highly recommend him for any mountain adventure. His experience is unquestionable and personality terrific. I look forward to future experience with Lonely Summits!

I climbed the Cotopaxi summit with Segundo as my guide from Lonely Summits. It was a fantastic experience. Segundo was very professional, helpful and friendly. They provided all the gear and warm clothes and everything was of very high quality. I would highly recommend them!

We climbed Cotopaxi with lonely summits. The trip was arranged through secret garden Cotopaxi. A driver picked us up at secret garden and drove us to Machachi. There we met our guides. Bring two pair of long hiking socks and if you have some base layers. All other necessary clothes and equipment is provided by lonely summits. After this stop our guides took us to the Cotopaxi basecamp (4800 m). We had dinner and (tried to) sleep for a few hours. Around midnight we started the climb so we arrived at the summit around dawn (6 am). The way down takes another 2 hours. After breakfast in the basecamp the guides drove us back to secret garden. We didn’t have any mountaineering experience. No special technical skills are necessary. Just try to be acclimatized. We climbed Rucu Pichincha and Ruminahui the days before. The climb will still be hard but not undoable. We really enjoyed the experience and recommend the professional and experienced guides of lonely summits.

Really enjoyed climbing Cotopaxi with LS. Very good quality equipment!!! Loved my La Sportiva boots (im a mountaineer). Guides where super professional (once again im a mountaineer :))! Communicating with the office was also really easy and prompt. Definitely recommend LS for your adventures in Ecuador! Cheers, Pavel

Thank a lot to Lonely Summits for our first experience with hight altitude climbing, especially to Edgar who was so important and friendly person during our 8 days climbing advanture. Everthing was perfect, timed, and finaly when I had some healthy problems he accomodated our plan and we replaced the Chimborazo for Cotopaxi and so we had a chance to be on the summit of almost 6k mouintain. Once to be in Ecuador we also visited Galapagos and Amozonia. We asked the Lonely Summits Trave Agancy for arranging it and also - everthing worked perfectly. Just adding last note - we are working now with Edgar on the plan for next year. Some volcanos in Ecuador and then Peru - Cordilera Blanca.

Very positive experience climbing Cotopaxi with Segundo

We hiked with Segundo for 4 days and it was perfect. He always looked after us very well and the food was great too. We just had a delicious meal at Refugio Illiniza Norte. Unfortunately, the summit climb to Cotopaxi didn't work out because of too much snowfall. Segundo checked the snow and said it was too dangerous. Sure, we were disappointed at first, but this shows his high level of professionalism. How often tourists are dragged up somewhere just because they paid for it and little consideration is given to safety. And that is out of the question with this agency. We always felt safe, which is very important on hikes like this. We would like to thank Segundo for the 4 days and can only recommend the agency.

We did an 8 day adventure to attempt to climb Cotopaxi and we couldn't have been more impressed with the entire experience. From day one in Quito, Ecuador where we met with our guides, we experienced many different layers of Ecuador, including several acclimitazation hikes that took us up different landscapes and levels of altitude. The hotels and hostels that we stayed at provided warming hospitality and seriously excellent food, we even had 2 relaxing spa days prior to our summit push. I could really go on and on. Our guides during our climb were attentive and helpful, honestly could not have made it as far as I did without them. Overall, this trip was an experience of a lifetime, and I could not have asked for anything better. Truly, one of the best trips of my entire life.

This was my first trip with Mountain Gurus after having taken their 5-day glacier mountaineering course on Mount Baker. The trip was extremely well planned and executed from signup to arriving in-country, to all the lodging and climbing logistics. I knew I was in the capable hands of experts (Dennis Broadwell and Terray Sylvester) who put safety above all else and go out of their way to ensure your trip is a success. MG's also has reliable and professional in-country connections with local guide staff and tour operators who help ensure everything goes as planned and that every client reaches their goals. The high guide-to-client ratio ensures that if someone needs to go at a different pace than the group or descend for any reason, the rest of the group can still continue to summit. From the acclimatization hikes to the successful summits of Illiniza Norte, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo, Mountain Gurus was on point. The food was always excellent and plentiful. At a mountain refuge on Illiniza Norte at 15,400', we were served a homemade meal of fresh trout, potatoes, and spicy local salsa. The hotel accommodations were always clean, safe, warm, and welcoming, with most being higher-end hotels/haciendas for the area. On a rest day between our Cotopaxi and Chimborazo climbs, our driver and guides took us to local attractions in Banos and when the group decided we wanted to take advantage of a great hot springs/massage/dinner deal at a local resort, they provided the transportation for us. The local guides also took us to restaurants that provided unique Ecuadorian experiences, such as the home of a local mountain guide who's wife made us a meal in their bed and breakfast. We only camped one night of the entire trip (if you chose to do the Chimborazo add on) and even that seemed more like glamping with large dome tents. The kitchen staff made us homemade soup and chicken and potatoes for dinner and then a yummy pizza after we returned from the summit. All in all, I plan to continue my mountaineering pursuits with Mountain Gurus. They are reasonably priced, well organized, and I trust that I am safe (as a female, solo traveller) in their hands.

I have just returned from a 9 day trip with Mountain Gurus to climb Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and it was decidedly the best trip of the 4 high altitude mountain climbing trips I have done. We just simply had more fun! The haciendas we stayed in were long on atmosphere and good food, which was very appealing after an acclimatization day of hiking. The guides were extremely knowledgable in their glacier skills and carefully insisted that we each master the training and learn the skills well enough to be safe and to summit the Cotopaxi (19,347 ft). But the difference was that the guides and guests were a very dynamic group of people and the laughs came easily and often! Our lead guide was the owner of Mountain Gurus, Dennis Broadwell, and I would highly recommend a trip with this company. I look forward to another mountain climb with them soon!