Catalog
Andes · Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi

Summit
5,897 m
Base
3,400 m
Prominence
2,418 m
DifficultyExpert
Lat -0.6806Lng -78.4378· Ecuador

About this peak

One of the world's highest active volcanoes, a glaciated cone climbed at night from a mountain refuge.

Peak facts

First ascent

1872 — Wilhelm Reiss & Ángel Escobar

Best season

Jun–Sep & Dec–Jan

Nearest town

Latacunga / Quito, Ecuador

Getting there

Jeep to the José Rivas refugio at 4,800 m, then a pre-dawn glacier climb; acclimatize first

Geology

A symmetric snow-capped stratovolcano

Plan your climb

Normal Route (José Ribas Refuge)

Expert

Alpine start at midnight from the refuge, crampons up the glacier to the summit at dawn.

8 km 1,400 m 8 h expert
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