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Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Photo Gallery - Tambopaxi and Cotopaxi (5897m)

In August 2007 we traveled to Quito, Ecuador, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, and the Galapagos Islands

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-01 Cotopaxi Summit On The Drive From Quito The summit of Cotopaxi sticks up from the surrounding hills on the drive down the Avenue of the Volcanoes between Quito and Cotopaxi.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-01 Cotopaxi Summit On The Drive From Quito

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-02 Ruminahui On The Drive From Quito The north side of Ruminahui (4712m) is visible on the drive down the Avenue of the Volcanoes between Quito and Cotopaxi.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-02 Ruminahui On The Drive From Quito

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-03 Sincholagua On The Drive From Quito Sincholagua (4898m) is visible on the drive down the Avenue of the Volcanoes between Quito and Cotopaxi. Sincholagua was climbed for the first time on February 23, 1880 by Edward Whymper, Jean-Antoine Carrel, and Louis Carrel.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-03 Sincholagua On The Drive From Quito

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-04 Driving to Tambopaxi We hired a taxi in Quito for $70 to take us to Tambopaxi near Cotopaxi. When the taxi got to the park entrance around 16:00, we discovered it closed at 15:00 to taxis and normal vehicles. Our wonderfully compassionate taxi driver Guillermo talked to the guard, called Tambopaxi, and eventually arranged for a local driver to take us into the park for an additional $35. Whew. The road in the park is quote rough, so this was probably a good thing.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-04 Driving to Tambopaxi

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-05 Laguna Limpiopungo The weather cleared a bit as we drove past Laguna Limpiopungo (3830m), with Ruminahui (4712m) behind in the clouds.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-05 Laguna Limpiopungo

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-06 Cotopaxi At Sunset From North As we drove to Tambopaxi, the clouds slowly lifted and Cotopaxi revealed itself just before sunset. Located about 75km south of Quito, Cotopaxi (5897m) is the second highest mountain in Ecuador, after Chimborazo. Cotopaxi has an almost symmetrical cone that rises from a highland plain of about 3800m, with a width at its base of about 23km. It has one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, starting at 5000m.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-06 Cotopaxi At Sunset From North

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-07 Cotopaxi And Yanasacha Rocks At Sunset From North Here is a close up of Cotopaxi’s north face seen from Tambopaxi near sunset. The enormous black rock amidst the white snow is called,

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-07 Cotopaxi And Yanasacha Rocks At Sunset From North

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-08 Tambopaxi Outside I wanted to have lodging with a view at all times of Cotopaxi, as I quite rightly worried about it being in the clouds most of the time. For the two days we were there, Cotopaxi only showed itself at sunset. One of the staff at Tambopaxi mentioned that Cotopaxi was clear only one morning in the previous seven. I found the perfect choice for accommodation in Tambopaxi (3750m) which is situated in Cotopaxi National Park with a perfect view of the north face of Cotopaxi.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-08 Tambopaxi Outside

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-09 Tambopaxi Restaurant Tambopaxi has a 70-seat restaurant offering good hearty food, and a spectacular view of Cotopaxi. I had read that the owners were Swiss, so we had a delicious Cheese Fondue our first night. Famed mountaineer Reinhold Messner stayed at Tambopaxi in 2002 and left a very nice message, which is now framed on the wall.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-09 Tambopaxi Restaurant

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-10 Tambopaxi Accomodation Tambopaxi has two dormitory huts. The main one has 27 beds in four rooms and the other hut has 8 beds spread between three rooms. For the first night we stayed in the main lodge in a dormitory room with eight beds. For the second night we switched to the smaller lodge a few seconds away, with a private room and bath, but a little colder.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 01-10 Tambopaxi Accomodation

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-01 Cotopaxi Early Morning From Tambopaxi Cotopaxi was partially visible the first morning at Tambopaxi.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-01 Cotopaxi Early Morning From Tambopaxi

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-02 Driving To Refuge The staff at Tambopaxi were extremely friendly and helpful. One if them tried for over an hour to find us a driver to take us to the parking lot for the refuge. After lunch our driver arrived and we drove off.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-02 Driving To Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-03 Parking Lot For Refuge After about a 45 minute drive we arrived at the refuge parking lot at around 4500m.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-03 Parking Lot For Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-04 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Hiking To Jose Ribas Refuge The wind howled and the hail stung our faces as Peter Ryan and Charlotte Ryan struggled in the 0C weather towards the José Ribas refuge (4800m).

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-04 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Hiking To Jose Ribas Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-05 Hiking To Refuge In Hail The wind howled and the hail stung our faces as we struggled in the 0C weather on our way to the José Ribas refuge (4800m).

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-05 Hiking To Refuge In Hail

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-06 Hiking To Refuge Almost There After an hour slip sliding in the sand and withstanding the wind and hail we are almost to the refuge.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-06 Hiking To Refuge Almost There

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-07 Jose Ribas Refuge Outside Peter Ryan made it to the two-story, yellow-roofed, stone building of the José Ribas Refuge.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-07 Jose Ribas Refuge Outside

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-08 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Outside Jose Ribas Refuge Phew. We Made it. Here are Peter Ryan and Charlotte Ryan in front of the José Ribas Refuge (4800m).

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-08 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Outside Jose Ribas Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-09 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Inside Jose Ribas Refuge The José Ribas Refuge has a large living room with a fireplace, an open dining room and a snack bar that serves delicious hot chocolate and hot tea. Peter Ryan and Charlotte Ryan had some hot tea and used the facilities before heading back down.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-09 Peter Ryan And Charlotte Ryan Inside Jose Ribas Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-10 Glacier From Jose Ribas Refuge The clouds briefly parted allowing us a brief view of the glacier at 5000m beginning just 30 minutes walk from the Jose Ribas Refuge (4800m). The hike down from the refuge is very fast, taking only 10-15 minutes depending on how much you can bend your knees to slide down the old lava flow is covered in a thick layer of volcanic dust and ash. Once back at Tambopaxi we enjoyed a glass of white wine.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-10 Glacier From Jose Ribas Refuge

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-11 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset From Tambopaxi the clouds lifted off Cotopaxi just before sunset. Cotopaxi (5897m) is the second highest mountain in Ecuador, after Chimborazo. Cotopaxi has an almost symmetrical cone that rises from a highland plain of about 3800m, with a width at its base of about 23km.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-11 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-12 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset Closer View From Tambopaxi, Cotopaxi came out just before sunset. Cotopaxi has one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, starting at 5000m.

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-12 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset Closer View

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-13 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset Close Up Here is a close up of Cotopaxi’s north face seen from Tambopaxi near sunset. The enormous black rock amidst the white snow is called,

Ecuador Cotopaxi 02-13 Cotopaxi From Tambopaxi At Sunset Close Up


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