Southwest Route, Cotopaxi (5 897 m / 19 347 ft)

Cotopaxi can be considered as a benchmark among volcanoes that poses full set of accompanying attributes - the ideal cone, round crater rim and massive snow-white ice cap. According to all of these reasons the Cotopaxi ascent is considered by the mountaineers as a unit of measurement, "litmus test" by which all others volcanoes are compared. Well-developed tourist infrastructure, proximity to the capital city and numbers of clear days per year - everything here does to try your hand at the one of the most classic volcano of our planet. None of the routes to Cotopaxi can be called boring - each of them required crampons, ropes and ice axes that can help you to climb steep ice slopes and traverse deep crevasses.

This is the original route to the Cotopaxi summit that was climbed 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss and Angel Escobar. Till the early 70s of the last century it was the only route to the top. But since the construction of the hut "Jose Rivas Refuge" on the north side of the volcano, most climbers began to climb Cotopaxi via "Normal Route". In recent years, the safety of the northern routes has become decreased due to the threat of ice falls and climbers began to use the original route again. Infrastructure on the south of the volcano is not as well developed as its northern slopes. The roads are worse and no any shelters there. To reach the base camp "El Morurco" you have to spend one or two days hiking from the South Entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park.

From Quito by car to the city of Latacunga and further to the South Entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park. Follow the trail from the park entrance to the "El Morurca" rocky outcrop where base camp is usually set.

Since the end of 2012 climbing all the volcanoes of Ecuador are not allowed without hiring an accredited local mountain guides. There is a lot of travel agencies in Quito that can help you with the organization of the climb.

The cramponing skill is required as well as good endurance and high-altitude tolerance. During your climb you'll carry you day-backpack only but it doesn't mean that gaining up to 1000 meters will be the easy walk especially on steep snow and ice slopes.

Cellular Network: Yes (Accomodation)

Mobile Internet: Yes (In fact of the proximity to the capital city and other surrounding cities, cellular network covers the most part of the route.)

Usually climbers have an overnight in a base camp located near big rocky outcrop named "El Morurco". Go to bed early and wake up before midnight and be on the route at 1 am. During the night the snow is firm and it's easy to climb. The snow bridges are also more reliable in the night and early morning than after mid-day. Usually climbers reach the summit in 8 hours. The descent takes up to 4 hours and could be done via the same route or via "Normal Route" to "Jose Rivas Refuge" hut.

Base Camp Elevation:	4 600 m / 15 092 ft
Summit Camp Elevation:	Please update
Accommodation in Base Camp:	Tents only
Accommodation above Base Camp:	Tents only
Number of Camps:	Please update
Avg. Cost:	2 000 USD
Age Restrictions:	At least 21 years old
Soloing:	No, at least 0 people
Descent Route:	Another Route -Please update
Specify descent time:	3 Hour(s)

Name (Elevation)	Description
El Morurco 4 600 m / 15 092 tf	A big rocky outcrop where southwest base camp 4 600 meters is situated.

Guided Tours

• Andes Adventures

The popularity of the Southwest Route to Cotopaxi summit has been decreased due to construction in the end of the 70s the big shelter "Jose Rivas Refuge" on the northern slopes of the volcano. But in recent years the threat of ice falls on the "Normal Route" and "Rompo Corazones" route have been increased and climbers again turned their attention to the original path of the first conquerors.

 

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