One of our classic tours, this is a great day of adventure on Ecuador´s highest volcano. Experience the magic of Chimborazo by hiking up to the icy Condor Cocha lagoon and cycling down all the way from the Carrel refuge to the village of San Juan. Admire the huge glaciers and snow fields, watch the grace vicuñas, and feel the thrill of biking down the moon-like slopes.
Riobamba
The hike does not involve any technical climbing, all you need is to be fit and have a basic acclimatization for hiking into the thin air.
The bike ride requires basic bike riding skills. Depending on your experience level, we offer 2 different options: Route 1; for road bikers is a mixture of easy to moderate dirt road + paved road, while Route 2 for experienced mountain bikers includes technical off road tracks.
We run the Chimborazo Hike & Bike tour all year round. Be prepared that the weather conditions may change dramatically in a short amount of time. On lucky days, you will enjoy views of the glacier capped peak during the whole tour. But also on a cloudy day it is worthwhile to go up and wait for the mountain to reveal itself!
You will be picked up at 8.30 a.m. for the scenic drive to Chimborazo Reserve. We make short stops for photos of the mountain and observation of the vicuñas, the wild cousins of llamas and alpacas. After about 1,5 hour drive arrive at the Carrel hut at 4850 m. / 15912 ft. Here we start the 1-kilometer hike on a trail of rocks and – depending on the weather in previous days – snow. The trail gradually climbs to the Whymper hut (5050 m. / 16.568 ft.) and on to Condor Cocha. This tiny glacial lake at 5100 m / 16.732 ft. is a great spot to contemplate the ever-changing mountain scenery.
After the hike we prepare for the bike ride. The guide gives a safety briefing and you will do a short test ride in the flat area near the Carrel hut. Then off you go, zigzagging down with Chimborazo towering over you! From 4850 m. / 15.912 ft. you will cycle down an amazing change of scenery – from the snow-covered mountain slopes to the moonlike volcanic landscape to green farming grounds and indigenous villages towards the end. In the village of San Juan (2900 m. / 9514 ft.), we have lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Riobamba around 15.00 p.m.
Depending on your experience level, select the biking route:
In this route you will descend on the same roads we drove up by car. It has 8 km dirt road + 29 km paved road, level easy to moderate, apt for beginners.
This tour is led by an English speaking driver-guide who will follow you in the support vehicle and give assistance when necessary. On this route, the hike is self-guided.
Route 2 is an exciting off-road track with a total distance of 24 km / 15 mi. across the slopes of Mt Chimborazo, mountain forests, and pasture land to Cuartel de los Incas, a small archeological site.
The level of route 2 is moderate to difficult. It has several technical tracks and steeper descents with a mixture of sand and gravel, so this option is for experienced mountain bikers only! The guide will hike and bike with you, and we will have a tasty box lunch on the way.
