Saturday 31st May to 7th June 2025
To celebrate 20 years’ working in Ecuador we will be taking on three volcanoes, two hikes and carrying out some community work. We will be based in a hotel each night in Otavalo, north of Quito, at an altitude of 2,532m (8,500 feet) where the temperature oscillates between 10-20 degrees celsius (50-70 fahrenheit). There is generally a chance of rain!
Whilst the challenge is in Ecuador all funds raised will be spread over our three countries.
More information will follow in due course (last updated 20/11/24).
Saturday
Arrive at Quito airport and transport (one and a half hours) to Otavalo. Welcome meal.
Sunday
A half-day hike to and from Peguche waterfall via El Lechero to get used to the altitude.
It is an 11km (7 mile) round-trip with an elevation gain of 300m (1,000 feet).
Monday
Our first volcano – Fuya Fuya (4,263m / 14,000 feet) and Mojanda lake. Our two other volcanoes Cotacachi and Imbabura are in the background.
It is a 5km (3 mile) round-trip from Mojanda lake with an elevation gain of 600m (2,000 feet).
Tuesday
Our second volcano – Imbabura (4,609m / 15,120 feet).
It is a 10km (6 mile) round-trip with an elevation gain of 1,470m (5,000 feet) and will take most of the day.
Wednesday
Community work day using some of the funds raised from the challenge.
At the end of the day we will have food and celebrations with the children and their parents in the school.
Thursday
Our third volcano – Cotacachi (4,944m / 16,220 feet).
It is a 10km (6 mile) round-trip with an elevation gain of 750m (2,500 feet) to 4,750m (15,580 feet) and will take the whole day.
Due to safety reasons and technical ability we will not summit the volcano.
Friday
Hike around Cuicocha lake (3,246m / 10,650 feet).
It is a 12km (7 mile) loop with an elevation gain of 580m (1,900 feet) and will take about 4 hours.
Saturday
Head back to the airport to fly home.
From Saturday evening through to Saturday morning all hotels are included. All meals are included though alcoholic drinks are on your tab! All trips, entrance fees, internal transport, trees, materials towards the community work day and airport pick-up and drop-off are included. Tips are not included and we will let you know how much we recommend.
Preliminary costs for all explained above are $985 (£821) with a shared double hotel room or $1,020 (£850) for a single hotel room. Please do remember this is a fundraiser for Phoenix and not just a trip so we do ask you to fundraise as well and we will provide you with fundraising pages.
