Sea to Summit
A true challenge for those who want to push their limits to the next level
TRIP OVERVIEW
This is a special program that presents a different option for a challenging adventure!
“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to and that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible”
T.E. Lawrance
“Go in the direction of your dreams, live the life that you have imagined…”
Richard Bach
The Story Behind the Dream
The whole idea of Sea to Summit started in August 2012 when a group of 5 friends (Pablo Montalvo, Steven Tober, Robert Hofstede, Marco Ruano and myself, Javier Herrera) decided to do a bike trip from Pedernales (sea level) to the hut of Cotopaxi (4.800 m / 15,700 ft) and then to attempt to summit the volcano at 5.897 m / 19.300 ft. By the end, two members - Pablo and Steven - succeeded on it, doing the first recorded ascent of Cotopaxi from sea level without the use of motor transportation, in 6 days.
Sometime later I shared this idea with a good client & friend of ours, Edita Nichols (https://editanichols.com) from Lituania, who asked me: Has anybody done it on Chimborazo? The answer was no. Edita got intrested in the idea as Chimborazo is the nearest point to the sun, being the highest mountain in the world if measured from the centre of the planet. Together with her partner Mark Horrel, they returned to Ecuador in September 2017 and after careful planning with our assistance they took the daunting challenge, becoming the first adventurers to journey propelled by themselves from Guayaquil to Chimborazo, trekked around Chimborazo and reached the summit of this magnificent mountain at 6.310 m / 20,696 ft.
Please check this link
http://www.markhorrell.com/?s=sea+to+summit&submit=Search
Now Edita and Mark are returning again to …why?……. Doing it all the way from the beach and are willing to have friends joining them on the following program:
Arrive/Depart: Quito
Group Size: 2-10 Guests
Pre-requisites: Good physical condition and biking experience
Difficulty Levels:
Easy: Pasochoa / Pichincha
Advanced: Chimborazo
EXPLAIN DIFFICULTY LEVELS
Accomodation: 15 nights: 5 hotels in Quito and Guayaquil, 3 at basic hotels, 3 at mountain lodge, 3 camping, 1 at mountain refuge
Activity: Trekking / Wildlife & Natural History / Biking on paved roads / Mountaineering
Seasons: All year round
Equipment: Climbing Expeditions Gear List
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ITINERARY
DOWNLOAD ITINERARYDAY
01
Arrival (Friday) / Night in Quito [2.800 m / 9,186 ft]
Activity: Transfer in
Accommodation: In Quito - Vieja Cuba or similar
DAY
02
Day in Quito / Try the bikes Night in Quito
Activity: Free day in Quito / Try bikes on
Accommodation: In Quito - Vieja Cuba or similar
Meals: Breakfast
DAY
03
Pasochoa Hike [4.200 m / 13,780 ft] - Night in Quito
Activity: 5 hours walking up and down Pasochoa
Accommodation: In Quito - Vieja Cuba or similar
Transportation: Short transfer on private van or jeep
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY
04
Pichincha Hike [4.700 m / 15,420 ft] - Night camping at 4.000 m / 13,123 ft
Activity: 4 hours walking up and down Guagua Pichincha
Accommodation: Camping
Transportation: Short transfer on private van or jeep
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
05
Fly to Guayaquil and transfer to the beach Night in Playas
Activity: Transfer and flight to Guayaquil, and transfer to Playas
Accommodation: Hotel in Playas
Transportation: Plane and private transfers
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
06
Biking from Playas to Guayaquil
Activity: 5 hours bike ride from Playas to Guayaquil
Accommodation: Hotel in Guayaquil
Transportation: Bicycles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
07
Biking Guayaquil - Balsapamba
Activity: 5-8 hours bike ride from to Guayaquil to Balsapamba
Accommodation: Basic hotel in Balsapamba
Transportation: Bicycles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
08
Biking Balsapamba - Guaranda [2.600 m / 8,530 ft]
Activity: 5-8 hours bike ride from Balsapamba to Guaranda
Accommodation: Hotel in Guaranda
Transportation: Bicycles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
09
Biking Guaranda Chimborazo Lodge [4.000 m / 13,123 ft]
Activity: 5-8 hours bike ride from Guaranda to Chimborazo Lodge
Accommodation: Chimborazo Lodge
Transportation: Bicycles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
10
Rest day at Chimborazo Lodge [4.000 m / 13,123 ft]
Activity: Rest day at Chimborazo Lodge
Accommodation: Chimborazo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
11
Acclimatisation hike [5.000 m / 16,404 ft] - Chimborazo Lodge
Activity: Acclimatization hike to 5.000m/16,400ft
Accommodation: Chimborazo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
12
Acclimatization hike to Carrel Refuge [4.800 m / 15,748 ft] - Night at the hut
Activity: Hike to the Carrel hut 4.800m/15,700 ft
Accommodation: Carrel Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
13
Climb Chimborazo [6.310 m / 20,192 ft]
Activity: Climb Chimborazo
Accommodation: Camp or Whymper Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY
14
Climb Chimborazo summit day #1 [6.310 m / 20,192 ft]
Activity: Climb Chimborazo
Accommodation: Camp or Whymper Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY
15
Climb Chimborazo summit day # 2 / Return to Quito
Activity: Climb Chimborazo / Drive back to Quito
Accommodation: Hotel in Quito
Transportation: 4 hour transfer on private van or jeep
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY
16
Fly out (Saturday)
Transportation: Transfer out to airpor
Meals: Breakfast
Important: Please note that this itinerary is a guideline only. We will do every effort to follow it, but in case of unforeseen circumstances we may have to make changes.
DATES & PRICING
Scheduled Dates
Important: Please note that this itinerary is a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, unforeseen circumstances (such as fitness of participants) may force us to make changes at the last moment. Please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.
We only run this trip on a private basis, please contact us to inquire.
2023 Prices
1 pax - USD 7.425 per person in double occupancy
2 pax - USD 4.445 per person
3 pax - USD 3.966 per person
4+ pax - USD 3.555 per person
Single Room Suplement USD 620
Trip Cost Includes
- Airport transfers
- All transport by private vehicles during the program when needed
- All the food once out of Quito
- One way flight to Guayaquil
- Accommodation: Hotels, mountain lodges, one night camping
- Mountain bikes and helmets
- Support 4x4 jeep
- Camping gear
- Permits and park fees
- One guide for the acclimatisation hikes
- One bilingual qualified mountain guide per every two climbers on Chimborazo
- Some climbing gear: Crampons, harness, helmet, ice axe and group gear such as ropes (boots available for rent at $20 per day)
Trip Cost Does Not Include
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunch and evening meals while in Quito
- Alcoholic drinks
- Extras, laundry, tips
- Other items personal mountaineering gear
- Hotel nights out of the program or if early return to the cities
- Guide and Transport for the rest day at Chimborazo Lodge
WHY TAKE THIS TRIP WITH US?
Our team is directed by Javier Herrera, a former Pan-American cycling champion and a mountain guide. Cycling and mountaineering have been for many years our two outdoor passions. Our staff is formed by the best Ecuadorian guides. Some of us have historical guiding achievements, including guiding in the Himalayas while others are well known for their leading mountaineering expeditions in South America. Our guides are an integral part of Andeanface because they understand and share our climbing principles. The quality of our guiding staff is what makes us stand out from other companies.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
After landing in Quito at 2.800 m / 9,180 ft where we spend the first two nights (on the day trying on the bikes) we start acclimatizing on Pasochoa 4.200 m / 13,700 ft, followed by Guagua Pichincha where we will spend the first night camping at high altitude 4.000 m / 13,000 ft before flying into the coast in the afternoon of that day. At the airport of Guayaquil you will be met by our team and transferred to the beach of Playas where we start our journey.
The cycling part will be done on main paved roads. On the cycling days the group will be supported by a 4X4 or a van. While in the main cities we will use good standard 3+ star accommodation, for the days in the coast we will be spending the nights at more basic hotels. During the preparation hikes team members will only need to carry a daypack with them. For acclimatization reasons, if possible, we strongly recommend our team members spending one more extra day in Quito at 2.800 m / 9,000 ft before the start of this challenge.
First rate trip with first rate company I used this company to undertake an attempt at two of Ecuador's volcanoes, Cayambe and Cotopaxi. Weathered out of Cayambe, summitted Cotopaxi, one the more demanding and spectacular climbs I have done in my 67 1/2 years on the planet. I cannot say enough about Andean Face. From the hotel...
Ernie Smith
Denver, Colorado
"I've done a lot of extreme adventures in my lifetime, but none stand out more than the Sea to Summit challenge. I broke through some mental and physical barriers that I didn't think were possible. Upon returning to the refuge, uncharacteristically, the tears flowed freely upon having returned safely and the realization of having completed such an extreme challenge. Many thanks to Javier for planting the seed of the idea!" Cotopaxi Sea to Summit
Steven Tober
Canada
This was a wonderful adventure! I realized that it is doable to challenge your minds and body to a great physical goal which gave us an amazing sense of achievement from 0 to 5900m. Many Thanks for Andeanface for this great event! Cotopaxi Sea to Summit
Pablo Montalvo
Ecuador
