Located between the provinces of Cotopaxi and Pichincha, The Rumiñahui volcano with 4722 meters high offers a mixed walk of Andean forest, moor and rock climbing.

A destroyed volcano by a violent eruption, presents 3 rocky summits from which one you will have a privileged view of its neighbors Cotopaxi, Antisana, sincholagua and ilinizas.

The access route to the Rumiñahui volcano begins from the limpiopungo lagoon on the foothills of the Chimborazo Volcano. From this area you can choose between several paths that will take trough the paramo up to the summit. After 2 hours of, we arrive the beginning of a big rock wall where some basic rock climbing techniques and a good pairs of mountain boots will be necessary. The rock wall in Rumiñahui is not one of the best so you should be careful in the ascension.

From this point the view is amazing. The Cotopaxi rises before us, only separated by the moor and the plain of the limpiopungo lagoon. We can clearly see the vestiges of the last eruptive process of the highest volcano in the world, happened in 1902. Lava Rivers painted with different colors, giant rocks and wide ash and sandbanks are distributed across this spectacular landscape.
Recapturing our adventure, the rock ascension in the Rumiñahui is not complicated. Specialized alternating routes exist for the ascension with strings and climbing gear. A rock climbing tour has its ideal place in the abrupt topography of Rumiñahui volcano.

After 3 hours, we reach the first summits. Under us the valley of Machachi is appreciated, upholstered of agriculture fields, cattle country properties and upbringing of animals for bullfights. From this point we can appreciate the western mountain range with picks like the Atacazo, Pichincha, Corazon, Illinizas and to our back the Antisana and the Cotopaxi take all our attention.
We observe the road that will take us toward the other 2 summits across the edges and the route that will takes us down up to the Machachi valley.

The descent is relatively easy. There are 3 parts of the rout where the descents become a little bit complicated but with patience and concentration they won't be a problem.
The final part of the journey leads us through populated areas, crossing country properties and horseshoe roads until reaching the highway Pan-American south and the city of Machachi. In this place we can appreciate the destroyed boiler of the volcano Rumiñahui and the whole road we just walked trough.

We could take advantage of the visit to enjoy a delicious fritada, typical of the area.
The Rumiñahui trek is ideal to get acclimatized and practice rock-climbing techniques.
At only 2 hours of Quito, this adventure waits for us once again.