CLIMBING

Andean Turtle Tours = Best service and price with certified Guides in Ecuador.

We are one of the biggest & most probably the highest recommended tour operator for Trekking & Climbing in Ecuador.. We have been the direct operator for WCE..World Challenge Ecuador for 8 years now.. These Student groups from Great Britain with 300-400 students a year, must have our guides with them for any higher peaks or climbing tours. Because of there high security policy - they are not allowed to go with any other Mountain Operator in Ecuador. We also do the mountain Rescues for the British Embassy and several other counties...The Student Groups all use Sat Com - so Andean Turtle Tours will get a call from RAF inside of 5 min in any Emergency Situation... We also take many other groups... Cotopaxi is by far the most common climb in Ecuador - its 2m higher then Kilimanjaro. The climb is harder then people think.. Most people can do it with good preparation and acclimatization - but if you dont have it, do not intend to do this climb. Kilimanjaro is a 5-7 day trek - Cotopaxi is a intense night of glacier travelling. Its not technically demanding but it is tough...

The top of Chimborazo is considered to be the most distant point from the centre of the Earth.. And the highest point & only glacier on the Equator line is on Cayambe..

We say NO to clients every high season because we sometimes have reached the limit of guides on special dates... There is just 60 active certified guides in Ecuador.

So if you like to climb in January + July & August you should reserve 2 months before departure. We will of course always also do our best to accomodate later bookings.

To arrange tours with Andean Turtle Tours we have to first agree on your Itineray with Dates.. After this we agree on the details and Costs.. A normal Trekking & Climbing program with us are around $100-110 Per person a day / All Included except entrence fees.. This of course all depends of your prefered standard of tour....The food is up to your request. The equipment is up to date.

We hope that you will join us.

Andean Turtle Tours is one out of just three Professional Trekking & Climbing Operators in Ecuador.. We take up 60% of our clients to the top of Cotopaxi.. This is the highest rate by any tour operator in Ecuador.. We make sure that you are well prepared and fullfill our minimum acclimatization Requirements.. Which is 5 days over 2500m or 4 days over 3000m if you are from sea-level. This is the minimum days for acclimatization we will accept. For every glacier mountain higher then 5700m. It would of course be a good idea if you can do a High altitude trek as preparation or a smaller mountain peak before Cotopaxi Climb..

Andean Turtle Tours GUIDES - The guides who works as leading Guides - Are all ASEGUIM Certified. They are trained by ENSA Chamonix-France on an advanced and demanding course. ENSA is considered one of the best guide schools in the world. All our Guides must have a mobile phone and we also have three ICOM F11 rescue radios, as used by the US Army.

They have climbed Cotopaxi about 400-1000 times each. They dont need any visability - to find the routes. They are fully responsible and will just take you down for safety reasons such as avalanche risks, extremely high wind & electrical storms or other extreme weather conditions. All most have years of experience in all that mountaineering involves...

PS.. There are around 10-12 Certified ASEGUIM Guides who will NOT work with us.
Because they dont fullfill our minimum requirements.

In the prices everything is included exept your own warm clothes, park fees and personal items. If you have all your own gear its $15 off per any glacier mountain "Climbing tours.

INCLUDED

Certified Professional ASEGUIM Mountain Guides
Private Transportation & All Equipment
All food - Its up to your likes and dislikes.
All Lodging Costs / Cotopaxi Refugee

NOT INCLUDED

Your Personal Warm Clothes
Underwear - 2 Socks - 2 Trousers - 4 Layers on upper body
Sunblock Factor 20 Minimum - Water Bottle 1.5L
Ruck sack = 45 Litre or Bigger + Pad Lock & Entance fees

IF YOU FIND, someone cheaper for the same service. We will refund the difference. If we are in a price competition with the other two professional operators... But PLEASE understand that we can not go under the costs that the semi professional operators ask for... They have CUT Off 30-40% on Guides - Food - Equipment & Service

For More Information about Payment - Equipment - Acclimatization - Weather - Diamox - Rescue etc etc Go to IMPORTANT STUFF

ANDEAN TURTLE TOURS / WHAT TO BRING FOR TREKKING & CLIMBING

On Basicly all ANDEAN TURTLE tours we use Trekking bases or Mountain refugees.. With Madrasses - Kichen facilities - Running water & Toilets etc.. The bases we use are basic but nice.. Have a shower and relax after a hard day.. So we dont need to bring a lot of gear & This Way - Is a lot better then Camping.. Wish can be miserable over 3500m in hail storms - Cold Rain & mud etc etc..

How much gear you need for camping by your self - is a very personal question.. It depends on how much time you are spending on - Cooking & Camping Etc etc.. It also depends on how many you are & in wich area you are...

DOING Tours with ANDEAN TURTLE / YOU DONT HAVE TO BRING

TENTS - STOVE/Fuel - POTS, PANS, DISHES - UTENSILS We nether camp on the tours - so you dont need Tents or any other Cooking & Camping gear..

We suply Double plastic BOOTS - CRAMPONS - GAITERS & GORTEX Climbing Trousers. HARNESS & CARABINERS - ICE AXE - Glacier Goggles - Headlamp - Full woollen Hat 2 pares of Gloves - SLEEPING BAG & Day Sack for the summit day or Trekking HELMETS - THERMAREST (BED ROLL) & Rubber Boots for treks

The GUIDES will have the ROPE & OTHER TECHNICAL GEAR like ICE SCREWS - Slings Stakes etc etc... They also have first aid and are Equiped for RESCUES...

This is the EQUIPMENT you need to bring if doing tours with ANDEAN TURTLE..

WHAT TO BRING

RAIN Jacket with hood
RUCK SACK = 50-80 Liter
UNDERWEAR & Socks
ANDEAN TURTLE = We dont suply UNDERWEAR or socks Or other personal clothing
WARM LAYERS
ANDEAN TURTLE = See Below
SUNGLASSES
ANDEAN TURTLE = Not Included
But we include glacier goggles
SUNSCREEN
ANDEAN TURTLE = Not Included
For the mountains you need a minimum 20 Factor
HIKING POLES

ANDEAN TURTLE = Not Included & Most people dont need it.
For the climbes you have Ice axes - wich is included
PAD LOCK
ANDEAN TURTLE = For the lock up fasilities in the refuges etc etc
WATER BOTTLE 1.5 Liter
ANDEAN TURTLE = Easily optained all over
FLASH LIGHT = Not needed - But always good to have..
LIP BALM or other protection for the lips..

ANDEAN TURTLE = You dont need a DOWN JACKET But you need 5 layers on the OPPER BODY.

1st Layer = A T-shirt without armes If you dont have one - A normal T-shirt is OK

2nd Layer = A normal T-shirt
3rd Layer = A thin long Sleeve
4th Layer = A Fleese or thick Jumper
5th Layer = Rain Jacket with a hood Not suplied - but you can rent it in the agency.

ON THE LEGGS = You need 3 Layers..

1-2 = Every kind of trousers - Jogging or long underwear.. NO jeans or jeans like material

3rd Layer = A good rain or gortex trousers We suply this if you dont have it