Climb Chimborazo (Refuge Carrell)

Climb Chimborazo (Refuge Carrell) is a 2-day mountaineering expedition in Ecuador focused on a summit push to Chimborazo (6,263 m), the highest point in Ecuador and the closest point on Earth to the sun. Starting from Riobamba, this is the operator's basic 2-day plan: a direct ascent staged from the Carrel Refuge, ideal for climbers who are already acclimatized and ready to take on the mountain. Guided by certified ASEGUIM guides, it's a compact but serious high-altitude climb.

From Riobamba you'll drive through Chimborazo National Park past herds of vicuñas, stop for lunch at Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge, and continue by 4x4 to the Carrel Refuge before a midnight summit push under the stars toward the Whymper summit, aiming to reach the top at sunrise. The ascent takes 6 to 10 hours across cold, high-altitude terrain, so a strong level of fitness and prior acclimatization are essential. Several optional add-ons let you build in extra acclimatization, including a night at Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge or an acclimatization trek to the Whymper needles.

The price includes ASEGUIM guides, transportation, meals at the refuge, water and snacks, mountain refuge accommodation, climbing permits, adventure insurance, and climbing gear. Guests need to bring their own backpack (a 20–30 liter attack pack), sunglasses, snow goggles, and inner layer gloves, and should budget for tips (suggested $10 or more) and international airfare to Ecuador, arranged separately. Optional add-ons include round-trip pick-up from Quito, extra acclimatization nights and treks, and single-climber arrangements.

Location: Riobamba, Ecuador (climb in Chimborazo National Park).

Duration: 2 days.

Activity Type: Guided high-altitude mountaineering with a summit of Chimborazo (6,263 m), led by ASEGUIM guides. Involves a midnight summit push and a long ascent of 6 to 10 hours across snow and glacier terrain. A high level of physical fitness and prior acclimatization is strongly recommended, as this basic plan has minimal built-in acclimatization; optional add-ons are available for those who need it.

Accommodation: Chimborazo Carrel Refuge (4,850 m) on the night of the climb, with an optional acclimatization night at Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge (3,900 m) available as an add-on.

• Trip Price: $595 per person (deposit $300 per person)
• Group Option (2 or more clients): $395 per person (deposit $150 per person)
• Round-trip pick-up from Quito (add-on): $60 per person — door-to-door both ways
• Acclimatization night at Chimborazo Basecamp (add-on): $65 per person — one night prior to the climb
• Acclimatization trek to Whymper needles (add-on): $165 per person — day before the climb, trek from Carrel Refuge (4,800 m) to the Whymper needles (5,300 m), then overnight at Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge (3,900 m); includes lunch, dinner, and breakfast
• Single climber (add-on): $195 per person — for odd numbers, adds an extra guide plus refuge

Deposit: $300 per person to reserve (or $150 per person on the group option).

Day 1 — Refuge Carrel

Depart Riobamba (2,750 m) at 11:00 a.m. toward Chimborazo National Park, passing herds of vicuñas along the way. Arrive around 1:00 p.m. for a warm lunch at Chimborazo Basecamp Lodge (3,900 m), then continue by 4x4 at 3:00 p.m. to the Carrel Refuge (4,850 m). Settle in to rest and acclimatize, with dinner at 5:00 p.m. before the 11:00 p.m. summit push begins. Overnight staged from the refuge.

Day 2 — Summit Chimborazo (6,263 m)

The summit climb begins late at night, taking 6 to 10 hours depending on conditions and pace, aiming for the Whymper summit during the optimal window between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m. After summit photos and a moment at the closest point to the sun, descend carefully to Camp 1 (5,300 m) or the refuge (4,850 m) for a well-earned breakfast and rest. Following recovery, transfer back to Riobamba (2,750 m), marking the end of services.

• ASEGUIM Guides
• Transportation
• Meals on refuge
• Water and snacks
• Mountain Refuge
• Climbing Permits
• Adventure Insurance
• Climbing Gear

• Back Pack

       Attack pack 20 -30 lters

• Sun Glasses

        Snow gogles

• Inner layer gloves
• Tips

        suggested $10 or more