Pasochoa Volcano - Hiking Quito - Ecuador

At 4,199 m (13,766 ft), Pasochoa’s lushly vegetated crater and slopes make for an unforgettable day hike. In recent years, due to its beautiful setting and convenient location just 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Quito, Pasachoa has become one of the most popular hiking excursions just outside the capital.

The mountain can be climbed from every side but the west face, which is steep and composed of unstable rock. The two most easily accessible routes are via the Refugio de Vida Silvestre (Pasochoa Forest Reserve) or the Central Hidroeléctrica, which provides easier access to the peak but a much less picturesque ascent.

Getting To and Away From Pasachoa Volcano
Regardless of the route you ultimately choose, you need to travel south out of Quito on the Pan American Highway to Amaguaña. Public buses leave frequently from the Plaza La Marín station, which you can get to by Ecovia. In bus or car, the trip takes about one and a half hours.

Hiking the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Route
The get to the Reserve, travel to Amaguaña and then take a left on to a cobblestone road just across the main entrance to the town. Drive about 100 meters up to a church with a double bell tower (which is visible from the highway) and make a right. Follow the road for approximately six kilometers (3.7 miles) up to the Reserve’s main entrance. There is a fee of $2 for Ecuadorians and residents and $7 for foreigners. This fee gets you in and buys you a good map of the Reserve’s trail system. It’s also possible to camp for $2 per person. About 100 meters up the hill from the caretaker’s house and parking lot, there is an environmental education center. A number of trails that range in difficulty and duration begin here. Sometimes there are also naturalist guides available to accompany you on the shorter walks.

To reach the summit, or most often just the cliff that's an hour short of the summit, you should follow the relatively well marked “green” trail for about two hours through a bamboo forest, a splendid stretch of cloud forest, and a pine grove until you reach the páramo. From here, follow the footpaths to the left of the crater for about an hour to an hour and a half until you come to a steep rock cliff. At this point you are at approximately 3,950 meters (12,959 feet). It’s possible but not recommended to continue up the cliff and onto the peak, mainly because it’s steep and the rock is unstable.

Hiking the Hydroelectric Plant Route
If you choose to reach the peak via the Hydroelectric Plant, you should hire a truck in Amaguaña. If you have your own vehicle, go left after the Repsol gas station located about three kilometers (1.8 miles) before Amaguaña. Follow this road for about five kilometers (3.1 miles) past Hacienda Cuendina and continue on until you reach the Hydroelectric Plant.

From there, continue on foot for 40 minutes until you reach the Comuna Pasochoa, where you need to turn left and cross a stream. Follow the trail through a small pine grove until you reach a gated pasture, where you may find bulls grazing. Beware: they have been known to charge. Walk south across this pasture and the next one until you hit a dirt road. Go left and follow this road for about 150 meters and turn right. Follow this larger road for about half an hour until you reach another gate.

After the gate, go left again and climb to the top of the ridge and follow the path. From this point, you should be able to discern a safe route without too much trouble. It should take you between one and two hours to reach the summit depending on your level of acclimatization. The very last stretch of the hike is over bare rock.

Note that getting back from the peak, if you don’t have a car waiting at the Hydroelectric Plant, you may need to walk 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) down to the Repsol station. There is very little traffic on the road, so hitching a ride is often not an option.

Location:
Near Quito, Quito, Ecuador

Hiking, National Park Types:
National park, Hike, Day trip, Camping, adventure, Lookout point

Here are other activities in and around Near Quito that may be of interest: Hiking Around Quito, Hiking in Papallacta, Aldea Puma Sacha and Pichincha Volcanoes.