Pasochoa Volcano

Hiking, National Park

By Christopher Sacco

Pasochoa’s lushly vegetated crater and slopes make for an unforgettable day hike. In recent years, because of its beautiful setting and convenient location just 30 kilometers south of Quito, Pasochoa (elevation: 4,199 m; 13,766 ft) has become one of the most popular hiking excursions anywhere around the capital.

The mountain can be climbed from every side but the west face, which is steep and composed of terrible 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 there from Quito

Regardless of the route you ultimately choose, you need to travel south out of Quito on the Pan American Highway. There is frequent bus service from the Plaza La Marín to Amaguaña. 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 from 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 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 ranging 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 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 cloudforest, and a pine grove until you reach the páramo. From here, follow the footpaths to the left of the crater for one to one and a half hours until you come to a steep rock cliff. At this point you are at approximately 3,950 meters. It’s possible but not recommended to continue up the cliff and onto the peak because it’s steep and the rock is unstable.

Hiking the Hydroelectric Plant Route

If you choose to seek 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 before Amaguaña. Follow this road for about five kilometers 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 a second one to a dirt road. Go left and follow this road for about 150 meters and then 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 it. 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, may require a 10-kilometer hump down to the Repsol station. There is very little traffic on the road, so hitching a ride is often not an option.