Ecuador Travel

Quito Teleferico & Rucu Pichincha

Quito Teleferico & Rucu Pichincha

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Overview

The Pichincha Volcano is not usually referred to as one volcano, rather it is made up of two very large peaks. The peaks are named “Rucu” and “Guagua”, Quechua names that translate to old and baby. They are the most easily seen mountains from Quito, sitting just west of the city. Sometimes they have snow on the top during bad weather, but usually they are green all over.

Guagua Pichincha is the slightly higher peak of the two, despite being named “baby”. It sits at 4675 meters, while Rucu is 4627 meters. Guagua Pichincha became highly active between 1999 and 2001, emitting a giant cloud of ash over the city. Guagua Pichincha has a refuge where it is possible to stay overnight, though few do this, since it is only a short distance from the refuge to the top of the mountain. On the way up Guagua from the refuge, travelers can peek into the crater and will often be able to smell the tell-tale sulfurous fumes, reminding them of this volcano’s recent past. The hike to the top takes about an hour, less for fitter hikers.

The most frequently climbed of the two, is Rucu Pichincha, since it is accessible via a cable car system known as the Teleferiqo. The Teleferiqo opened in 2005 and whisks people from the lower slopes up to 4100 meters. From there it is a steep hike to the top, with some scrambling on rock at the final part. This takes approximately three hours to hike up and about an hour and a half to get back down. It is a good first acclimatization hike, and the views from the top of the Teleferiqo and along the route of the hike are excellent, especially on a clear day. The hike is in paramo grassland. From time to time bandits take to robbing travelers on the hiking trail, so it is wise to check before setting off.

When the Teleferiqo first opened, there were quite a lot of shops and a good restaurant at the top, where travelers could hang out, catch their breath and shop. Unfortunately most of these have now closed, leaving a small café or two, and one of the highlights, flavored oxygen for sale. For those who want some adventure without having to climb to the top, there are horses available for horseback riding.

There is a smaller peak nestled between Rucu Pichincha and Guagua Pichincha. This is known as “El Padre Encantado” or “the bewitched priest”. This is because it is thought to look like a priest kneeling in prayer. There is a legend that tells a story of a man turning to stone at this point.

Highlights

Teleferiqo – the Teleferiqo is one of Quito’s most recently added tourist highlights for this city. Opened as recently as 2005, this is a cable car ride that is one of the highest in the world. The gondolas sweep up the mountainside from around 3400 meters above sea level, to their end point at 4100 meters. The ride costs $8 and takes approximately eight minutes to get to the top. Expect to wait for a little while for a gondola at the weekends or on public holidays.

Views of Quito – from the top of the Teleferiqo, the visitor can get out and walk around a bit at the top on some clearly marked short trails to viewpoints. At the top, on a clear day, the views are simply stunning, with travelers able to see the city snaking down along the plateau on which it sits. Really lucky visitors will get to see almost the full length of the Avenue of the Volcanoes, as far as the mighty Chimborazo, though this is uncommon.

Flavored Oxygen – an interesting past time at the top of the Teleferiqo is to take a turn at breathing in the flavored oxygen that is available there. For a few dollars, visitors can spend 15 minutes or more getting their oxygen fix that comes in a variety of different fruity flavors. This is a highly unusual experience, and recommended for those who are feeling the effects of the altitude at the top.

Hiking up Rucu Pichincha – for those who are feeling physically fit and acclimatized on reaching the top of the Teleferiqo, it is possible to hike to the top of Rucu Pichincha. The hike takes around three hours to get to the top—less for very fit people and more for those who are less fit. There are some fairly steep parts, and at the top it gets rocky. At this point, some rock scrambling is involved. On a clear day, the views from the top are worth the climb.

Horseback riding – at the top of the Teleferiqo, there are a few different operators that offer the activity of horseback riding for those who are interested. Horseback riding through the páramo grasslands at this altitude allows those who are short of breath to see a bit more of the surrounding countryside than they would otherwise have seen if they had tried to go on foot. Horseback riding here is available for a few dollars per hour/ride. The other advantage of this, is that with the guide, the visitor will not get lost.

Hiking up Guagua Pichincha – the part of the Pichincha volcano that exploded in 1999, causing a huge ash cloud above Quito is these days possible to climb. Guagua means “baby” in Quechua, but hiking up this volcano is no mean feat. The trail from the refuge is fairly clearly marked, and it is not very far from the refuge itself, making it a nice acclimatization mountain for some visitors who want to summit bigger peaks. One interesting aspect of this trip is that it is possible to peer down into the crater, smelling the sulfur all the while.

Getting there

Getting to Rucu Pichincha is easy. Take a taxi to the base of the Teleferiqo, and from there purchase a ticket to the top. This costs $8 for foreigners and $4 for locals.

To get to Guagua Pichincha, it is necessary to go to Lloa, a small village at the Southeast of Guagua crater. From there, travelers in four wheel drive vehicles can drive up to the refuge. A hike from the town can take almost four hours due the steep road that is not in a great condition. Lloa can be accessed by taking a bus from the Mariscal Sucre Avenue. Head south as far as Calle Angamarca, from which there are buses available to Lloa. The cost will be less than a dollar.