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Peru Railway Tours

| Antisana Volcano Glacier Route |
| Ice activities in the Antisana Volcano Glacier |
| Bike descent from the Antisana Volcano |

Duration: 8 hours
Distance: 8 kilometers
Difficulty: Light - Medium
Altitude: 4120 to 4600 m.a.s.l.  
 

Ecuador is one of the few places in the world where perennial snow can be found at 0 latitude (equator).  The majestic Andean glaciers give birth in this region to one of the greatest biodiversities of our planet: the Napo river high basin, a tributary to the Amazon river.  

Our transport leaves us at the foot of the volcano, just an hour and a half walk from the glacier. The base of this volcano is composed of sand and rock that the ice and weather have been molding for ages.  

We reach the end of the sandy highlands to find the glacier.  It was formed thousands of years ago from the humidity carried out by the eastern winds that crash against the summit, when the land was pushed to great heights by the hot magma trying to reach the surface.  This landscape is unique and includes great ice formations like icebergs, giant cracks in the middle of flat surfaces, and the sound of splashing water as it flows underneath the ice and rocks.  It seems to be the beginning of life itself.  

Our route follows through the glacier, crossing cracks and great frozen peaks called "crespos", advancing then to the south to reach the place where we began the adventure. We end our program with a Ecuadorian specialty at the Hacienda Antisana.  

The Antisana Hacienda is an old, large estate located in the highlands of the volcano.  It was the staying place of the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt and other scientific researchers such as Wolf, Whymper, Hans Meyer, Stubel, and Marcos Jiménez de la Espada.  These men gave the Volcano Avenue its name.  The Hacienda's house is of typical Andean construction, made of sun dried bricks and straw ceiling.  It includes a restaurant and a warm and cozy interior.  
 

Necessary equipment:  

Proper footwear for trekking, cold weather clothing, winter cap, gloves, sun block, sunglasses, camera and rain protection. Binoculars are recommended.  

Itinerary: 

09:00 Departure from Quito
10:30 Arrival at the Antisana Natural Park
14:30 Lunch at the Antisana Hacienda
15:30 Return to Quito  
 

Includes: 

• Transport
• Lunch at the Hacienda
• Entry fee to Antisana Natural Park
• Specialized Guide
• Ice climbing equipment
   

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Duration: 8 hours
Distance: 8 kilometers
Difficulty: Medium
Altitude: 4120 to 4600 m.a.s.l.  
 

This adventure begins at the foot of the Antisana Volcano, where we leave the transport.  From there we start an hour and a half walk through a pristine highland, which is full of life.  Rabbits, foxes, llamas, wild horse, falchions, curiquinges, hummingbirds, sparrow-hawks, condors among many others inhabit this land.  Vegetation includes pillow-plants, mosses, and other highland varieties which have a succulent tissue that is the most common adaptation for plants in extreme cold weathers.  

We end our walk at the glacier, where we begin activities such as rappelling and exploring the cracks and crevices.  While we put the equipment on, the guide will give an explanation about the importance of the glacier and how it is vital to support life and its surroundings.  

During the whole activity we will be secured with harness and rope, to enjoy this adventure without risk.  This experience presents the perfect opportunity to learn how to move and function on a glacier, which is essential for any activity in the high Andes.  After two hours of activity we will descend back to our transport, which is going to take us to the Antisana Hacienda to enjoy a typical Ecuadorian meal.  

The Antisana Hacienda is an old, large estate located in the highlands of the volcano.  It was the staying place of the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt and other scientific researchers such as Wolf, Whymper, Hans Meyer, Stubel, and Marcos Jiménez de la Espada.  These men gave the Volcano Avenue its name.  The Hacienda's house is of typical Andean construction, made of sun dried bricks and straw ceiling.  It includes a restaurant and a warm and cozy interior.  
 

Necessary equipment: 

Proper footwear for trekking, cold weather clothing, winter cap, gloves, sun block , sunglasses, camera and rain protection.  
 

Itinerary: 

09:00 Departure from Quito
10:30 Arrival at the Antisana Natural Park
14:30 Lunch at the Antisana Hacienda
15:30 Return to Quito 
 

Includes: 

• Transport
• Lunch at the Hacienda Antisana
• Entry fee to Antisana Natural Park
• Specialized Guide
• Equipment for ice activities
  

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This activity begins at the foothill of the Antisana Volcano, at 4120 meters above sea level. We start to descend on a typical and lonely mountain road that goes through the highlands.  

The entire route is 28 kilometers long and takes approximately 2 hours.  This highland is home to many birds, like owls, curiquingues, highland eagles, hummingbirds and mammals like rabbits, deer and foxes.  

This road is restricted to private vehicles, which ensures a quiet ride surrounded by nature, across a landscape where the only thing to hear is the silence.  As we get to a lower altitude we can observe the change in vegetation.  In the higher bioclimatic floor we find chuquiraguas, moss-plants, pillow-plants and orchids, and in the lower floor we can see extended pastures with wild turnip, pumumaquis, pantzas and many bushes growing on them.  In the second part of our ride we have a perfect view of the huge lava flow that descends from the volcano and the Secas Lake.  The dry lava forms stone walls where the condors sleep.  

This light activity should not present a problem to anyone because 95% of the road is downhill. Our team will be following us with a vehicle for assistance and beverages.  
 

Necessary equipment: 

Proper footwear, cold weather clothing, winter cap, gloves, sun block, sunglasses, camera and rain protection.  
 

Itinerary: 

09:00 Departure from Quito
10:30 Arrival at the Antisana Natural Park
11:30 Begin to descent
14:30 Return to Quito
 

Includes: 

• Transport
• Snack
• Entry fee to Antisana Natural Park
• Specialized Guide
• Bikes and helmets
  

Optional: 

We offer an optional lunch in the old colonial Hacienda La Carriona, built 200 years ago in a typical Spanish style of the eighteenth century.  It offers a first class menu for the demanding client.  In this case the return to Quito would be at 16:30 hours.  

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