Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas

The experience was awesome! The only downside I found was that there were little or no signs for turists to follow wether we intended to go down to the lake of Quilotoa or to rent some kayacs. Also, a disposable respirator is a must if you have any respiratory issue or even if you don't want to catch a flue.

Nature in Ecuador is fantastic! Like in a movie Avatar: only levitating rocks are left, but mountains often really are vertical. A lot of cascades in a period of March. Outside this month everything is not so attractive because of less water. Recommended month of visit is only one a year - March. Monkeys, parrots, other birds and fantastic sounds of tropics during the night are waiting for you.

Challenging uphill hike. Base camp is at 4700m and there's lodging available at the refuge. Hot drinks and snacks are available for purchase. If no one is there you can prepare yourself and leave cash. The peaks are 5000+ meters. You can climb the North Peak with a helmet and hiking boots. The south peak can be climbed with a guide and climbing gear. There is also a small lake about a 20 minute walk from the refuge.

Beautiful area, you need to go to El Chaupi and then to the entrance of the Ilinizas reserve by car then a few minutes from there you arrive to la Virgen where you can leave your car to start trekking all the way uphill by a pretty straight route to the Ilinizas refuge, at the end geta pretty steep, we did about 7 hours going up and down, having lunch and stopping to take many pictures.

Wonderful hiking possibilities. You can reach te hut by yourself but if you are not experienced it is recommended you to hire a guide to climb the mountains, in particular Illiniza Sur peak