When Everything Feels Crazy, Go Climb a Volcano
It feels like the volume of life keeps turning up. News headlines, work demands, social media, and the constant ping of notifications all compete for attention. The result? A mind that feels full but rarely fulfilled.
At some point, you need more than another scroll or another meeting. You need air. You need space. You need the kind of challenge that strips away the noise and reminds you what’s real. That’s what Ecuador’s mountains give you.
Why Ecuador?
Few places make the mountains so accessible. Within a two-week span, you can stand on three high-altitude summits—each one unique, each one demanding your focus in a way no screen ever could.
Cayambe (18,996 ft / 5,790 m): Your first big test, where glacier travel and rope systems come to life.
Cotopaxi (19,347 ft / 5,897 m): A perfect cone of ice and snow that sharpens your endurance and your teamwork.
Chimborazo (20,564 ft / 6,263 m): The highest peak in Ecuador and the farthest point from the center of the Earth—a summit that feels like a personal reset button.
This isn’t about checking summits off a list. It’s about learning the craft of climbing in a place that welcomes you in, challenges you hard, and sends you home with skills and perspective you didn’t have before.
More Than Just Mountains
The climbs are the center of the trip, but they’re not the whole story. Between ascents you’ll:
Wander through Otavalo’s legendary markets, where colors and sounds remind you of a slower rhythm of life.
Share meals in family-run lodges, where laughter comes easier than it does at home.
Trade stories with your rope team, building trust that can’t be faked.
These moments matter as much as the climbs. They remind you that while the world feels fractured, human connection is still alive and well—especially at altitude.
The Value of Stepping Away
Taking nine days (or a full two weeks with the Cotopaxi/Chimborazo extension) feels small compared to the endless pace of the world back home. But that’s the point. For a brief time, the only thing that matters is your breath, your step, and your team.
You’ll return to your life with more than photos. You’ll return with a reset mindset, stronger body, and clearer sense of what really deserves your energy.
Different Ways to Experience Ecuador
We’ve built trips that meet people where they’re at:
Ecuador Climbing School: Our foundational program, designed to teach glacier skills and summit big peaks with world-class instruction.
Women’s Ecuador Climbing School: A supportive, women-led program with the same peaks and same challenge.
Ring of Fire Ski Expedition: For experienced backcountry skiers, climb and then descend Ecuador’s volcanoes on skis.
Cotopaxi Rapid Ascent: Climb Cotopaxi in just five days! On this Cotopaxi Expedition, you will be able to fly to Ecuador and be on a high-altitude glacier within 2 days.
Why Now
The world isn’t slowing down anytime soon. You can’t control the chaos. But you can choose to unplug from it—at least for a little while—and do something that grounds you.
Standing on the summit of Cotopaxi, watching the sunrise push shadows across endless Andean valleys, you remember: this is real. This matters. And it’s been waiting for you.
Skiing the World: A Look at Our International Ski Expeditions
At Alpenglow, we’ve built our international ski trips around more than just skiing. Each destination offers its own rhythm — from bottomless powder to high-alpine volcanoes, from European valleys to the sharp spires of Patagonia. Here’s how they stack up.Read the story
One Itinerary, Two Styles: Climb or Ski Ecuador’s Big Volcanoes
With Alpenglow Expeditions, you can do either—on the same 16-day itinerary. The Ecuador Climbing School and the Ring of Fire Ski Expedition both summit Cayambe (18,996’ / 5,790m), Chimborazo (20,564’ / 6,268m), and either Cotopaxi or Antisana, depending on mountain conditions.Read the story
Skiing Through Prehistory: Why the Ring of Fire Feels Primordial
There’s something surreal about skiing on an active volcano. Steam rising from vents, snow underfoot, and dense jungle at the trailhead. It feels otherworldly. But there’s a reason these places feel so ancient: they are.Read the story
Ski the Ring of Fire!
Ever wondered what skiing a volcano is like? Come put your backcountry skills to the test on some of the tallest volcanoes in the world!Read the story
Skiing Patagonia: Steep Lines, Wild Terrain, and a Unique, Remote Basecamp
Our Patagonia Backcountry Ski Expedition isn’t just about skiing big lines—it’s about getting far off the grid and into one of the most remote and dramatic mountain zones in South America. For eight days, we operate out of the small village of Cerro Castillo, Chile, surrounded by glaciated peaks, steep couloirs, and untouched terrain.Read the story
