The Throat of Fire: a summit attempt on an active volcano.
Tungurahua, the 'Throat of Fire', is an active volcano rising between the provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo, above the town of Baños de Agua Santa. This is a fully guided summit attempt, operated end to end by PEAKS with certified guides, run as a weekend expedition with an overnight drive so you get two full days on the mountain.
On the first morning we have breakfast in Baños and visit the Pailón del Diablo waterfall before starting the trek at Pondoa, 2,850 m, up to the Garganta de Fuego refuge at 3,800 m. In the early hours of the second day we push for the summit: over 2,100 m of total elevation gain. A helmet is mandatory on this active volcano, and harness and crampons are used depending on weather and terrain conditions.
The refuge has a communal kitchen where everyone prepares their own food (bringing something to share is always a good idea) and you sleep in bunks with a light sleeping bag. With its long, sustained ascent, Tungurahua is an ideal endurance test before Ecuador's glaciated summits.
Solid aerobic fitness for over 2,100 m of elevation gain across two days. A helmet and a headlamp with fresh batteries are mandatory; harness and crampons depend on conditions. We travel wearing the three-layer system from the start, and attending the pre-climb training sessions is mandatory.
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