The 3 Routes Up Pasochoa

Overview

Getting There:

There are several ways to summit this mountain. If you are coming from Quito, take a bus from La Marin (Bus terminal in Centro Historico) to “Amaguana”. When you get to the town square of Amaguana, find a taxi truck or call the local taxi company at +593 22878622. The main entrance where you register with the park should cost no more than $5-8 to get there in taxi. I’ve never done it this way but I think this Wikiloc route will work pretty well. The other way to go is via a different access point called “mil gradas”. A good taxi price to go this way is $10. This route takes you  up a long road and past a water reservoir where you will find the entrance. 

The Hike (via Mil Gradas): Total Round Trip Distance: 5.8 miles Total Elevation Gain: 2,808 feet A good Wikiloc route can be found here!

This is one of Ecuador’s shorter hikes. That being said it is definitely one of the most

beautiful. On a clear day, over 15 peaks can be seen from the summit. Note that when starting the hike you begin on a wide road. After a while you come to an abandoned house with a Do Not Enter sign. From here take a RIGHT and continue to the right of the barbed wire fence. Taking a left is also possible but you will be jumping a lot of barbed wire fences if you go this way.

A third route is done by going with guides from the Secret Garden Hostel Cotopaxi. This is an incredibly cool hostel at the opposite base of Pasochoa.  The hostel guides daily summits for backpackers staying there.

Maps.Me can be useful for this hike but it doesn’t give you all the alternative routes to the top.

There are no guide or entrance fees for this mountain.

And remember: Look good, have fun, be safe. Good Luck!

–Mquigs

External Links

Hike Ecuador