El Altar (5319 m. / 17.451 f.) is one of the most spectacular mountains of Ecuador. A long time ago El Altar was higher than Cotopaxi, but a huge eruption almost completely destroyed the cone leaving 9 snow-capped summits in a horseshoe shape around an enormous crater lake. The peaks are very difficult to climb, but hiking in the area is easy and very rewarding.

• Day 1 At 9:30 a.m. we leave Riobamba. After a 1-hour drive we reach the Hacienda Releche. We put our equipment on packhorses and start to hike up a steep hill. After 1 hour we start walking on the trail to El Altar and soon we will enjoy the first views of the extinct volcano and its river valley. We continue hiking for about 6 hours until the valley of the Collanes River, where we will sleep in a refuge.

• Day 2 After breakfast we leave our camp and follow the Collanes River to the greenish lake within the blown away crater of El Altar. We can walk around the icy lake and have marvelous views of the different summits and glaciers. In the afternoon we return to the refuge.

• Day 3 In the morning we hike back to Releche, where the car is waiting to bring us back to Riobamba. Arrival at about 2:00 p.m.

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