Quito Cable Car & Rucu Pichincha Trek: 6-hour volcano hike

Start your day with city views before ascending to Rucu Pichincha’s wild summit air

A full-day tour from Quito that combines the TeleferiQo cable car with a moderate-to-challenging trek up Rucu Pichincha volcano. You board the cabin at 9:30 am and ascend to Cruz Loma hill at 4,100 meters, then hike approximately 4 hours across Andean páramo landscape, passing through the sharp rock walls of Rucu Pichincha to reach the summit at 4,784 meters above sea level. A bilingual guide leads the trek and hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cable car ride and volcano trekking

• Board Quito cable car at 9 am
• Observe Quito from Cruz Loma hill
• Trek 4 hours through Andean Paramo
• Pass sharp rock walls of Rucu Pichincha
• Climb cracked road for 1 hour
• Reach summit of Rucu Pichincha volcano

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup at 9:30 am, then heads straight to the TeleferiQo cable car station. You board a cabin that climbs to Cruz Loma hill at 4,100 meters high, where the view opens across Quito from north to south. The cable car does the vertical work. The trek begins from there.

From Cruz Loma, you trek approximately 4 hours across the Andean páramo landscape, crossing through the sharp rock walls of Rucu Pichincha (which means "Old" in Quechua). The route passes through the Arenal and then climbs a cracked road for the final hour to the summit at 4,784 meters above sea level. This elevation gain and the terrain make it a solid acclimatization hike for anyone planning to trek higher mountains in Ecuador afterward.

A bilingual guide leads the entire trek and manages the pace. Private transportation handles the pickup and drop-off, so you don't arrange your own way to the cable car station. The cable car ticket itself is separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel and back.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at 9:30 am.
• a bilingual guide for the entire trek.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private TourUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 09:30Pickup times: 9:30 am on Monday to Thursday only; 7:30 am on Friday to Sunday only. Pickup is included.

Solo TravelUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30 and 09:30Pickup times: 9:30 am on Monday to Thursday only; 7:30 am on Friday to Sunday only. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the trek if you're hiking higher peaks in Ecuador and need altitude acclimatization. Take the cable car option to reach 4,100 meters without exertion, then decide whether to summit on foot.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What does the trek from Cruz Loma to Rucu Pichincha's summit actually involve?

The trek crosses Andean páramo landscape for approximately 4 hours, passing through sharp rock walls and the Arenal before a final cracked-road climb of about 1 hour to reach 4,784 meters. You gain roughly 684 meters in elevation from the cable car station.

When does the tour start and how long does the whole day take?

Hotel pickup happens at 9:30 am. The full tour runs 6 hours from start to finish, which includes the cable car ride, the trek, and the return journey.

Is this tour good for acclimatizing before higher-altitude treks?

Yes. The description specifically notes it is a good place for acclimatizing for people coming to hike and trek in Ecuador's mountains. The elevation gain and terrain prepare your body for higher peaks.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a bilingual guide. The TeleferiQo cable car ticket (approximately $9) is not included and you pay it separately.

Can I do this tour solo or do I need to book a private group?

You can choose between a solo travel option or a private tour option at checkout. Both include the same guide, route and inclusions. The difference is whether you trek alone or with others you arrange.