Rucu Pichincha volcano

                                                        To reach the summit of Rucu Pichincha there are a number of circuits, the most common being by the Teleferico or by doing the integral circuit from or to Lloa. Undoubtedly walking from Quito requires more time with a number of alternatives from various points in the city.
FROM THE CABLEWAY:
It is the easiest way to reach the summit of Rucu Pichincha. Once at the top of the cable car ($ 3 local, $ 8 foreigners), walk for two hours until you meet the solid rock. To reach the summit, there are two roads, the known and longest called the sandy area and the southern pass. The latter is shorter and more risky because after climbing rocks you must cross over a line of rocks that at the end has a large rock with an abyss on both sides. For that reason, they call it the Passage of the Death. It is advisable not to treat this pass without the help of a guide or to be afraid of heights.
You can descend and continue skirting the crater in an anti-clockwise direction along the trails to the other two peaks of the volcano, the peak of the Padre Encantado peak and the top of Guagua Pichincha. In this last one there is a refuge (4500msnm) before climbing to the summit. To make the summit of the three peaks is known as the integral circuit of the Pichincha. However, doing this in this direction requires that someone wait for them at the Guagua Pichincha refuge or descend for 4 hours, 14 km to the community of Lloa.
FROM THE COMMUNITY OF LLOA:
To reach the volcano, it is necessary to climb 14Km from the community of LLOA to the refuge of the volcano. It can be done on foot by a third order path (6 hours) or in a 4WD (30min). You can also rent a van-taxi from LLOA ($ 20, 30 min). Some ride a bicycle (3 hours). However, the route is very difficult and you have to endure the continuous passage of cars that leave dust behind.
The Integral circuit consists of summiting the Guagua Pichincha, enchanted Father and Rucu Pichincha. Therefore, once in the refuge (4500msnm) the Guagua Pichincha summit is made. Once at the summit, you can return to the refuge or continue along the rim of the crater in an anti-clockwise direction and descend through a sandy area towards the next peak called Padre Encantado (2 hours walking). Then, it descends and continues in a clockwise direction, skirting the Enchanted Father in the direction of Rucu Pichincha (2 hours). Finally, from Rucu Pichincha descend the well-marked path to Cruz Loma (2 hours) where the Quito cable car is located. The Quito cable car descends to Quito for ($ 5) and is open until 6pm.
Corone the three peaks lasts between 10 to 12 hours and is only recommended if you have good physical condition especially if you walk from the community of LLOA. The help of a guide is recommended especially if you do not know anything about the route as the weather conditions can change suddenly and the fog makes it difficult to locate the trails. The three peaks have no snow and no special equipment is required to upload them. However, on very cold nights the peaks rise with a thin layer of snow which can make rocks slippery.
FROM QUITO:
Walking up from Quito can be done by several circuits from the north, center or south of the city. It takes at least 4 hours to reach the cable car and then continue for three more hours to the summit. Many of these roads are little traveled and there have been robberies and lately many groups have gone missing especially those that start in the northern part of the city. It is safer if you get in vehicles to certain points, such as the top of Cruz Loma, from the Temple of the Heroes of Pichincha, in the Summit of Freedom. You can also arrive by car to the top of the Loma de las Antenas, but you must have permission to cross the Mi Cielito farm.

Places by which you can climb: Sector of Miraflores: for the faculty of Physical Education, you cross the forest and you reach the Summit of Cruz Loma. By San Carlos: you reach the northern part of the Rucu Pichincha wall. By the Antennas: but the ascent by the summit denominated the Condor Guachana is very strong, has a lot of inclination and is very tired to go up there, especially for tourists. By Bishop Diaz: You arrive by bus La Primavera - Balcón del Valle (0.25). Take the left side of the ravine to go up to Cruz Loma. If you take the right side you reach the Guachana Condor.