Pasochoa Volcano Hike Guide

The Pasochoa hike is an excellent way to break into 4,000 m Andean peaks as the trail isn’t that technical nor is it a long trek.

The Pasochoa hike can trick you into thinking all Andean peaks are easily conquered, which definitely isn’t the case.

Still, sitting at just 4,200 m tall – which is small for the Andes – and a route that’s fairly easy for anyone with a decent level of fitness, it’s a great hike to acclimatise and bag your first peak in Ecuador.

When the weather plays ball, the views from the top are spectacular and, in the distance, you’ll see the towering Cotopaxi Volcano along with the equally massive Cayambe and Antisana volcanoes.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to hike Pasochoa from the Hacienda San Francisco trailhead, the trail conditions, and practical tips to make the most of the adventure.

Pasochoa hike overview

The hike is easy except for the last section which is steep but not technical.
The entire hike is roughly 9 km and takes 5-7 h depending on your speed.
The trailhead is at Hacienda San Francisco de Pasochoa (San Francisco of Pasochoa Farm), but this shows up as ‘Trekking Pasochoa’ on Google Maps.
There’s a $5 US fee to hike through the farm property.
It takes around 1 h 45 min to get to the trailhead from Quito.
You can drive to within an hour of the summit if you have a 4X4.
If you want a guide, I recommend Tre Panchin: +593 99 572 7833. He’s based in Quito and highly experienced.
There’s another, longer route which takes you through the Pasochoa Ecological Reserve.

A collapsed volcano summit shrouded in cloud. This is Pasochoa Volcano in Ecuador. — Pasochoa’s summit collapsed during its final eruption.

Where is Pasochoa

The extinct volcano lies just south of Quito, Ecuador’s capital city and forms part of the Central Andes (Cordillera Real).The last eruption, around 100 thousand years ago, collapsed the crater and the volcanic ash turned the surrounding area into a haven for biodiversity.

Around 500 hectares of land on the volcano form the Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge. Here you’ll find some 230 species of plants and a range of wildlife, including 14 different types of hummingbirds, pumas and foxes.

A map showing the location of a volcano called Pasochoa which lies south of Quito, Ecuador.

Hacienda San Francisco trail conditions

Hiking Pasochoa is pretty easy most of the way. The only part I find challenging is the final, steep section just below the summit. There’s also the altitude, but you can always chew coca leaves to help with this.

Starting out at the farm, the dirt trail climbs uphill and bends left. This initial section is steepish, but it mellows out after the bend. The trail is actually a dirt road and you simply follow this for most of the way.

A woman walks towards the camera along a dirt road. The road bisects a green field. This trail is part of the Pasochoa hike, a volcano in Ecuador. — The Pasochoa trail isn mostly along this dirt road.

This region of Ecuador is called Pichincha and the vast, green landscape is beautiful. You can see for miles and nearby are the massive volcanoes Antisana (7,753 m) and Cayambe (5,790 m).

As you get nearer to the base of the summit you’ll come to the parking area. This is the end of the line for cars and hikers need to bear right onto the narrow trail, which leads to the summit.

A hiking trails bears right up a mountainside while a dirt road bears left. — Head right at the white sign.

At the base of the summit things get steep pretty quickly. The grassy underfoot isn’t technical, but it’s a tiring final 30 min or so. Just below the summit you’ll pass between some big rocks before the final push to the top.

Pasochoa has two summits: the north and the south, but I’ve just been to the north. The summit is a jagged arête formed by the crater which collapsed in on itself

Pray for good weather because from this vantage point you can see the mighty Cotopaxi (5,897). Unfortunately, I haven’t had this luck at Pasochoa, but hopefully you will.

A man stands atop a large rock looking towards a narrow ridge shrouded in cloud. This is the summit of Pasochoa Volcano in Ecuador. — The summit is still cool even when shrouded in cloud.

The towers of a large basilica. The tower has detailed architectural adornment and a clock face. Behind the tower a tall statue can be seen faintly atop a distant hill. This is the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito.

Where to stay in Quito

My accommodation recommendations based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms.

Community Hostel: a budget hostel with a fun vibe. There are great views from the rooftop terrace.
Apartamento 32 Juana de Arco: a holiday apartment with all amenities in the historic centre.
Friends Hotel & Rooftop: A mid-range hotel in the historic centre offering veggie and vegan meals.
Hotel La Basílica: A centrally-located, higher-end hotel with beautiful rooms and church views.

Getting to the Hacienda San Francisco trailhead

You can drive to the trailhead from Quito city centre in around 1 h 30 min and this is the fastest route according to Google Maps. You’ll need a 4X4 to as the final 30 min are along a rocky, steep and bumpy road. A standard car would probably get wrecked.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, then you’ll first need to get a bus from Terminal El Playon de La Marin near the city centre to Los Tubos.

A farm house sits in a green field. — Hacienda San Francisco.

The bus company is Condorvall and buses leave Quito roughly every 10 min from early in the morning. The ride costs $0.7 US and takes about 1 h 15 min. The last bus back from Los Tubos leaves at 18:00. Los Tubos is the final stop on the route.

At Los Tubos you need to call a pickup truck taxi to take you to the trailhead. ‪Fauto Alococer, who manages entrance to the farm on behalf of the owners, can get you from Los Tubos for $7 US.

I can’t remember if it’s $7 US for the return ride or each way. Either way, you can get hold of Fauto on +593 98 792 4986 and find out from him.

Hiking from the wildlife reserve main entrance

The longer route up Pasochoa Volcano starts at the main entrance of the ecological reserve. I haven’t done this route, but it looks like a better option if you prefer longer, more challenging hikes. It’s about 16 km roundtrip and takes roughly 11 h.

I’ve read online that you can get to the trailhead with public transport by first taking a bus to Amaguana and then getting a taxi to the wildlife reserve. Here’s a number I also found online for taxis in Amaguana: +593 22878622. The taxi should cost around $8 US each way.

What to bring on the hike

A packed lunch.
At least 2 L of water. 3 L if doing the longer route.
Waterproof layers.
Warm layers for the summit.
Hiking shoes.
Cash for buses, taxis and the farm entrance fee.

Cover your back

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When to hike Pasochoa

The dry season in the Central Andes typically runs from June to October and is the best time to hike. During these months the weather is warmer and trails are in best condition.

The rainy season runs late October to May and it usually starts raining around midday. You could reach Pasochoa’s summit in the morning and potentially beat the rain if you start early.

A woman walks through a field of tall grass. She looks to her right-hand side.

More Quito guides on A World Over

And that’s it for the Pasochoa hike. This is a really fun, entry-level hike in the Andes with amazing views and an easy-ish trail. A good next step up from here is Rucu Pichincha, the volcano at the edge of Quito which you can get to with the TelefériQo.

Guide to the Pasochoa Hike (Volcan Pasochoa) Near Quito