Refugio Guagua-Pichincha | Established Campground

March 27th, 2024 by reddwalitzki

Great adventure from Quito, but like others have mentioned it can be a little challenging and is best to go early in the day. I rode up on my ADV moto (RE Himalayan) and it struggled a bit on the way up with the super steep grades. The way down was also a bit tricky on a heavy bike, some of the corners are quite loose and rutted. If you’re looking for a bit of an adventure it’s a beautiful ride for sure!

The Refugio at the top was open, had beds, and to me it looked like there is a stove but not sure if it works. Would get super cold up here at night. You can use the app MountainWeather to stay prepared for the conditions.

October 19th, 2023 by petesduesouth

Amazing ride up with incredible views. Road was fine on the way in on a V-Strom 650 with 50/50 tires but I left it too late in the day and got caught in the refuge for a couple hours during a hail storm. A family was serving food/tea and the refuge was open.

The road was dangerous for me on the descent and I was forced to take the corners extremely slowly due to my heavyish bike and the now muddy road adjacent to cliff-face. Due to this, I would advise going early in the morning to avoid precipitation.

Last tip, don’t follow Google Maps. Follow the signs to the top starting before you leave the pavement. Maps took me up a brutal road on the way in.

June 2nd, 2022 by tanguy.adriaenssen

Amazing ride, we’ll worth the trip up for you are in a serious 4x4 or on a 1x2… it’s a nice day ride from town to get out and of you are lucky see some snow and amazing views. On a damp day the last 10kms can be quite slippery (fine compacted volcano sand) on the dry it’s not too bad… there are wild camping options along the way too.

The road up is in pretty good condition but being sand with tight switchbacks some bigger rigs or 2x4 might struggle

October 14th, 2020 by arsenkrsmanovic

I walked all the way up from Lloa, 5 hours. Slept in a tent. Everything was closed, haven't seen any keys. Had to climb the gate to take some rain water. In the morning the guard came. Easy 15 min walk to Guagua. Later continued and climbed Padre Encantado (20 min up from the main path) and Ladrillos before reach Rucu and returned to Quito. No phone signal at refugio.

March 12th, 2018 by bigoteparati

This is the Refuge Hut short before the summit of Guagua Pichincha. You can geht here on a very steep dirt road starting in lloa. Depending on your car you will reach the refuge or leave it more down (without 4wheeldrive this is what you will do).
Also you can hire a 4*4 taxi that will bring you up to a flat space for 20$ (just ask anybody with a pickup in the village), from there you will walk approx. 1h to the refuge.
There is nobody up here in the nights (somebody came in the morning, not shore if everyday) but keys are next to the door on a string and there are 16 bunk beds without sheets inside. There is also plenty of space for tents although with the cold wind you will maybe consider sleep inside. If you reach the refuge by car there is enough space for any kind of rig.
There is no possibility to cook but tanks of rainwater.
After we slept here we started at eight in the morning, reached the summit half an hour later, crossed the valley to Rucu Pichincha wich we reached at 2pm and then took the TeleferiQo (5$ one way) down to Quito again.
Enjoy!