El Altar Trek
El Altar Trek is a 50 km hiking route through Sangay National Park, suited to hikers who want wet Andean volcano trekking terrain and a clear multi-day…
Route overview
A multi-stage route through Sangay National Park, with highlights including El Altar, glacial lakes, páramo, volcanic ridges.
El Altar Trek gives hikers a structured way to experience Sangay National Park over several days. The route is best approached as a staged hike, with planning attention on permits, accommodation, weather, navigation and daily distance. For BuddieHikes, it is a strong candidate because the trail is long enough or remote enough to benefit from a hiking partner, while still being understandable as a clear route objective.
El Altar Trek is a 50 km hiking route through Sangay National Park, suited to hikers who want wet Andean volcano trekking terrain and a clear multi-day objective.
Trail facts
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- Sangay National Park
- Distance
- 50 km
- Typical duration
- 3–5 days
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- Not specified
- Best season
- June to September
- Trail type
- Volcanic mountain trek
Access and logistics
- Bookings
- Book accommodation, huts, campsites or required permits ahead in peak season.
Safety context
Expect changing surfaces, exposed sections, road crossings and variable access to services.
Highlights
El Altar, glacial lakes, páramo, volcanic ridges
Why find a buddy
This route is well suited to finding a hiking buddy because the distance, logistics and multi-day structure are easier and safer to manage with someone who has a similar pace and planning style.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.