ROUTE OF BALTAR USHCA THE LAST ICE MAKER OF CHIMBORAZO

WHY TAKE THIS TOUR?

  1. We will walk with the last ice maker of Chimborazo and we will be part of this authentic experience that in Chimborazo is a millenary tradition.
  2. It is the place where you will find peace and harmony and be surrounded by magnificent landscapes.
INFORMATION

  • Price: $90 per person (Minimum 2 persons). 
  • Duration: about 8 hours. 
  • Departure: Chimborazo Tours offices or hotel. 
  • Available: Thursdays or Fridays by reservation.
  • DIFFICULTY: 3

Baltar Ushca, the last ice maker of Chimborazo, prepares once again to climb Chimborazo, as he has done for more than 50 years twice a week, his trade of ice maker he inherited, like his brothers Juan and Gregorio, from his father, the taita of Ushca, as one day he also inherited it from his father; and so on. From generation to generation, this hard work goes back to colonial times, when it was imposed by the Spaniards as the "mita del hielo" (ice mita).

Juan Ushca, son-in-law of Baltazar Ushca "The Last Iceman of Chimborazo", is 50 years old and for the last 7 years Juan has assumed the hard responsibility of maintaining the tradition of the Ushca family and of many families that stopped doing this activity, extracting ice from the Chimborazo volcano to sell in the markets of Riobamba, as it was done some decades ago.

Now Juan performs one of the hardest and most sacrificed jobs in the mountain and remembering his words "I WILL PERFORM THIS JOB UNTIL I LIVE", we can say that now Juan Ushca is the "Last Iceman of Chimborazo".

In Chimborazo Tours we are pleased to present JUAN USHCA as our interpreter in the "Hieleros de Chimborazo" Route and invite all mountain enthusiasts to do this trekking.

"Thousands of people have already done it, only you are missing."

INCLUDES

  • Tourist transportation.
  • National tourist guide.
  • Rubber boots if necessary.
  • Demonstration of the Chimborazo ice extraction process.
  • Accompaniment by Juan Ushca (Last Hielero of Chimborazo).
  • BoxLunch.
  • Visit to the Chimborazo ice mine (4800 masl).
  • Entry permits to the protected area of Chimborazo.

NO INCLUDES

  • Taxes, if you need a bill.
  • Hotels before and after the tour.
  • Breakfast and dinners.

DETAILS

07:00: We leave from our offices in tourist transport or 4x4 vehicles.
08:00: We begin the 6 km hike to the ice mine located at 4800 meters above sea level.

  • On the way we will be fortunate to observe incredible landscapes and some snow-capped mountains that surround the sultan of the Andes city of Riobamba.
  • All along the way the view of Chimborazo is incredible, inviting us to continue with our objective, to reach the ice mines of Chimborazo.

11:30 Arrival at the mine (4800 m.a.s.l.) and demonstration of ice extraction.

12:30: Box Lunch.

13:00: Return to the city of Riobamba.

16:30: Arrival to the city of Riobamba and end of our services.

¿HOW TO BOOK?

    • Send a Whatsapp to (+593) 0984906132 or an email to info@chimborazotours.com with the following specifications: Tour name, travel date, number of people, name and surname, passport number, country of origin.
    • Once we receive the information, we coordinate the details of the trip and the payment methods.  payment methods.
    • Payment must be made with an advance payment of 50% of the value (Do not forget to send proof of payment to whatsapp (+593) 0984906132 or to the email:  info@chimborazotours.com .

WHAT TO BRING?
  • Comfortable walking shoes.
  • Thermal and waterproof clothing (warm clothing, wool cap, gloves, scarf), sunglasses, sunscreen and a light bag to carry small items.
  • Important: Bring your personal documents.

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