Does Ecuador require guides? (Skiing Cotopaxi & Chimborazo)

I am planning a trip to Ecuador in November to ski Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. There is a lot of mixed information on whether you legally need a guide or not. If not, how does the permitting process work? Thanks!

I lived in Ecuador all of 2016 and for a couple of months in 2018. At those times it was a requirement to have a guide to climb all of the nevados (glaciated mountains), but that may have changed since then. I got around the rule by having friends who are local guides sign me in. If you need someone for Cotopaxi and Chimborazo who charges very reasonable rates and is a great and experienced guide, I can pass along his info. 

I've also skied those peaks and climbed them dozens of times while guiding. From what I see from my local guide friends, they're having drought conditions the last few months which will not make for good or skiable conditions, especially on Chimbo. November is soon so be sure to check on current conditions before you bring skis all that way!

David Jefferson wrote:

I lived in Ecuador all of 2016 and for a couple of months in 2018. At those times it was a requirement to have a guide to climb all of the nevados (glaciated mountains), but that may have changed since then. I got around the rule by having friends who are local guides sign me in. If you need someone for Cotopaxi and Chimborazo who charges very reasonable rates and is a great and experienced guide, I can pass along his info. 

I'm not the person who created this thread but do you mind passing the guides info along? Looking to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo early next year.

Joshua Raichur wrote:

I'm not the person who created this thread but do you mind passing the guides info along? Looking to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo early next year.

No worries, his name is Fernando Iza. You can find him here: instagram.com/fernandoiza_m…