Cotopaxi Full Day Tour - All included - Guided hike and National Park entrance
Description
Get ready for an unforgettable day in the Andes! Discover the stunning Cotopaxi National Park, snap epic photos at the Limpiopungo Lagoon, and hike up to the José Rivas Refuge for jaw-dropping views of the Cotopaxi Volcano. It’s the perfect mix of fresh air, adventure, and natural beauty — all in one day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Direct pick-up from your hostel or hotel in Quito to begin the trip to Cotopaxi. Pick up time will be confirmed via chat.
A quick stop in Machachi where you can grab some snacks or use the restroom before heading straight to Cotopaxi National Park.
Our first stop is the breathtaking Limpiopungo Lagoon, a glacial lake nestled at the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano — perfect for stunning photos! You’ll also visit the Interpretation Center, a small but informative museum where you’ll learn about the park’s unique wildlife, geology, and history.
Next, gear up for an invigorating hike to the José Rivas Refuge, located at 4,864 meters above sea level. The hike takes around an hour — don’t forget to dress warmly and be ready for the altitude… and yes, you’ll want to snap a pic!
After the hike, we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Your guide will offer some great recommendations, and vegetarian options are available. (Note: lunch is not included in the tour price.) Then continue your trip to Quito.
You will be arriving back in Quito around 8:00 pm. We will drop you off at your hotel/hostel in Quito, as long as it's within our pick up/drop off areas.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from the majority of hotels/hostels in Quito
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(37)
Everything was perfect. Friendly and helpful guide, on-time pick up, nice day! Thank you so much!
Daniel took great care of a mixed group. He was respectful of both Spanish and English speakers. We made a few good stops along the way which made a 2 hour trip go quickly. The hike, although short, was strenuous. One starts at 14,000’ and walk up to 15,000 in about a mile. The Refugio is quite authentic. One can imagine the brave climbers who summit 19,000’ Cotopaxi! The refugio also provides warm drinks and soup.
Hi JC! Thank you so much for your detailed review! We’re really happy to hear Daniel took such great care of the group and made the experience enjoyable for both English and Spanish speakers. We’ll make sure to pass your kind words on to him! Cotopaxi is definitely a challenging hike because of the altitude, so congratulations on making it to the refugio. We’re glad you enjoyed the stops along the way and the overall experience. Thanks again for traveling with us!
Although I had booked the tour months in advance and it was also confirmed by the organizer, it was simply cancelled the night before due to lack of capacity. This is quite outrageous as I only had 2 days in Quito and then had to travel on.
Irene was friendly and informative. She let us know up front how the trip was going to proceed, let us know where we would be stopping and why. Irene is fluent in English and Spanish and made sure that all participants understood what she said. The hike up to the staging area is very challenging. There are 2 paths you can take and she explained the differences. She made sure that all who participated in the hike were safe and able to complete the hike.
Hi Carl! Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re really happy to hear Irene helped make the experience smooth and enjoyable by keeping everyone informed throughout the trip and making sure both English and Spanish speakers could follow everything clearly. The Cotopaxi hike is definitely challenging, so we’re glad you felt safe and well guided along the way. Thanks again for joining us and sharing your experience!
It was such a good experience! Our guide was super interactive, friendly, and always telling jokes. We did everything on the itinerary, and the experience also included learning about some local plants and lots about the local geography/mountains/volcanoes. Definitely recommend
Hi! Thank you so much for your review! We’re really happy to hear you had such a great experience and enjoyed the fun atmosphere throughout the trip. It’s great to know the guide helped make the day entertaining while also sharing information about the local plants, geography, and volcanoes along the way. We really appreciate the recommendation and thanks again for joining us!
It was an amazing experience. The scenery had me speechless. The climb was a little hard, but worth the views.
Very high altitude, over 15,000 ft. Hard to breathe for seniors. Air is very thin in this region. Good pictures.
Great trip, challenging hike up to the Cotopaxi base camp at altitude. Two meals both at good value before and after. I recommend.
Hi! Thank you for your review! Cotopaxi is definitely a challenging hike, so we’re glad you enjoyed the experience and found the meals good value. We really appreciate the recommendation! Thanks again!
This was a great day with Adrian and Ivan. Everything was well organised and Adrian was really supportive on the hike, making sure everyone made it at their own pace.
My parents and sister went on this hike and reported that they had a great time and met some interesting people. They were not able to make the hike to the base camp due to challenges with the altitude (it is no joke!); but, found Cotopaxi and the surrounding highlands beautiful and enjoyed the tour.
