Cotopaxi tour from Quito -horseback ride and hike-NO TOURISTY way
Overview
Available languages
9 hours
Mobile ticket
* ONLY HORSEBACK RIDE experience inside this National park. Others do it from outside the park.
* Perfect balance between horseback ride and hike TWO different landscapes.
*Forget about painful lines to enter to the NP by entering by a NO TOURISTY WAY and leaving by the regular way.
* No need horseback riding previous experience
We start at 7 am from Quito and will take a different way to enter to the National park and will leave by the regular national park entrance gate.
Driving through 3 volcanoes PASOCHOA, RUMIÑAHUI and SINCHOLAGUA going through the real AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES.
1st activity: HORSEBACK RIDE.
After this horseback ride experience, we will drive for about half hour until the parking lot located on the 14800 feet or 4700 mts above sea level from where the hike to the BASE CAMP will start.
If you are not an adventurous person, don't like bumpy roads, get bothered for changing weather or heart problems. DO NOT JOIN this experience.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Personas con prótesis
No es recomendable para personas con problemas respiratorios
No recomendable para personas que odias salir su zona de confort
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Avenida De Los Volcanes
We will drive by the real Avenue of the Volcanoes noted on Gps as Avenida de los Volcanes. On the way we will stop by a gas station for using restrooms and buying something for lunch as well as enough water and any snacks needed for the day. We will drive in the Middle of the following volcanoes (Pasochoa/ Rumiñahui and Sincholagua)until arriving to Cotopaxi Volcano.
Once we arrive to this entrance gate, you will have the opportunity for buying coca leaf bags ir candies to help with the altitude problems, also convenient spot to buy gloves, hats, ponchos made by a local.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Driver guide
Horseback equipment
Horseback riding equipment
We will stop on the way for the participants to buy something packed for lunch to avoid loosing time or rushing to look for a place where to eat outside and enjoy more time inside the national park.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private Option
Pick up from Main city
Pickup included
Shared Option
Pick up from main city
Pickup included
Reviews
377 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Cotopaxi- once in a lifetime experience!
O3053QOemilioc,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a once in a lifetime experience! Getting to see the beautiful country side and change in agriculture as we got closer to Cotopaxi. Our guides Dario and Fatima were amazing in helping us understand the history of Cotopaxi and making sure the trip went smoothly. Highly recommend booking if you’re looking to experience something beautiful in Ecuador!
Highly recommend!
weingartnera,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jorge is a super knowledgeable and fun guide and helped to improve our Spanish. I especially love that he and his wife only hire local guides and drivers to make sure that part of the fee goes back to the Cotopaxi community. The views were great even on a cloudy day and we were lucky to see wild horses on our ride. Gracias!
Cotopaxi Horse ride and hike
SueK620,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a fun different experience. The horse ride was the best, so relaxing and peaceful as we walked around Cotopaxi national park. It is not touristy at all. Highly recommend this.
First Time Horseback Rider--and It Was A Success!
K5377ESemilye,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience! Our guide, Jorge, was wonderful. He is a kind, knowledgeable, accommodating, and funny person. Jorge is also a wonderful communicator. We learned so much about the volcanoes of the region, as well as Ecuadorian culture. Entry fees to the park are covered in the tour expenses, but make sure to bring cash if you want some souvenirs, snacks, or tea at the park entrance or the Cotopaxi base camp. The horses are very well taken care of, have fun names, and the stable owners pair you with a horse that matches your skill level of riding. I personally did not have any experience, and went in scared because I was leading my own horse, but immediately was soothed by the gentle nature of my horse. The stable owners gave wonderful directions on how to lead and control your horse, as well as how to treat the horse kindly. An experienced guide who knows the trails well accompanies you on the horseback ride, and makes sure that the ride is going smoothly. They also take pictures of you while on the horseback ride! Shout out to our horseback guide, Darío (and Jorge) for helping us find a lost phone. You will not regret this experience, and you will be glad to meet the wonderful guides involved in this excursion.
A Breathtaking Experience!
nickgF5010MU,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Our tour guides were very nice and professional and the sights were out of this world! Riding on horseback through the national park will be something I'll never forget, it was breathtaking! I will say that the climb up Cotopaxi itself is not for the faint of heart. If you're not used to high altitudes and hiking, I would strongly suggest preparing yourself and getting acclimated beforehand, but the experience was definitely worth it!
Wonderful day in Cotopaxi
G6433YMtamarap,,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had excellent experience. Dario our guide was great and informative. If we visit again Ecuador, we would definitely book again some tour with Footprint Journeys.
A gringo approves
caveman39,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I fantastic experience! 100% worth it for the peace and comfort. The guide was nice and knowledgeable on everything. I got to see all of Cotopaxi and the horseback ride around the base was the perfect touch.
Such an amazing tour
Sheyla C,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Me and my family decided to go on this tour for the interest of horseback riding. We had our tour done by Alba, Dario, and their adorable son. They were such amazing tour guides and very knowledgeable about Cotopaxi and the areas we passed by. They were even wonderful enough to stop at another location so that we could get a cake for my boyfriend’s birthday which was that day. Pick up was seamless and their response time was instant which made things much easier. We drove past wonderful scenic countryside areas, saw many cows and wild horses ❤️. Once we arrived to the horseback riding location we were taught how to control the horses and even provided all the equipment we needed. Our horse guide was Kevin and he was wonderful at keeping us safe but also allowing us to have a great time. Definitely exciting when we got to race a bit and go much faster on the horses. Everyone during the tour wanted you to feel safe but confident in what you were doing. The second part which was the hike to the refuge center was amazing for the views. Would say it was a little difficult to do for someone who is not used to the altitude but Alba always took her time and made sure we were comfortable throughout the hike up. I would 100% do this tour again for the experience and the views. I would even do another tour with Alba and Dario if they ever do others.
Amazing experience!
kajsa h,,Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This activity was one of the best ones I’ve experienced. Our tour guide Jorge was very good, he was very informative, caring and had very good English speaking. I can highly recommend this tour as you got to see parts of the Cotopaxi national park that most other people don’t see as it is not the regular tourist tour. The day started off with being picked up at our hotel, then a drive to Cotopaxi to the horse riding. We had stops on the way to use toilet and buy food/snacks and also another stop closer to the National park where we could buy gloves, ponchos and other necessary supplies from a local lady which had crafted all the clothes herself! Then we arrived at the horse riding which was lead by another guide named Dario, and he was also very good. He showed us how to care for the horses and we got to know our horses better before we rode off. Along the ride, Dario always made sure everyone was doing good. The horseback riding was my favorite part as it is always a special feeling to experience nature on the back of a horse. The surroundings were magical and beautiful and the views were stunning, especially with Cotopaxi in the distance. The wildlife and nature is untouched and we got to see various of animals such as vultures, Andean condors, wild horses, other native birds - I even saw a lizard. Then there was one more drive up to Cotopaxi parking lot where we would start our hike up to base camp. The hike was a challenging but Jorge made sure we all were doing good and he was very supportive and allowed us all to take our time. Once we reached the base camp we had our lunch and enjoyed good conversations and the view. There was also possibility to buy some food/snacks at the base camp and their famous hot chocolate. After that we began our journey down back to the care. It was much easier but still a little challenging as it was very steep and loose stone sand. It is recommended to have walking sticks with you, I did not have any but Jorge was kind to lend me his. Once we reached the parking lot our way back home started and we took another way home which is the regular route which the tourists take. We got to see a lot of beautiful nature on that ride as well. The day ended with Jorge taking us back to our hotels. Everything was amazing! You must take this tour!
Fun and exciting
hoshoc,,Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was super cool, the guides were a 10 and totally worth it. The horseback riding experience was very exciting and fun. Climbing the Cotopaxi was really challenging but I would go again without hesitation.
From US$130.00
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Operated by Footprint-Journeys Ecuador