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
Shared Option
Pick up from main city
Pickup included
Private Option
Pick up from Main city
Pickup included
Reviews
430 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great family trip
Jrho22,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our excursion to Cotopaxi. The horseback ride was fantastic for our family (kids 16 and 12). We enjoyed the hike. It’s harder than you think, but they take it slow for everyone…which we needed even though we are experienced hikers. We saw a fox, falcon, wild horses, and had great weather. Pauline was a great tour guide and we learned a lot. Matcha Mama will forever be in my vocabulary now!
The wonderful trip.
M6742BValejandrar,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was wonderful; they coordinated everything from picking me up at my hotel to dropping me off again. The first activity was the horseback ride, which was magnificent, and the hike on the volcano was incredible; we saw animals and were able to see many plants.
Highly recommend!
Krys H,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Cotopaxi is breathtaking! The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. The hike is quite steep, and at that altitude, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with cardiovascular issues.
Excellent!
kasarig2025,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful day with Jorge. While the top of Cotopaxi was shrouded in cloud while we were there, the spot is still stunning and very well worth an explore. The day was relaxed, well organized and so much fun. I highly recommend this one. It was just me and my 10 year old, and Jorge was wonderful with kids, which put both of us at ease right away. He also adjusted the itinerary to meet our needs, and the flexibility was much appreciated.
Cotopaxi National Park
JanePinargoteL,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cotopaxi National Park is a wonderful place, the tour guide was excellent always watching everything. A 100% recommended tourist activity.
Excellent! Highly recommended
Jessica G,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience from beginning to end. I purchased the ticket online and was immediately notified with next steps. My hotel wasn’t on the list but next to another and were very amenable with arranging pick up. Our guide was excellent, answered all our questions within and gave us a lot of information. The first half we did the horseback riding. We dressed in traditional chaps were given some training on how to navigate the horses which were gorgeous and we trekked on the horse with the most beautiful background. It was so peaceful and amazing. Later we went to trek the mountain peak which was very steep but definitely worthwhile, getting to the top was so good and we felt very looked after. If we wanted to stop at any point to take pics of the llamas of any local scenery our guide was very amenable and happy to take any pics we wanted. What an excellent adventure! Highly recommend!
Perfect way to experience Cotopaxi!
677calh,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I had a wonderful time on the tour! A long drive from our hotel in Quito, but our guides described the history and culture surrounding Cotopaxi along the way. It is not a luxury ride, as advertised. The roads are bumpy and dusty when we went, but the experience was amazing. From the beautiful view of the volcano on horseback to the strenuous (for us Florida flatlanders) hike to the Basecamp and it's amazing views of the countryside. The guides went out of their way to make sure we had the best experience possible and the tour was the perfect way to end our stay in Ecuador.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Nola P,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is an incredible adventure! Wonderful and knowledgeable guides pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the base of Cotopaxi where you go an a gorgeous horseback ride for about an hour before embarking on a hike up to basecamp. A once-in-a-lifetime experience! Highly recommend!
Beautiful scenery...
Peter C,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Dario & Fatima were wonderful guides. The scene was amazing and the horse ride was very nice., the hike was a challenge, not for the fainted heart.
Wonderful experience
Frank P,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful scenery and guide was very knowledgeable
From US$130.00
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Operated by Footprint-Journeys Ecuador