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
442 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience
ChiehFeng L,Apr 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Met very nice ppl in the tour. The tour guides were also very nice. Luckily the weather was nice during horseback riding. It was good experience. The hike to the Refugee Basecamp was a lot harder than I expected. Had to make multiple stops, but the guide was very nice and kept waiting for me. Great experience overall!
Unforgettable Horseback Ride at Cotopaxi
837marthar,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Cotopaxi tour was absolutely incredible! The horseback ride was such a unique and unforgettable experience, and the views going up Cotopaxi were truly breathtaking. A huge thank you to our guide, Alva, who made the day even more special. She was very patient and understanding, especially as the elevation started to take a toll on us. She made sure we were comfortable, gave us time when we needed it, and kept encouraging us along the way. Her calm and supportive attitude made a big difference, and we really appreciated how attentive she was throughout the entire experience. This tour is a must-do, and having Alva as your guide makes it even better!
Pretty cool
davidcV1640FG,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was great. Our guide was awesome and really passionate and patient. He is a kick ass chagra. Did some horse back riding on a ranch barely inside the park and then drove to the parking lot of Cotopaxi and hiked to the base camp of it. It was cool
Perfect for a solo traveler as it will not be cancelled due to lack of people booking, and a really nice adventure!
Paul E,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Most important thing first! Although it turned out it was only me who had booked the adventure for the particular date it was still carried out. So if you book it you can be assured it will not be cancelled due to that reason. From the time I got picked up at my hotel until I was dropped off it was all perfectly carried out by Jorge! The stop to get provisions had a lot of good things to choose from to pack in the backpack. And they do not joke when they say it's the "no touristic way". Getting to Cotopaxi was an adventure in itself. 🙂 The horse riding was nice and fun. One can do it without much prior experience, like me, as they were really helpful. The walk up to the base camp was an easy hike when it comes to the trail, but the height takes its toll. Small steps in a calm pace will take you all the way up. All in all it was a really good tour! Jorge was super nice and helpful and I can really recommend booking it if you want a different Cotopaxi tour.
Highlight of Ecuador 🤩
SadaLatoy,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing tour! If you’re not sure, this is your sign to absolutely book this tour. The views are so beautiful, the hike up Cotopaxi is worth the view 🤩 the horseback riding was so peaceful and calm with more spectacular views. Our tour guide was very professional, friendly, and informative. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience in your beautiful country!
Had such a great time!
Erin G,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a great experience on the Cotopaxi tour from Quito with the horseback ride and hike (the “no touristy way” one). It honestly exceeded our expectations from start to finish. The hike was quite challenging for us as beginners, mainly because of the altitude, but it was absolutely worth the effort. The views around Cotopaxi were unreal, and reaching the end felt really rewarding. A big part of what made the day so good was our tour guide, Jorge. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience feel really smooth and relaxed. You could tell he genuinely cared about making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying the day. We also really appreciated that it didn’t feel overly touristy at all. The horseback riding part made the day even more special and gave it more of a real adventure feel rather than a standard group tour. Definitely recommend this if you want something a bit challenging but really memorable in Cotopaxi.
Must experience!
Erin G,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time on this tour, even better than we expected! It felt like a real adventure and the views the whole way were incredible. The horseback riding was definitely a highlight! The horses were really sweet and perfect for beginner riders. The hike was pretty tough for us as beginners, especially with the altitude, but it was definitely worth it. The sense of accomplishment after completing the hike and the views were unmatched! Definitely recommend this tour if you’re up for a bit of a challenge and want a great experience.
Grand volcano.
jasent2022,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Started with an enjoyable horse back ride. Hike to Cotopaxi base camp had wonderful views, even with some cloud cover. Jorge arrived on-time pick up, got to Cotopaxi efficiently and provided an abundance of knowledge.
This was fantastic!
Anjelica S,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I loved this excursion. It was peaceful and beautiful. Our guide (and the owner) Jorge was calm and flexible in our group needs. The horseback ride was indeed far from the mayhem of the mountain, but close enough to get a spectacular view of Cotopaxi. The climb to basecamp was a zig zag trail up to a mountain house where you could purchase food and drink at an elevated price. (Pun intended.) Things to keep in mind. Yes, you could definitely experience altitude sickness on this hike. You go up to about 16000 feet. The way down is steeper, so knees may ache. Lunch is not included, but he stops at a gas station where you can procure food. The car ride is bumpy and slow once you approach the national park. Lastly, gratuity is not included, but be kind and leave a little something extra. :)
It was an experience...
Laura A,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an amazing experience..!! Jorge was an exceptional guide.!!! I would definitely recommend it 1000 times more.!
From US$130.00
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