Overview
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With unique Andean views along the way, and surrounded by the beautiful local flora and fauna, this is the best chance to experience one of the most incredible places of the region, the adventure to Cotopaxi National Park.
This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy of a hiking admiring the Andes, see iconic birds such as the Andean condor, be surrounded of a chuquiragua garden, and visit a Country House with more than 3 centuries of history.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Cotopaxi National Park
Early in the morning, we will drive 86 km from the city of Quito through the “Avenida de los Volcanes”, where you can see volcanos such as: Atacazo, Corazón, Ilinizas, Pasochoa, Rumiñahui among others, to finally reach the entrance to the Cotopaxi National Park. It has more than 33,000 hectares of extension with a variety of trails, lagoons, rivers, waterfalls and of course, the Cotopaxi Volcano, which captivates with its majesty and beauty. We will visit the lagoon of Limpiopungo, where it is possible a walk to observe some species of flora and fauna that inhabit the lagoon, being the condor an icon in the Andes. Then we will continue our way to the parking lot (15.000 ft.) and then to the refuge called José Rivas (16.000 ft.). Of course, this last visit is possible, depending on your physical condition.
Here we can enjoy a typical lunch at a typical Hacienda called La Ciénega, as the place of residence of the French Geodesic Mission that arrived in Ecuador to make the measurement that corresponds to half the world in 1736. ON THURSDAYS WE INCLUDE SAQUISILI INDIAN MARKET INSTEAD OF HACIENDA LA CIENEGA VISIT, PLEASE NOTICE IT for further bookings. Finally, return to your hotel.
Options
Premium Cotopaxi Full Day Tour
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Saquisili Indian Market Visit (ONLY ON THURSDAYS)
Certified English Speaking Tour Guide
Park Admission Fee
Gratuities
Personal Expenses
If so you can take lunch in the hacienda with an extra cost.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fabulous day trip to Cotacachi with our guide Eric. He made our day special. A must do if you visit Quito.
Sharon J,Apr 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fabulous day tour with Eric and Carlos. We headed NE of Quito, with our destinations being Otavalo and Cotacachi. These areas are where the indigenous peoples have been successful in developing artisan industries. En route we stopped for morning tea, then onto a rose distributor who was preparing the most beautiful Ecuadorean roses for local and export markets. We absolutely loved the vibe, cafes, and leather shopping in Cotacachi. What a wonderful town. You must have a coffee at Dulce Instante in Cotacachi and a piece of their carrot cake. Delicious.
Highly Recommend GuideEcuador
Eric J,Feb 2, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I used Guide Ecuador for two tours - Mindo and Cotopaxi. Alejandro (the owner) was fantastic. The tours were exactly as advertised, and Alejandro exceeded expectations at every turn. He was very helpful and flexible in planning the details of the tours, and he was eager to plan the best trip for me - it was not a “one size fits all” kind of experience. Alejandro was extremely knowledgeable about flora and fauna as well as the geological history of the areas. He also has a wealth of knowledge about Ecuador in general, its people and its culture. He also does tours in Peru (my next trip with him), and is very experienced organizing and leading tours there as well. Alejandro was punctual, polite and friendly, and he speaks flawless English. He also communicated effectively and frequently via WhatsApp before, during and after the tours, and there were no hiccups along the way. I would highly recommend.
AWESOME EXPERIENCE
328kristopherc,Jul 28, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00All I can say is well worth it. Alejandro Was very knowledgable and helped me out with a lot of the Translation. I would recommended this again for sure.
Wonderful!!
siant958,Mar 7, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had the pleasure of meeting Alex and having his as my private guide for the day to Cotopaxi Park, where we hiked up to Cotopaxi’s base camp (so cool! NOT easy but worth it!!) followed by an easy 2 mile walk around a beautiful lagoon and then lunch at a great hotel in the park. Highly recommend Alex for any of his tours. He is very knowledgeable about all things South America, super professional, and an easy person to spend the day with!
Amazing guide and tour of Cotopaxi!
Sian T,Feb 22, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00Alex was such an amazing guide! He went out of his way to pick me up outside of Quito for a private tour to Cotopaxi where we did lots of hiking followed by a lovely lunch at the hotel. He was super knowledgeable of the park and all things travel related in South America. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting or looking for a guide for day trips or longer tours!
Absolutely Fantastic!
H6219UGemilys,Nov 22, 2019
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip in Ecuador. It was better than we had imagined. I almost cancelled this tour because the description was so vague that I thought it wouldn't be worth the price. It included three hikes at Cotopaxi, One of which went to over 15,000 feet and we hiked down in the hail. We had dinner at a magnificent mansion with amazing food. None of this was in the description. I signed up or this because I wanted to like at Cotopaxi and the description stated bssically, a 2 hour hike with lunch. So glad I did not cancel. Our guide was so nice, funny, and knowledgeable. Cannot recommend this tour enough, but it is physically demanding to complete. The purpose of three hikes is to prepare for the high elevation.
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Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel