Cotopaxi National Park Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

14-Nights Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galapagos Islands - The Geluxe Collection

Price: $6,479 - # of Days: 14 days
Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands Take Ecuador by storm on this 15-day immersive trip through all of the country’s essential highlights. Start on the mainland with a week to climb to new heights in Cotopaxi National Park. Canoe along Napo River in the Amazon to a jungle lodge an...

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7-Nights Ecuador: Cotopaxi & the Amazon Jungle - The Geluxe Collection

Price: $2,699 - # of Days: 7 days
Ecuador: Cotopaxi & the Amazon Jungle Ecuador might be small in physical size, but this trip proves it’s absolutely huge on adventure. Indulge all your travel fantasies as you journey to the Amazon’s thriving jungles, hike to new heights at 4800 m above sea level, and tour ancient ruins nestled in C...

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13-Nights Inland & Amazon - Classic

Price: $1,399 - # of Days: 13 days
Inland & Amazon It’s quite poetic that Ecuador is the centre of this big, beautiful planet of ours. In so few kilometres, the peaks of the Andes, the jungles of the Amazon, and historical cities all have some square footage here and with this 14-day journey you can see some of it all. Learn about th...

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7-Nights Highlands of Ecuador -Classic

Price: $769 - # of Days: 7 days
Highlands of Ecuador If you’re short on time it doesn’t mean your cultural experience in Ecuador shouldn’t be colossal. This eight-day tour mixes exciting stuff like cities listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, lively markets, and natural wonders like Cotopaxi volcano, so you get to soak in impress...

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8-Nights Ecuador: Amazon, Hot Springs & Volcanoes - National Geographic Journeys

Price: $2,199 - # of Days: 8 days
Journeys: Ecuador’s Amazon and Volcanoes Ecuador is a small country that packs a punch when it comes to natural beauty, biodiversity, and indigenous heritage. Discover this South American jewel on a memorable adventure, travelling from the emerald-clad Andes to the Amazon’s thriving jungles. Come fa...

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Overview

Introduction

At 19,345 ft/5,895 m, Ecuador's Cotopaxi mountain is said to be the highest continuously active volcano in the world. Whether you get close to the summit or not, the view of its perfectly shaped, snow-covered cone is stunning—if you get a clear day. The national park, located 35 mi/55 km south of Quito, protects a large area surrounding the peak, and is home to wild horses, deer, some captive llamas and several rare species you'll probably never lay eyes on, including pumas and Andean condors.

Those with climbing experience and a couple of days to devote to the outing can ascend to the summit. Others can find hiking trails in the park, including one that follows the shore of Laguna Limpiopungo, a small highland lake that sits at 12,465 ft/3,800 m. If you're in reasonably good shape and the altitude doesn't wipe you out, consider climbing up to the Jose Rivas Refuge, where mountaineers begin their expeditions to the top. If you don't want to attempt the whole hike to the summit, an easier jaunt is to take the road until it ends at a dirt parking lot just below the snow line. From there, you have a 650-ft/200-m climb up to the refuge, which doesn't sound bad until you try to hike up the steep path in the very thin air. Plan on an hour going up, and wear hiking boots for the snow (although the snow line is usually even higher up the mountain). At the refuge (15,748 ft/4,800 m), you can have a snack, pretend you're a mountain climber, then head back down.

The park has a small museum on its geology and animals. There's not a lot there, but it's worth a stop to see the stuffed Andean condor that's on display—it's huge, with an 8-ft/2.5-m wingspan, and this is supposedly a small one. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can visit the ruins of a remote Inca fortress. Cotopaxi makes for a good day trip from Quito, though you can overnight at a hotel (there are several modest ones near the southern entrance) or camp within the park (rustic cabins are available). There are also two historic and comfortable haciendas: San Agustin de Callo (phone 290-6157; http://www.incahacienda.com), which is just outside the park; and La Cienega (phone 254-1337; http://www.haciendalacienega.com), which is farther south near the town of Lasso.

Be aware that periodic volcanic activity prompts authorities to restrict access to the National Park.