Cotopaxi National Park

Take a weekend excursion to Cotopaxi! Only a short one- to two-hour trip from Quito, Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most impressive parks in Ecuador. It is a popular destination for those looking to hike, climb, horseback ride, and enjoy the stunning scenery.

The park also contains the famed Cotopaxi Volcano. This active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains has a height of 5,897 m and is one of the world’s highest volcanoes. It is also one of the few equatorial glaciers. Its eruptions have created numerous valleys formed by mudflows around the volcano, making it spectacular scenery. But don’t worry! Local authorities are well trained in safety precautions and will prevent hikes if it is unsafe to do so.

On your trip to Cotopaxi National Park, you can explore the Rumipamba waterfall and caves or take a trip to the Limpiopungo lagoon for views of the volcano. Visit local haciendas and well-preserved Inca sites, such as the
Pucará del Salitre Inca. You will also get a chance to experience Cotopaxi’s ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Wildlife you may come across includes pumas, bears, rabbits, condors, wild horses, and foxes.

A trip to Ecuador means visiting the Cotopaxi National Park to enjoy the stunning scenery and experiencing Cotopaxi Volcano is a must!

Highlights
Accommodations at Hosteria Tambopaxi by Cotopaxi Volcano
Exploring Rumipamba Waterfalls and Caves
Laguna Limpiopungo Trails and Birdwatching
Horseback Riding Around Cotopaxi Volcano
Visit Pucará del Salitre Inca
Visit The Hugo Proaño Casa del Arte Taller Galeria

Itinerary

Day 1

Rumipamba Waterfalls and Arrive at Cotopaxi National Park and

You will leave Quito around 9 AM and travel to the Rumipamba waterfalls to explore the caves there. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the waterfalls.
Next, you will head to the Hosteria Tambopaxi to check in to your accommodations for your time in Cotopaxi National Park.
Hosteria Tambopaxi is located at the foot of the Cotopaxi Volcano and offers great views of the volcano.
In the evening, you will have a guided tour of the trails surrounding the hotel before dinner and a relaxing night.

Day 2

Laguna Limpiopungo Lake Birdwatching, Trail Walking, and Horseback Riding

After breakfast, you will leave at 8 AM to head to the Limpiopungo lagoon for a hike on the Laguna Limpiopungo Trail. This trail is around 1.6 miles long and meanders around the lake.
Enjoy views of Cotopaxi and get a chance to watch migrating waterfowl around the lake. A picnic lunch will be served by the lake.
You will then return to camp to relax before a guided horseback ride over the páramo and to visit haciendas near the hotel.
One of the stops will be the Pucará del Salitre Inca, a well-preserved Inca site.
In the evening, have free time relaxing or further exploring the area by the campsite.

Day 3

Museums and Return to Quito

After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, there will be a few stops in Cotopaxi National Park and the surrounding towns before returning to Quito.
You will get to see the museum at the Visitor’s Center and visit art galleries such as the Hugo Proaño Casa del Arte Taller Galeria.
Expect to arrive back in Quito after lunch in the late afternoon.

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