Normally people who travel to Ecuador do so to visit the Galapagos Islands, the last paradise on Earth. The Andean country is still little known to European tourism and it is a shame as the mainland is of extraordinary beauty and has a lot to offer.
Today I propose an excursion starting from Quito, the ascent to Cotopaxi. It is an experience that I definitely recommend if you travel to Ecuador. You will not be disappointed (if volcanic activity allows it).
Most excursions, such as the one I detail below, can be done starting from Quito or Latacunga and returning the same day.
The Cotopaxi volcano (5897 masl) rises majestically just 50 km from the capital and 35 from Latacunga. It is the second highest volcano in the country and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
How to access the Cotopaxi volcano?
To visit and enter the Cotopaxi National Park it is necessary to hire the service of a specialized agency. It must be taken into account, and it is very important, that both Quito and the national park are located at an altitude of more than 2500 meters and the last point where cars or vans can reach is almost 4200 meters. Altitude sickness is a factor to consider before doing the excursion.
We must acclimatize a few days before going up, going from a city at sea level to Cotopaxi directly can be harmful to health.
I recommend you bring a bottle of water, mountain clothes and shoes, gloves and above all: do not make excessive efforts. It is an easy but slow climb, at 4200 meters of altitude it goes very slowly, do not run.
There are two main options to access it:
- Travel in public or private transport from Quito / Latacunga to the access road to the park on the Pan-American highway. Once there we already find many 4 × 4 cars with which we can make the visit. They should be agencies with the right of access. It is surely the cheapest way (about $ 50 per person) and improvised, but it wastes more time. The last accessible point without the need for special permits or guides is the Cotopaxi Visitor Center.
- Hire the route from Quito / Latacunga. The agencies offer 4 × 4 vans with driver and mountain guide. The excursion is usually done on the same day and includes food and a bicycle to descend the volcano with it. The guide is in charge of giving 4 important indications, the history of the volcano and its national park. The cost should be around $ 75 to $ 90 per person.
I personally recommend hiring the visit from Quito. It is possibly more expensive, but leaving at 8 in the morning around 11 you will find yourself in the middle of the national park. By dinner time you'll be back in town. On the other hand, the descent by Mountain Bike through the volcano is 100% recommended.
Climbing to the peak requires a minimum of 2 days, climbing to the beginning of the glacier can be done in the same day.
What to do and what to see in Cotopaxi?
If the weather and the volcano allow it, you will be able to reach the last parking lot, located at an altitude of 4200 meters. There you will surely notice the change in temperature and altitude.
The guide will tell us if the conditions are optimal to climb and how far we can climb. It is necessary to follow their recommendations at all times.
From this point we already see the high mountain refuge, located almost 4900 meters above sea level and just behind the imposing glacier begins.
A well marked path with a considerable slope will guide us to climb the remaining 600/700 meters. In theory in 1 hour or an hour and a half you should reach the refuge.
The ground is naturally volcanic and slippery. Many times two steps are taken to go up and without wishing to do so another three are lowered. It is necessary to be patient, not to run and to advance little by little. It is very important to drink water constantly and acclimatize to the altitude.
If all goes well, after an hour we will arrive at the refuge where we can contemplate the spectacular views down (national park, lagoons and Andean platform) and up (Cotopaxi glacier and crater). Once here we can make several decisions depending on the time available, the physical condition and the weather:
- No more going up and back to the parking lot.
- Go up to the beginning of the glacier, located at 5300 meters above sea level. It is a walk of less than an hour and that can be done whether we stay to sleep at the refuge or if we return to the starting point.
- Climb up to the crater. In this case we have to check if we can physically go up and on the other hand we will have to spend the night in the refuge, it is not possible to do everything in the same day.
Downhill and exploration on Mountain Bike!
If we have come with a van and a bicycle, We totally recommend making the way back from the parking lot with Mountain Bike. Almost 1 hour of constant descent from 4200 meters to 3500.
Incredible landscapes, nature in its splendor all along the way. A feeling of freedom difficult to match.
The guide will show you where to finish the descent. From there and by bicycle you can explore the entire Cotopaxi National Park. Plains, lagoons, nature and lush landscapes will dominate our walk.
Once our bike tour is over, it will be time to return to our starting point.
For nature lovers, the ascent to the Cotopaxi volcano is a highly recommended and easily accessible excursion if we travel to Quito. The Ecuadorian Andes are spectacular and there are routes for all tastes, but this one is essential.