What to do in Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Apart from the Galapagos Islands, personally I found the area around Cotopaxi the most beautiful of Ecuador. The landscape has something special and the light in there is different too, as you can see probably on the pictures. You can stare forever at the beauty of the omnipresent snow-capped volcano, which resembles the Paramount Pictures logo.

Many people go here on a day trip from Quito, but if you have the time, I’d recommend a stay of at least one night. Especially if this is your first day in Ecuador you might need a while to get used to the altitude. We booked two nights in advance and as we set foot in the area I was already wanted to prolong our visit.

We stayed on the northern side of the park at the Chilcabamba Lodge, an absolute pleasure (and no, I don’t get paid to write about it) with tranquil surroundings, open fires and mountain views. A stay in here is about $70,- including breakfast and a canelazo, a hot strong drink that makes you forget about altitude sickness, and a lot of other things :). Another fine and a bit more cheaper option would be The Secret Garden Hostel, also close to the entrance of the park. Whether you’re going here for a day trip or a bit longer, don’t forget to bring some warm clothes, you’re gonna need them in here. 

Hiking and birding

The area of Cotopaxi is a landscape of rugged peaks of four towering mountains. But it’s not all steep; the lower slopes of Cotopaxi are a mix of grassland páramo and pine plantations and make an excellent environment for hikes. Even the road towards the national park is already worth walking.

The air in the area is refreshing an crispy, llamas are to be spotted everywhere and around every corner there’s another magnificent vista of those big peaks. 

Hiking the Cotopaxi 

With an altitude of 5,897 meters above sea level, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world; only competing against two other volcanoes for the title. The Cotopaxi was once worshiped by Ecuador’s ancient civilizations, thought to be the bringer of rain and prosperous crops. The Ecuadorians believed that their god would reside on top of the volcano.

Unfortunately god is to be left alone for now, because currently it’s impossible to climb all the way up to the top. But no need to be sad, climbing to the refugio near the glacier at an altitude of 4800 meters is also quite an experience. It takes about an hour to get there and though this isn’t so long in itself, the altitude does try to make it a tough experience for you. But once you get there, it’s a nice idea to realize that you’re actually standing higher than the Mont Blanc. 

Visiting the lake

Are you a birdnerd? Then it might be worth it to hit the lake within the national park, made up of glacial meltwater of the Cotopaxi volcano. It’s an easy ride from the entrance. Many-striped Canasteros, Andean Tit-Spinetails, Tawny Antpittas and Andean Gulls are all around. Just as the Patagona gigas, the largest hummingbird in the world!

Horse riding

Time to release your inner gaucho! Personally, I thought this was the most fun activity to do in the area. I did some horse riding before, but my experience in Cotopaxi was the best by far. The guide chose a very well-behaved horse for me and steadily we walked for three hours across grasslands, through rivers and along canyons. Always with the majestic Cotopaxi volcano in the backdrop. It felt like we were riding through the Scottish highlands, a very unexpected yet delightful feeling. 

Mountain biking 

For the thrill seekers mountain biking the slopes of the volcano all the way down to the grasslands is the ultimate activity. It’s actually not as bad as it (probably) sounds, since the road is topped with gravel and grit. But there are still a lot of challenges; bumps, potholes and unexpected ridges along the road. Plus, you might want to enjoy your surroundings a bit on your way down, so be careful not to gaze too long!