Cotopaxi Day Tour

Within the Cotopaxi National Park is the active Cotopaxi volcano, an elevation of 5,897 meters above sea level located in the Cordillera de Los Andes and an exceptional variety of flora and fauna species.

Every day

Full day
07h00 - 18h00

Medium activity

Pickup
07h00

English and Spanish

What you'll do
Travel safely, in our tours we maintain all the safety protocols during the tour
In this tour we will visit:
  • Visit the Cotopaxi National Park
  • Limpiopungo Lagoon
  • Interpretation Center Mariscal Sucre
  • Hike to Refuge Jose Rivas at 4864 masl

07h00

Beginning
Departures form Naciones Unidas Boulevard (Av. Shyris & Av. Naciones Unidas) How to get PV-Bulevar-Naciones-Unidas-300x150 Pick-up and drop-off in the 3 main areas: Carolina, Plaza Foch, Plaza Grande
07h00

First stop

Stop at Machachi town
You can buy some snacks, use the restrooms and use the ATM
First stop

Second stop

Visit to Cotopaxi National Park

On the border of the province of Pichincha, there is the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological reserve that combines the landscape of the Andean moorland, volcanic soil and the lagoon that emerge from the snow-capped mountains.

Second stop

Third stop

Limpiopungo Lagoon

Enjoy the guided tour around this glacial lake at the foot of Cotopaxi. In the lagoon we can observe different species of birds and native plants.

Third stop

Fourth stop

Interpretation Center Mariscal Sucre

All information about the Cotopaxi National Park is available at the Interpretation Center, or better known as the Park Museum. The Center has showrooms, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop. It is located inside Mariscal Sucre Station (or Control Caspi entrance).

We recommend you to recharge your energies with a coca tea.

Fourth stop

Fifth stop

Hike up to the José Rivas Refuge (4864 masl) Center Mariscal Sucre

Since the 70s, this refuge has been a welcoming place for professional mountaineers and amateurs coming to visit the Cotopaxi Volcano. This place is located on the slopes of the volcano and an hour’s walk from the parking lot.

Fifth stop

Lunch break

Typical lunch

We will make a stop to enjoy the typical food of the area, we recommend the chicken soup, the locro and the roasted lamb. There are also vegetarian options. (Lunch not included)

Lunch break

17h30 - 18h30 (aprox.)

Enjoy your comfortable return to Quito. Drop-off at your hotel is also included.

End of tour

17h30 - 18h30 (aprox.)
Indications

The Cotopaxi day tour from Quito includes

  • Private Touristic Transport
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Bilingual Guide (Esp – Eng)
  • Guided hike inside the Cotopaxi National Park: Limpiopungo, José Rivas Refuge
  • Taxes and entrances fees
Not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Other details not specified
  • Tips
What to bring
  • Face mask
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Gloves
  • Thermal coat or sweater
  • Hiking shoes
  • Camera
  • Passport, to get your official stamp of the Interpretation Center/National Park
Location
Important information
Cotopaxi National Park

The Cotopaxi National Park is a natural paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Dominated by the majestic Cotopaxi volcano (5897 mts – 19347 ft), one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, the park offers breathtaking landscapes and thrilling adventures. Hiking trails lead through Andean forests, where you can spot unique wildlife. The park also features stunning lagoons, picturesque valleys, and impressive glaciers. Visitors can engage in mountain climbing, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Immerse yourself in the park’s beauty, learn about its rich cultural heritage, and experience the thrill of being in the heart of the Andes.

LET’S TAKE CARE OF OUR PROTECTED AREAS
REMEMBER THE 3 R’s

R

Reduce

R

Reuse

R

Recicle

Travelers reviews
Gabrielle F
Gabrielle F
2023-03-31
Verified
Really fun day trip! I really enjoyed the tour! The guide Irene was really nice and had a really fun ways to inform us about quilotoa and quichwa culture! The ride there is also really pretty and in the mountains!
Mar F
Mar F
2023-03-31
Verified
Irene es lo máximo! Nos encantó nuestro tour a la Laguna de Quilotoa. Muy organizado y fácil de reservar desde el principio. Nuestra guía, Irene, además de ser sumamente pedagógica, nos mantuvo entretenidos el viaje completo. Tiene una personalidad afable, simpática y agradable que hizo que tanto el camino como todo lo que nos enseñó fuese muy fácil y bien aprovechando. Totalmente recomendado.
Carolin J
Carolin J
2023-03-30
Verified
Quilotoa day Trip (with Irene) The trip to Quilotoa was led by Irene. She was very energetic and brightened our day with her stories during the car ride.
Adazia
Adazia
2023-03-30
Verified
Mitad Del Mundo Private Tours Super fun tour of all of the Mitad del Mundo activities! Carlos was an awesome tour guide, very informational and helpful. It was nice to have a bilingual guide showing us around.
Konstantin M
Konstantin M
2023-03-30
Verified
Nice day trip Great tour and hike in the Cotopaxi national park. Very competent and friendly guide, lots of information on the way. On criticism is that the lunch takes about 45 min detour, other than that a great experience.
Sophie P
Sophie P
2023-03-30
Verified
it's worth it! It was a good Tour. We visited a Family and saw how they life there. With all the Products they have. - And Quilotoa was beautiful. But seriously, the way up is not that easy. You can choose Mules or hiking. Be careful with your Lungs, if you are not skilled. 😉 thanks for guiding, Misa.
Holly P
Holly P
2023-03-30
Verified
Great tour experience for a short time in Quito. Jessy and David were lovely and knowledgeable. Jessy and David made this a lovely day for us both. Despite our hotel not being on the list we contacted them prior and arranged for collection from our Airbnb. We were collected promptly and advised it would be a private tour which we much preferred. Jessy was very informative about the local area and encouraged us to try local delicacies.
We stopped a number of places we weren’t expecting to see which added to the experience, and we passed though the areas where Jessy and David were born and grew up, which made us realise how in touch with the local area they both were.

On top of all of this the views were stunning, and although it was a long day overall we felt the time passed by quickly with watching the landscape. Not to mention the waterfalls. I would also recommend the zip lining through the jungle!

If you are interested in not only seeing the beautiful views but hearing about the local area definitely choose this tour. We’ll be back!
Konstantin M
Konstantin M
2023-03-29
Verified
Nice day trip Nice day trip to the beautiful crater lagoon Quilotoa. Also very interesting to learn more about the daily life of the indigenous population. Very friendly guide and well organized tour.
Peter Z
Peter Z
2023-03-27
Verified
A wonderful adventure despite the weather Carlos was a great guide for our trip to Quilotoa. The hike is challenging but worth it, even in the rain. Recommended!
Brian
Brian
2023-03-27
Verified
Amazing diversity Adrian was highly knowledgeable and very fluent in both Spanish and English. He consistently went above and beyond to make this an amazing trip despite what others would have called challenging weather conditions.
Jimmy the driver is a very experienced South American driver familiar with the local flow and areas. He was consistently safe and efficient.

Highly recommend the tour! Be ready to hike!
Personalized Option
Quote a tour tailored to your needs
You define:
  • Your schedules
  • Number of people
  • Number of days
  • Destinations or attractions

We create it for you!
Shared tour

$ 49 adults
$ 40 children (6 to 12 years old)

Salidas en fechas específicas

Small groups

$ 59 / person (4+ passengers)
$ 60 / person (3 passengers)
$ 85 / person  (2 passengers)
$155 / person (1 passengers)

Private Tour

$ 79 / person (5+ passengers)
$ 89 / person (4 passengers)
$109 / person (3 passengers)
$149 / person  (2 passengers)
$239 / person (1 passengers)

Similar experiences

From $49 USD

per person

Shared tour

$ 49 adults
$ 40 children (6 to 12 years old)

Salidas en fechas específicas

Small groups

$ 59 / person (4+ passengers)
$ 60 / person (3 passengers)
$ 85 / person  (2 passengers)
$155 / person (1 passengers)

Private Tour

$ 79 / person (5+ passengers)
$ 89 / person (4 passengers)
$109 / person (3 passengers)
$149 / person  (2 passengers)
$239 / person (1 passengers)

-5%
OFF
In all tours! Buying online