The Best Day Trip to Cotopaxi National Park from Quito

Last updated on June 16th, 2024 at 03:46 pm

One of my top 5 things to do during my two months living in Ecuador was to visit Cotopaxi National Park. Originally, I planned to spend a few days at a hostel located within the park, but that plan fell through because my time in Ecuador was running out. Plus I’d already spent plenty of money in the Galapagos Islands. Since I was getting my accommodation in Quito for free in exchange for teaching yoga, I figured I could compromise and do a Cotopaxi day trip instead. 

The Cotopaxi National Park day trip I booked included a hike to the José Ribas Refuge and a mountain bike ride back down the volcano. This sounded like the perfect day of adventure and a great way to meet some new people while traveling solo.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to click and make a purchase and booking. 

A Few Fun Facts About Volcán Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is a sacred mountain for many indigenous groups. Cotopaxi gets its name from Kichwa and Aymara influences and it means “neck of the moon”.

Cotopaxi is a perfect volcano. If you were to draw a volcano, it would look like Cotopaxi with its conical shape and snow on the peak. It’s beautiful.

It rests at a mere 5897m (19,347 ft) above sea level. It is the second highest volcano in Ecuador, with Chimborazo the highest. 

Both of these volcanoes are part of what is known as the “Avenue of Volcanoes”. This is a series of the most significant volcanoes in the eastern Andes Mountains and includes Cayambe in the north of Quito, Tungurahua in Baños, Illinizas in the south of Quito, and Chimborazo.

Cotopaxi is an active volcano. Its last eruption was in 2016 which forced closure until the end of 2017. 

It is possible to summit the volcano, but it is a very technical climb that requires training, special equipment, and a guide. For any ascents over 5000m, hikers must be accompanied by an experienced local guide.

Cotopaxi National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife including Andean gulls, the Andean Condor, the Andean fox, and little Red Brocket Deer!

Book your Cotopaxi Day Trip Here!

What to Expect with Your Cotopaxi Day Trip

The cost of the guided tour included transportation, breakfast, two guides, a hike to the glacier, and a mountain bike ride back down. It sounded like the perfect day trip from Quito!

The tour departed around 7:00 am just a few blocks away from my hostel in Plaza San Blas. As I hopped in the already full van the two guides began to give us an overview of the day. We would stop for breakfast, then continue on to Cotopaxi National Park stopping again for snacks for the hike, then we’d climb to the refuge, and mountain bike down.

Cotopaxi volcano is located just 30 miles south of Quito. In fact, on a clear day, it can easily be seen from higher points in the city. I caught my first glimpse of the perfect cone shaped top of Cotopaxi volcano as I descended from my first volcanic hike on Pichincha in Quito.

Since Cotopaxi is so close to Quito, it makes for a pretty easy day trip. It seemed like no time had passed before we stopped for breakfast. I was surprised by the quality and quantity of the meal. A tiny restaurant just off of the Pan-American highway served us pancakes, eggs and fruit. With full bellies to fuel us for our climb, we drove on to Cotopaxi National Park.It was such a beautiful morning. 

We had clear skies and excellent views of the volcano, which is oftentimes obscured by clouds. Our driver pulled over at a perfect vantage point for some photo ops.

At our snack stop, I picked up some peanut m&ms for a treat at the top and some coca candies, which allegedly alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. I’m still unsure of this, but I sucked on a few anyway!

Book your Cotopaxi Day Trip Here!

Cotopaxi Day Hike

We reached the parking area and climbed out of the van, greeted with a chilly breeze. Thankful for my layers, gloves, and beanie we started walking. This was a much more difficult climb than I’d anticipated, even after living at high-altitude for about a month and being fairly active. But on this hike, I found it difficult to catch my breath and had to take frequent rest breaks.

Our guides were very patient. There was one leading the pack and one bringing up the rear. I was somewhere in the middle chatting with a chef from somewhere in Europe (I can’t remember where!) who was working as a chef in Peru! How cool! 

I hadn’t been to Peru yet so I peppered her with questions and she told me to absolutely go to Huacachina and do the Pisco tasting and sandboarding. (Update: I did do this while traveling in Peru and can 100% recommend it!) 

Anyway, back to the hike.

It took about an hour and a half to reach the refuge from the parking lot. The refuge is located at about 4800m or 15,748 feet.  

There is food and drink at the refuge, but it’s pricey. I did pay $5 for a hot chocolate because for some reason everywhere I went in Ecuador I just had to try the hot chocolate. The snow was lower than normal so our guides weren’t going to take us any further up. Usually, they take groups to the beginning of the glacier. 

There are no restrooms until you reach the refuge. And in those restrooms, there is no toilet paper. In fact, this is where I learned that to flush the toilets here there is a bucket of water outside. Fill the bucket of water up. Bring it with you inside the toilet. When you’re done. Pour the water down the toilet and it “flushes”. Moment of gratitude for running water and efficient plumbing systems.

After our hot chocolate and an interesting bathroom break we made the much quicker return back to the van to get our bikes.

Cotopaxi Mountain Biking

We biked the remainder of the way down the slopes of Cotopaxi. Which, sounds epic. And it was good fun.

Fair warning! The terrain is pretty rough, so my eyes were focused on the road and not going too fast so I wouldn’t fly over the handles and break something. 

Although it would’ve been nice to see how World Nomads travel insurance (that I always pay for and have yet to use) actually worked.

So, I feel like I didn’t really see too much of the scenery or roaming wild horses as we careened down the volcano.

Also by this time, the clouds had rolled in and we could barely even see the snow on the top of Cotopaxi, let alone its peak.

At a small lake called Laguna Limpiopungo, our bike ride came to an end. 

We climbed back into the van and returned to Quito.

I’m glad I did the Cotopaxi day trip, but I also still wish I’d gotten my act together to spend a few days in the park on my own. The Secret Garden hostel looks fabulous and I met many other travelers who really enjoyed their stay and other activities offered in the park such as horseback riding.

What to Bring on your Cotopaxi Day Trip

First, confirm with your tour company what is provided and fill in the blanks around that.

Water & Snacks: Bring a reusable water bottle and snacks for sure. The tour company I used had a huge 10 gallon jug of filtered water for us to fill up our bottles. They also let us stop for snacks in case you forget! 

Sunscreen: The sun in Ecuador is strong! Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, and reapply as the hike continues. I love SuperGoop on my face and SunBum everywhere else. Don’t forget the backs of your hands, your neck, and ears!

Camera: If you’re using your phone as a camera, that’s great. If you have a separate camera make sure there is plenty of memory and you have a fully charged battery!

Portable Charger: Speaking of batteries, bring a portable battery pack to make sure both your phone and camera stay charged and you don’t miss documenting this incredible experience! I love this portable charger!

Backpack: Bring a backpack to carry your water, snacks, camera, and extra layers. This is the perfect day bag to bring on your trip.

Cash: You’ll need cash for tips and snack purchases along the way. 

Passport: They do have a passport stamp at the refuge if you want to stamp your passport (similar to Machu Picchu).

Book your Cotopaxi Day Trip Here!

What to Wear for a Cotopaxi Day Hike

Layers! There are strong winds at this high elevation. Here’s what I wore:

• On the bottom: REI brand midweight thermal pants under my Athleta hiking pants.
• On top I wore a tank top, long sleeve, t-shirt, thermal pullover, puffer coat.
• I packed my REI brand raincoat just in case.
• My feet stayed warm and dry with my Keen waterproof hiking boots and Darn Tough hiking socks the best hiking socks out there.
• I also wore gloves and a beanie as it’s chilly up at the top.

For more about what to pack and wear in Ecuador, read my complete Ecuador packing list.

Where to Stay Nearby

If you want to extend your stay in Cotopaxi, there are a few great places to stay.

Secret Garden Hostel Cotopaxi: A favorite amongst the backpacking community is the Secret Garden Hostel. In addition to traditional dorm rooms, this hostel also offers unique accommodations in hobbit homes or bird houses. Plus you can combine your stay with activities packages so you can have the ultimate adventure in Cotopaxi National Park!

Check rates and availability here!

Hotel Cuello de Luna: Cuello de Luna is a charming remote rustic lodge with a beautiful view of Cotopaxi Volcano. In addition to their standard rooms they also offer camping! Your stay includes breakfast! This hotel is located only 4 miles from the main entrance of the park, making it an ideal location for exploring Cotopaxi National Park. 

Check rates and availability here!

Hacienda San Agustin de Callo: Hacienda San Agustin is a boutique hotel located 12 miles from Cotopaxi. It is built on the site of a former Incan palace and it honors that history through its unique architecture and preservation of an Inca Temple (know used as a dining room). They have a variety of rooms to choose from with luxurious amenities and fireplaces.

Check rates and availability here!

There you have it, everything you need to know about the perfect day trip to Cotopaxi National Park! Taking a guided tour is an easy way to check Cotopaxi off of your Ecuador bucket list! It also fits perfectly into a weekend in Quito before heading off to explore the Galapagos Islands National Park!

Like this post? Pin for later!