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Cotopaxi Full Day Tour: Explore Snow-Capped Volcano and National Park from Quito
4.4
27 Ratings
Quito
Prepare for an extraordinary day in the Andes! Explore the breathtaking Cotopaxi National Park, capture amazing photos at the Limpiopungo Lagoon, and trek to the José Rivas Refuge for spectacular views of the Cotopaxi Volcano. This adventure offers the ideal combination of fresh air, excitement, and natural splendor — all in a single day.
Prepare for an extraordinary day in the Andes! Explore the breathtaking Cotopaxi National Park, capture amazing photos at the Limpiopungo Lagoon, and trek to the José Rivas Refuge for spectacular views of the Cotopaxi Volcano. This adventure offers the ideal combination of fresh air, excitement, and natural splendor — all in a single day.
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Quito - Begin the journey to Cotopaxi with a convenient pick-up directly from your hostel or hotel in Quito. The pick-up time will be confirmed through chat.
- Machachi - Make a brief stop in Machachi to grab some snacks or use the restroom before proceeding to Cotopaxi National Park.
- Laguna de Limpiopungo - The first destination is the…
- Quito - Begin the journey to Cotopaxi with a convenient pick-up directly from your hostel or hotel in Quito. The pick-up time will be confirmed through chat.
- Machachi - Make a brief stop in Machachi to grab some snacks or use the restroom before proceeding to Cotopaxi National Park.
- Laguna de Limpiopungo - The first destination is the stunning Limpiopungo Lagoon, a glacial lake situated at the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano, ideal for capturing beautiful photos! Visit the Interpretation Center, a small yet informative museum where you can learn about the park’s unique wildlife, geology, and history.
- Refugio Cotopaxi (Jose Ribas) - Prepare for an exhilarating hike to the José Rivas Refuge, located at an altitude of 4,864 meters. The hike takes about an hour, so dress warmly and be ready for the altitude. Don’t forget to take a picture!
- Cotopaxi Province - After the hike, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The guide will provide excellent recommendations, and vegetarian options are available. (Please note: lunch is not included in the tour price.)
Continue the journey back to Quito.
- Quito - Arrive back in Quito around 8:00 pm. Drop-off will be at your hotel/hostel in Quito, provided it is within our designated pick-up/drop-off areas.
What's Included
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Guided hike of the Cotopaxi National Park
- Hike to the Jos Rivas Refuge
- Visit to the Interpretation Center Mariscal Sucre
- Guided Limpiopungo Lake trek
- Onboard bilingual Hop guide
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Guided hike of the Cotopaxi National Park
- Hike to the Jos Rivas Refuge
- Visit to the Interpretation Center Mariscal Sucre
- Guided Limpiopungo Lake trek
- Onboard bilingual Hop guide
What's Not Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Location
Quito
Direct pick-up from your hostel or hotel in Quito to begin the trip to Cotopaxi (exact time will depend on which neighborhood you are located in).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(27 Ratings)
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Andreacd8886od
Dec 18, 2024
Great Adventure - The tour was intense but the guide was very attentive was always worried about how we were going, the pickup very punctual. It has been a great adventure and a great satisfaction. They've all been very kind. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Saraw899
Nov 18, 2024
Great tours! - Ecuador Hop has been fantastic during my trip to Ecuador. They are very responsive and accommodating. They have many offerings, and I was thrilled with my trips. They will go above and beyond for your trip. I would use them again for any trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luisalfonsog672
Nov 11, 2024
Fui, vi, volvi - Very entertaining tour with a competent guide who knew what she was doing. She climbed into shelter, saw condor, visited lagoon cleanlungo
Review provided by Tripadvisor
108philippv
Jul 5, 2023
Awesome Cotopaxi - Our group consisted of 9 people speaking Spanish or English. So, our guide had to cope with both languages, what he did very well. Doing so, Josue proved a profound knowledge about Ecuadorian vulcanos and the flora & fauna of this habitat.
The tour was very well organized, being picked up from the hotel a superb confort !
I can only recommend visiting Cotopaxi with Josue and the Ecuador Hop Team.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Micaelayawney
May 12, 2022
AMAZING experience! - Amazing experiences and people to meet are sure to be found when you book with this company! I booked both a full-day Quilotoa tour as well as a full-day Cotopaxi tour with them and both were incredible experiences with amazing guides! I have to thank Alex, as well as our driver and other guide whose name I unfortunately forget for a beautiful Quilotoa tour - super knowledge, friendly, and welcoming guides + driver! I also have to thank Adrian (guide) and Carlitos (driver) for the BEST experience at Cotopaxi. They both were super knowledgeable, friendly, welcoming, funny, and just wonderful people! Everyone that I met on both of these tours as well were amazing people, now friends. And the experience at Quilotoa and Cotopaxi...well, you're just going to have to go see it for yourself! Clean buses, amazing, friendly, high-energy, and knowledgable guides, great routes, great timing, beautiful sightseeing! Book book book with this company. There's not much more that I can say. Thanks again Ecuador Hop and special thanks to Alex, Adrian, Carlitos, and the other guide + driver! Enjoy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
974deirdref
Jan 4, 2024
Cotopaxi - Good trip Bus was somewhat old and very bumpy road.
Not sure if we were altitude sick or just sick from sitting over the wheel in the back of the bus.
Tip try and sit up front if you can.
Tour guide Adrian was excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luisdiegos2015
Sep 29, 2023
Excellent experience - It has been an excellent experience, it is one of the most beautiful volcanoes I have had the opportunity to see. I recommend it 100%. An important tip: the tour operators do not provide much information about appropriate clothing, so it is important to wear appropriate clothing, such as sports shoes, comfortable pants, a coat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellen
Mar 5, 2020
Great Adventure and Tour - We were picked up at our hotel, which was super convenient around 7:45 a.m. First we went to an ecolodge for breakfast, which served us pancakes with fruit and yogurt, bread and coffee and juice. Then we drove up to the parking area on Cotopaxi, which is around 16,300 feet we figured. The road up was bumpy and slow going and we couldn't believe the bus made it up there! When we got out to hike it was sleeting sideways with a wind that just about knocked us over! It was howling! Some people went on ahead up to the lodge, but we decided to turn back as we didn't have the right coats to stay dry and warm with us. The volcano was enshrouded in clouds the entire time so we didn't have much of a view. When everyone came back we went down to the lagoon and did a short narrated nature hike, where it was sunny and a lot warmer. We ate a late lunch at the ecolodge and made it back to our hotel around 6:30 p.m. It was a good adventure. We paid $49 per person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darren_b
Dec 2, 2024
Avoid - Rudest guide I have ever had. She turned a 11 hour tour into 8 hours. Good job for her I guest. This is my 67 country and again have never had a guide like her. I would avoid at all cost. Lucky the weather was amazing and the views we got were great. I would book this tour just not with the hop on/off company.
Review provided by Viator
Amanda_c
Jan 19, 2024
Weather - The weather was too bad to make the trek. It was a long way to go to sit on a bus all day. Just a shame.
Review provided by Viator
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