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Cotopaxi Horseback Ride and Hike
Embark on a unique horseback riding and hiking adventure in Cotopaxi National Park. Explore the stunning landscapes and challenge yourself with a journey to the base camp.
Embark on a unique horseback riding and hiking adventure in Cotopaxi National Park. Explore the stunning landscapes and challenge yourself with a journey to the base camp.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Avenida De Los Volcanes - The journey will take us along the renowned Avenue of the Volcanoes, marked on GPS as Avenida de los Volcanes. Along the way, there will be a stop at a gas station to use the restrooms, purchase lunch, and stock up on water and snacks for the day.
The drive will pass between the volcanoes Pasochoa, Rumiñahui, and…
- Avenida De Los Volcanes - The journey will take us along the renowned Avenue of the Volcanoes, marked on GPS as Avenida de los Volcanes. Along the way, there will be a stop at a gas station to use the restrooms, purchase lunch, and stock up on water and snacks for the day.
The drive will pass between the volcanoes Pasochoa, Rumiñahui, and Sincholagua, leading to the Cotopaxi Volcano.
- Northern entrance to the Cotopaxi National Park - Upon reaching this entrance, visitors can purchase coca leaf bags or candies to alleviate altitude issues. It’s also a great place to buy locally made gloves, hats, and ponchos.
- Cotopaxi National Park - Inside the National Park, the adventure begins with a horseback riding experience. Participants will be equipped with helmets and ponchos before setting off on a less-traveled path, offering stunning views and a chance to connect with nature.
- Parqueadero al refugio Cotopaxi - After the horseback ride, a 30-minute drive will take us from 12,000 feet to 15,000 feet, where we will park and embark on a 1.5-mile hike to Basecamp. This offers an incredible experience and breathtaking views, akin to being on another planet.
- Barrio el Caspi - The return journey will take us back to Quito via the tourist route.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Driver guide
- Horseback equipment
- Horseback riding equipment
- Private transportation
- Driver guide
- Horseback equipment
- Horseback riding equipment
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
- Experience horseback riding exclusively within this National Park. Others ride outside the park.
- Enjoy the perfect blend of horseback riding and hiking through two distinct landscapes.
- Avoid long lines by entering the National Park through a less touristy route and exiting via the regular path.
- No prior horseback riding experience is necessary….
-
Experience horseback riding exclusively within this National Park. Others ride outside the park.
-
Enjoy the perfect blend of horseback riding and hiking through two distinct landscapes.
-
Avoid long lines by entering the National Park through a less touristy route and exiting via the regular path.
-
No prior horseback riding experience is necessary.
The journey begins at 7 am from Quito, taking an alternative route into the National Park and exiting through the main entrance.
Travel past three volcanoes: Pasochoa, Rumiñahui, and Sincholagua, along the renowned Avenue of the Volcanoes.
1st Activity: Horseback Riding.
Following the horseback ride, there will be a half-hour drive to a parking area situated at 14,800 feet (4,700 meters) above sea level, where the hike to the Base Camp will commence.
This experience is not recommended for those who are not adventurous, dislike bumpy roads, are sensitive to changing weather, or have heart conditions.
- Personas con prótesis
- No es recomendable para personas con problemas respiratorios
- No recomendable para personas que odias salir su zona de confort
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
5.0
(421 Ratings)
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1 star
Pinkyt123
Mar 17, 2026
Great day - Very easy on the traveler. Pick up at hotel. Stopped for food, snacks. Good lesson for the horseback riding. Dario answered all questions and provided good info. Hike was hard but rewarding and he took his time with us. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
3ericag
Mar 15, 2026
An Unforgettable Day at Cotopaxi with Dario - If you’re considering a trip to Cotopaxi National Park, book with Footprint Journeys and ask for Dario — you won’t regret it.
From the moment we left Quito, Dario made us feel completely at ease. He was patient with us every step of the way, never rushing us as we took our time hiking and soaking in the breathtaking scenery. Safety was clearly his priority, and that meant we could fully relax and enjoy the experience.
We learned about the touristy vs non-touristy parts of the park, about the many volcanos in the area, and Dario shared his insights into the chagras — the Andean cowboys of Ecuador — which gave us a window into local culture we never would have gotten on our own.
Dario is the kind of guide who genuinely loves what he does, and it shows. Highly, highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tehling_w
Mar 14, 2026
What a Unique Way to Experience Cotopaxi! - It was a unique way (~1 hour horse riding and 2 km hike up to José Rivas Refuge, the base camp of Cotopaxi) to experience the famed Cotopaxi National Park. We were very fortunate to be in Pachamama’s favor on the day, with the weather so as to be able to enjoy the awe-inspiring views. What was the biggest plus was our guide, Dario, who was very knowledgeable, encouraging, patient and, not in the least, knew when to give the guests some space to appreciate the beauty of the place he’s so in sync with and passionate about!
Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Sarahbaxdc
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 Highly Recommend, Support this Small Business and Have the Best Day Ever! - This Cotopaxi tour was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Ecuador. From the moment we left Quito, the drive through the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” was stunning, and entering Cotopaxi National Park via a less-traveled route made the whole experience feel much more authentic.
The horseback ride across the Andean páramo was unforgettable, and Kevin, our horseback guide, was fantastic. He made us feel comfortable with the horses and went above and beyond by capturing incredible photos and videos of us galloping across the plains with Cotopaxi towering in the background.
The hike up to the Cotopaxi refuge was challenging because of the altitude, but Jorge—the owner and our guide for the day—was amazing. He was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and most importantly let us go at our own pace, which made the climb enjoyable rather than stressful.
Overall, this tour strikes the perfect balance of adventure and scenery—horseback riding, hiking, and some of the most spectacular landscapes in Ecuador. Highly recommend if you want a memorable and non-touristy way to experience Cotopaxi while supporting a great small local business!
Review provided by Viator
Nomad32966720526
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 Highly Recommend! Support this Small Business and Have the Best Day Ever! - This Cotopaxi tour was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Ecuador. From the moment we left Quito, the drive through the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” was stunning, and entering Cotopaxi National Park via a less-traveled route made the whole experience feel much more authentic.
The horseback ride across the Andean páramo was unforgettable, and Kevin, our horseback guide, was fantastic. He made us feel comfortable with the horses and went above and beyond by capturing incredible photos and videos of us galloping across the plains with Cotopaxi towering in the background.
The hike up to the Cotopaxi refuge was challenging because of the altitude, but Jorge—the small business owner and our guide for the day—was amazing. He was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and most importantly let us go at our own pace, which made the climb enjoyable rather than stressful.
Overall, this tour strikes the perfect balance of adventure and scenery—horseback riding, hiking, and some of the most spectacular landscapes in Ecuador. Highly recommend if you want a memorable and non-touristy way to experience Cotopaxi while supporting a great small local business.
*Also seeing wild horses was an added bonus!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover46507108777
Mar 10, 2026
March 2026 - Started the day at 7:30 in Quito and enjoyed a scenic drive out to Cotopaxi park where we spent about an hour on horseback experiencing the peaceful rugged beauty of the park with a local guide, then drove further up into the park where we hiked about an hour up to the base camp for the volcano excursion. Definitely recommend being reasonably physically fit for the trip and prepared for the high altitude adjustment, but well worth the experience. It’s a unique experience where you’ll get to see a truly spectacular corner of the world relatively few people will ever get to see; if you have the opportunity and can handle some mild mountain side switchbacks at a reasonable pace, make this trip! We were back in Quito by 4pm.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katefb4513mb
Mar 10, 2026
Fabulous Experience! Don’t hesitate to book!! - What an amazing day! Friendly and knowledgeable team with comprehensive communication and information about the trip before setting off. Horseback riding in the stunning Cotopaxi park is the perfect way to start your adventure before making the trek up to the base camp. You won’t regret this experience!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raghav_j
Mar 10, 2026
Exceptional experience!!... - Exceptional experience!! The horse back riding alone was worth it. Each person in our tour was matched with a horse and given instruction on how to ride. Breathtaking views of Cotopaxi and a couple other volcanoes.
The hike to the Refugio was also wonderful! I’d definitely pack a raincoat as the weather can change in a split second. Highly recommend Jorge and his company!!
Review provided by Viator
Jerricanicole
Mar 9, 2026
Pauli was amazing - Everything about this tour was amazing! Pauli was an awesome tour guide. It was a long, exhausting day, but so gratifying. The hike up to basecamp was HARD but Pauli was there at every stop checking on us, encouraging us, and helping us pace ourselves on the hike up. Thank goodness I didn’t get altitude sickness, but my boyfriend and one other did. Pauli was quick to tend to them and get us back down safe. The horseback riding was dreamy! Something out of a movie and so peaceful. I’ve only rode a horse once but they made me feel so comfortable. Thanks for such an amazing experience! One tour I will never forget
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juwonc924
Mar 9, 2026
Cotopaxi base camp hike and horseback riding while seeing - It was such an amazing and unreal experience! Horseback riding while seeing Cotopaxi from behind was truly breathtaking and such a serene experience. We learned about the history of the chagras from Dario and got to wear some ponchos and chaps as well to make the experience all the more fun! Dario was truly an amazing guide, including the hike up to Cotopaxi base camp. The hike was difficult, but manageable with Dario as our tour guide encouraging us along! The views were stunning and the hot chocolate at the end hit the spot. An experience unlike any other!! i would highly recommend booking with this tour group :-)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
