HOW TO VISIT (AND BIKE) THE COTOPAXI VOLCANO
Cotopaxi Volcano, located in the Andes mountains of Ecuador, is an awe-inspiring natural wonder that should be on every nature lover’s bucket list. Standing tall at 5,897 m (19,347 feet), it is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes and known for its almost perfectly symmetrical cone shape. Not only is the volcano a sight to behold, but the park surrounding is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including the endangered Andean condor.
Where to Stay
The most sensible option is to stay at either Cuscungo Cotopaxi in the village of Chasqui or Secret Garden Cotopaxi near Machachi. Both offer private rooms as well as bunk beds. I would recommend Cuscungo Cotopaxi, because I really enjoyed the stay, they have reasonable prices and a cozy living room with a chimney and a view on the Cotopaxi Volcano. Also, the food is quite good and they have good offers on activities. Alternatively, you can visit the Cotopaxi as a day-trip from Quito and just stay in Quito, but this option is far more expensive and stressful, which is why I wouldn’t recommend that. Both Cuscungo Cotopaxi and Secret Garden are beautiful accommodation options that give you the opportunity to be more laid back and enjoy nature, while having an easier and cheaper access to the national park.
To reach Cuscungo Cotopaxi take a bus from Quito Quitumbe terminal to Latacunga and tell the driver to let you off at the crossing to Chasqui. Ideally, you track your approach to the village on Google Maps and tell the driver exactly where to stop to avoid misunderstandings. From the crossing it’s only a 5 min walk.
Visiting the Volcano
The usual way of visiting the volcano is to take a guided tour, which typically includes transportation and a professional guide who will lead you on a hike to the volcano’s base camp. The base camp, which is located at an altitude of 4,800 m (15,744 feet), offers stunning views of the volcano as well as a chance to see some of the local wildlife. The tours usually include a visit to the museum in the national park (Cotopaxi Visitor Center) and the Laguna Limpiopungo. From the base camp you can continue to walk either with the guide or individually to the glacier edge that sits on 5,200 m if weather conditions allow.
The most straightforward option is to visit the national park and the base camp as a day trip from Quito, but as I already pointed out, I wouldn’t recommend that. The best option in my opinion is to organize a private tour from Cuscungo Cotopaxi for 75 $ for the entire day. The driver will take you to all the important sites mentioned above and wait for you at the uppermost parking lot while you hike to the base camp. The hike takes about 30 minutes and is technically not very challenging, meaning that you really don’t need a guide to go up there.
I decided to continue hiking from the base camp to the glacier edge just by myself to challenge my physical limits and was gone for about 2 ½ hours before returning to the car, where the driver was patiently waiting for me. Cuscungo Cotopaxi also offers mountain bikes for rent for 12 $ per day per bike, and the car will transport them with you. After you return from the basecamp you can hop on the mountain bike and ride down the volcano, which is an absolute blast. The driver was following me with the car, and I could just stop anywhere, we would put the bike back on the truck and keep going. The tour took the entire day and was absolutely great because everything happened at my pace of choice. The car offers space for up to 4 people, whom you can share the price with. Hence, you will pay 49.50 $ (37.50 $ without bikes) per person as a two-people group and 30.75 $ (18.75 $ without bikes) per person as a four-people group.
Secret Garden Cotopaxi is another option that offers trips to the Cotopaxi National Park; however, it is a group tour and costs 38$ per person plus 10$ for biking. The private tour from Cuscungo Cotopaxi has the same price if you are just a two-people group and is even cheaper if you are 3 or more people. Furthermore, you have maximum flexibility with the private tour because the driver will wait as long as you want whilst you explore the surroundings. Also, the private tour is longer (if you want) because the group tour already returns to the Secret Garden by about 1:30 PM.
Another activity you can engage in is horseback riding. Unfortunately, I do not remember the exact pricing, but I reckon it was around 30 $ per person for a 2 hour ride and the price varies depending on whether you will ride around the area of the accommodation or within the national park area.
Climbing the Summit
For the more adventurous, hiking to the summit of the volcano is possible, but it’s important to note that this is a challenging and strenuous hike that should only be attempted by experienced hikers in good physical condition with good acclimatization. It typically takes around 6-8 hours to reach the summit and the only feasible option is a guided tour that costs around 300 $ per person for a two people group and 400 $ for a single hiker.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cotopaxi volcano is an incredible natural wonder that is a must-see for nature lovers. Staying at either Cuscungo Cotopaxi or Secret Garden Cotopaxi is the best option as they both offer comfortable accommodation and great activities, while the private tour organized by Cuscungo Cotopaxi is highly recommended for the flexibility it offers and the cost-effectiveness.
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