Discover Cotopaxi National Park
Cotopaxi National Park protects high Andean landscapes in Ecuador, across the provinces of Cotopaxi, Pichincha and Napo. Its active volcano rises above páramo grasslands, while Laguna Limpiopungo and the route toward the mountain refuge offer different ways to explore on foot. Start by choosing the kind of visit you want: time in the grasslands, a higher walk, a horseback outing or a technical summit expedition.
A day in the park need not include the summit. The refuge walk and lagoon visits belong to a different category from glacier mountaineering. For a first visit from the city, compare day tours from Quito by their actual stops and transport arrangements. For a walking focus, read the refuge and Limpiopungo hiking guide before choosing an outing.
Cotopaxi experiences
For a combined visit, consider the Cotopaxi and Quilotoa trip with attraction tickets. The mountain bike outing includes equipment, while the two-day climb includes a mountain guide and refuge stay.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Two-day climb with refuge stay
- Certified ASEGUIM mountain guide
- Technical mountaineering gear
- Accommodation at José Rivas Refuge
The guide ratio is 2:1. Meals during the climb and adventure insurance including rescue logistics are included.
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Horse riding with packed lunch
- Private transportation
- Certified naturalist guide
- Entrance fees
Horses, welcome drinks and a packed lunch are included.
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Cotopaxi downhill bike experience
- Bicycle rental and helmet
- 4x4 transport
- Tour guide/biker
The ride descends to Limpiopungo Lagoon; a trek to José Rivas Refuge is optional.
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Cotopaxi and Quilotoa with snack
- Attraction tickets
- Small snack
- Pickup and drop-off
The included tickets cover Cotopaxi National Park, Laguna de Quilotoa and the Quilotoa Viewpoint.
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Cotopaxi with bilingual guide
- Transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Entrances
The guide speaks English and Spanish. Choose from the listed pickup options in Quito.
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Cotopaxi and Limpiopungo visit
- National Park admission ticket
- Photos with alpacas
- Certified tour guide
Admission to Limpiopungo Lagoon is included, along with a craft shop visit.
Check availability →Park visits, riding and mountain trips
Compare Quito day visits, the Quilotoa combination, horseback riding, a downhill bike outing and a two-day guided climb. Transport, meals and equipment differ by product.
Choose the visit that fits your plans
The five-hour visit with a certified guide includes pickup and drop-off, Limpiopungo admission, alpaca photos and a craft-shop stop. The nine-hour hiking day includes transport, an English- and Spanish-speaking guide and entrances, with food extra. The ten-hour Quilotoa combination includes specified attraction tickets and a small snack, with Quito pickup limited to the urban area described in the offer, up to 7 km.
For cycling, the six-and-a-half-hour outing provides a bicycle, helmet, guide and support vehicle, with a downhill ride to Limpiopungo. Its refuge trek is optional; meals and personal insurance are extra. The two-day climb includes a certified ASEGUIM mountain guide, technical gear, refuge accommodation and meals during the climb. Its adventure insurance covers rescue logistics and on-mountain first aid; personal clothing and non-technical gear remain separate. Read the guided summit requirements for this distinct mountain objective.
Tours from Quito
Day lengths, pickup arrangements and included services.
Hiking and lagoon walks
Refuge walks, Limpiopungo and altitude planning.
Guided summit climbs
Two-day mountaineering trips and equipment.
Bike tours
Downhill outings, bikes and support vehicles.
Cotopaxi and Quilotoa
Combine the park with a separate crater-lake destination.
Private tours
Private park combinations and a separate summit expedition.
Getting there
Quito, park gates and the road journey.
Where to stay
Access corridors, accommodation locations and altitude.
When to visit
Visibility, wind and weather preparation.
Entry, registration and opening hours
Undated tour-operator guidance consulted on 11 November 2026 describes park entry as free, with registration at the checkpoint. Treat that as operator guidance rather than a current official tariff. A tour price covers the services of that particular outing, and an admission inclusion does not mean that every service at the refuge is covered. This guide does not sell a separate park admission ticket.
Before travelling, obtain the current entry and exit times for your chosen gate and the access conditions for your intended walk. Plan registration, the drive inside the park and the return journey together. Keep day-entry arrangements separate from a summit permit or refuge overnight reservation.
History and volcanic activity
The park was established on 11 August 1975. Cotopaxi remains an active stratovolcano. The IG-EPN profile updated on 23 February 2026 identifies October 2022 to July 2023 as its most recent eruptive phase. The monitoring report of 21 October 2026 describes low, unchanged internal and surface activity.
That scientific assessment is separate from permission to enter a park sector, visit the refuge or attempt the summit. Follow local access instructions and keep a change of plan possible. A bookable mountain product is not a statement that a glacier route is open on your travel date.
Wildlife and horseback riding
The park's fauna includes feral horses, condors and waterbirds. The historical official park guide describes the horses as descendants of escaped domestic animals. Watch wildlife without disturbing it and treat sightings as part of being outdoors, rather than an appointment with a particular species.
For an organised horseback outing, the eight-hour riding product includes horses, a certified naturalist guide, private transport from Quito, welcome drinks, a packed lunch and entrance fees. Private transport describes the journey, rather than promising an exclusive riding group. Horses grazing in the landscape are wildlife context, separate from the horses supplied for the booked activity.
Questions about visiting the park
Is this the official park website?
This is an independent visitor guide. It does not represent the park administration or a public authority. Access decisions and instructions come from the responsible local authorities.
Does a day visit include the summit?
Choose lagoon or refuge visits for a day outing. A summit attempt is technical mountaineering and should be planned separately with a certified mountain guide, suitable equipment and current access permission.
Is Quilotoa inside Cotopaxi National Park?
Quilotoa is a separate destination. Combination trips connect it with a Cotopaxi visit; Limpiopungo is the lagoon discussed in the park's hiking guide.
What should I prepare for a walk?
Bring thermal and waterproof clothing, allow for changing mountain weather and choose the walking objective according to conditions and how you feel at altitude. A shorter visit can be the sensible plan for the day.