Tours and Tickets to Experience Cotopaxi National Park

There are plenty of ways to experience Cotopaxi National Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Cotopaxi Full-Day from Quito Including Entrances
• 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños
• Full-Day Tour Cotopaxi National Park - All Included from Quito
• Elevate: A Day's Odyssey to Cotopaxi's Majestic Heights
• Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Volcanoes Tour All in One from Quito

There is no fee to enter Cotopaxi National Park, although you must bring your passport to register on arrival at the entrance or control points. Day trips to the national park from Quito start at around US$65 and typically include a guided hike to the volcano base camp and downhill mountain biking to a lagoon. For private tours and horseback riding experiences, expect to pay around US$175.

Cotopaxi National Park is reigned over by the Cotopaxi Volcano, which at 19,350 feet (5,897 meters) is among the world’s highest active volcanoes. Other attractions include the Limpiopungo Lagoon at the base of the volcano. The park is a popular spot for wildlife watching and hiking and is home to condors and Andean foxes.

Yes, you can climb the Cotopaxi Volcano, though you should only attempt it if you’re of a good fitness level and have already acclimatized to the high altitude. Most travelers ascend to base camp at 4,800 meters (15,748 feet), as tour vehicles often drop you off about 45 minutes from the base camp lodge.

There are several accommodation options in Cotopaxi National Park. More luxurious options are inside hacienda-style ranches, while there are also log cabins, backpacker hostels, and campsites where you can pitch your own tent. Staying overnight means you can escape the day trip crowds.

For your visit to Cotopaxi National Park, you should pack some sturdy hiking shoes and walking poles for hiking. Even if it feels hot in Quito, temperatures plummet at the intense altitude of the national park, so wear long, waterproof trousers and a warm coat with a hood.