Cotopaxi Full-Day from Quito Including Entrances

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Quito, Ecuador

High interest

Booked 4 times today.

12 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· Robert_F ·

Jun 2026

The tour was great. It took about 11 hours from pick up to drop off. you need to be in ok shape to climb the mountain and id recommend not doing this on your first day (to give time to adjust to the altitude). Great food, views, and info on the tour. Irene was an excellent guide 5/5

· james_b ·

Jun 2026

As cold and wet as I got, I felt great after reaching base camp. There were beautiful views on the way down. Josue was a great guide (as always) and our driver Jonathan made easy work of the ridiculously uneven terrain. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a bit of a challenge, the ascent is somewhat taxing but doesn't take too long. Coming down is slippery but fun!

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Overview

Cotopaxi Volcano is the centerpiece of Cotopaxi National Park. At more than 19,000 feet (nearly 6,000 meters), its snowy peak dominates the landscape of the park. During this full-day tour from Quito, travelers experience the volcano from many vantage points. Explore a lagoon favored by water birds, learn more about the area at an interpretive center, and hike up the flanks of Cotopaxi Volcano to a recently-renovated climbers' refuge to experience this active volcano up close.

Enjoy outdoor adventure close to the city
Hassle-free exploration of a popular national park
Gain insights with an English-speaking guide
Convenient private transportation including hotel pickup and drop-off

What's Included

Tourist transport
Bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
All entrances

Details not specified
Tips
Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Se confirmará la hora y lugar de pick up hasta las 21h00 pm del día anterior a su tour, si no recibe esta información debe contactarse al +593983359-796, realizamos pick ups en las 3 zonas: La Carolina, Plaza Foch, Plaza Grande, si deseas ser retirado en otra zona podemos hacer con un pago adcional/The time and place of pick-up will be confirmed until 9:00 p.m. the day before your tour departes. If you do not receive this information, you must contact +593983359-796, We make pick ups in this 3 main areas: La Carolina, Plaza Foch, Plaza Grande, if you want you can add a transfer with extra fee.

Start time
.7:00 am

Itinerary

Cotopaxi National Park

5 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Laguna de Limpiopungo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Cotopaxi Volcano

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

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Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Lisa_U

This tour was awesome. I had a limited stay in Ecuador and wanted to make sure I captured a great experience and this was awesome! From an organised pickup, preparing for the altitude and then even having the clouds clear so we could have amazing photos of Cotopaxi (kidding of course, the weather is unpredictable here but we were very lucky for a fabulous clear view on this day). The hike itself is not long but the altitude definitely tests you. It is all worth it for the stunning view of Cotopaxi! A hike that you can do without a load of hiking gear, definitely wear a lot of layers, the wind is cold. Cover your head and ears as well. The tour guide Irene was amazing, she had so much information to share during the whole tour. Was helpful with some further questions about Ecuador itself aswell which was great. And of course Andres was a very skilled driver. Definitely recommend this tour, I may even have to plan to do the summit one day.

Reviews

4.9

based on 1,518 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Very well organized and...

Daniel_M, Aug 2026

Very well organized and the guide communicated the elevation gain and intense winds prior to departing for the trek

Excellent excursion

Karlena_S, Aug 2026

This was a wonderful excursion and I highly recommend it to anyone considering a day trip to Cotopaxi! Jorge was a great guide and Jonathan a talented driver. All the stops were excellent and the entire trip was super comfortable. You don’t have to hike up to the refuge unless you want to so this is good for active hikers and the curious alike. Also, the trip included people from around the world but especially Latin America and even Ecuador — that’s how you know it’s really good!

An unmissable experience.

cameron_k, Jul 2026

A really great day out, Fernando was a superb host. The hike to the base camp is amazing but go prepared. It's cold, really cold, so warm hat, gloves and lots of warm layers are needed. I don't know whether it's mentioned in the itinerary but, if it isn't, it really should be!

Must do tour

Marykutty_M, Jul 2026

Had very good experience from hotel pickup to drop off. Irene was our tour guide Mauro was the driver. Both of them are experts in their jobs. Irene explained the every details of the tour well. Both were very kind. The tour was amazing. The views were astonishing. It was very windy and cold on the mountain when we were hiking from the parking to the base camp. It was bit difficult due to the wind and steep climb. Luckily we were able to see the whole view without much clouds.

We had a private bus pick...

Jesse_F, Jul 2026

We had a private bus pick us up at our hotel. Our guide, Pam, was welcoming and fun and taught my family so much. The driver Ivan was very capable and affable and navigated the traffic of Quito and the rough roads of Cotopaxi well. We had a fantastic day on the mountain. The weather was windy and wonderful. Had hot choc at the refuge. Would recommend to anyone that can take the altitude.

Not as described and expected

Jeff_S, Jul 2026

The guide and the driver were very good. The tour organizers should have warned about the difficulty of the hike and possible weather conditions. It was very windy, cold, there was rain and hail. The hike was horrendous.

Cotopaxi

Victor_O, Jul 2026

Absolutely wonderful experience. The tour operator was excellent (communication, service, cost). Our guide Ernesto was great and made the experience much better. The hike up to the refuge is a bit tough unless you are in decent shape but very doable. Highly recommended.

Good hiking experience to the volcano

Carlos_R, Jul 2026

Great trip , the two tour guides were very professionals, funny, and provided with good information during the trip. The experience to climb the volcano to the first shelter was a nice experience despite the weather that was a little rough due to high winds and rain, however the tour guides were taking care of the group all the time , I felt safe. The only recommendation I have is that the company should consider other place to have lunch, the restaurant were we stopped was not very good, small portions and regular quality . The bus condition needs to be improved or changed for a better one, especially because the bumpy road to arrive to the parking area where we started the hiking, made that part of the trip a little uncomfortable .

Cotopaxi

Robert_D, Jul 2026

Excellent tour guide. He was very informative and friendly. The climb to the middle of the volcano can be physically challenging so I don’t recommend to those with heart or breathing issues.

Make sure you give...

Edward_R, Jul 2026

Make sure you give yourself a day or two after you arrive in Quito to do this tour. I did it within six hours of landing and the hike up to Cotopaxi was tough, but I made it and it was worth it! Make sure to drink the coca tea they offer, it helps.

Come See Cotopaxi

MC_C, Jul 2026

One of the best tour that I ever experienced Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most interesting hikes I’ve done with the help of our very amazing and friendly guide Josh/Josie that make this trip very smooth and fun not just for is but to everyone. Thank you for sharing this experience to us we enjoy every moment of it.

The special day that Quito Tout prepared

kei_t, Jul 2026

Tour guide Irene was the best I ever met. She guided us through from picking us up at each locations, breakfast at local restaurant. And guided from parking lot to Jose Rivas refugee camp 4856 meters of Volcano Cotopaxi. It was surely great achievement that we all felt by a bunch of 16 people from all of the world. Irene was so enthusiastic and passionate about Ecuadorian culture. She made this tour so interesting and we learned a lot about the special aspects of Ecuador . Another highlight was a post hike lunch at local restaurant. It was soooo tasty . The entire experience was so special. I would never forget. Thank you Irene and driver Jonathan.

Amazing experience!

MariaAdamakou, Jun 2026

We had an amazing experience, and a very well organised day trip to coropaxi! Our guide was the best and offered many information on the places we visited!

A great tour with an enthusiastic guide

Robert_F, Jun 2026

Great hike up Cotopaxi

Eric_D, Jun 2026

Great tour. Guide was excellent. Quite the excruciating hike up to the base camp...but I made it. Good time but setting in the back row of the van was very uncomfortable. I realize only so much you can do with the roads...would have preferred to take a bit longer and be a tad bit better ride

Challenging but worth it

james_b, Jun 2026

A must do!

Badai_P, May 2026

Great experience and thanks for the Fercho for taking care of the inexperienced hiker like me and the rest of us 🤪

We had an amazing...

Maya_F, May 2026

We had an amazing experience on our Cotopaxi tour, and a huge part of that was thanks to Fernando. My brother had some difficulties during the climb, and Fernando was incredibly patient, supportive, and attentive the entire time. He stayed with him, helped whenever needed, and made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable throughout the day. I’m also celiac and it should be noted that Fernando went above and beyond to communicate my dietary restrictions everywhere we stopped to eat, which made traveling so much less stressful and allowed me to fully enjoy the experience. He made the tour accessible and enjoyable for everyone by explaining everything in both English and Spanish, answering every question we had, and even taking photos for us throughout the day. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure everyone has the best possible experience. Highly recommend this tour and especially Fernando as a guide!

Carlos was very...

Shannon_L, May 2026

Carlos was very knowledgeable and friendly. He was also very encouraging ti ensure all of group made it to the base camp at Cotopaxi. He took extra time on the climb to ensure everyone was safe and made the climb.

Excellent day out

Nicola_L, May 2026

Excellent tour to the Refugio on Cotopaxi. We stopped for breakfast then onto a lagoon prior to a short but difficult hike to the refuge. The guide Jessica was very friendly and informative and the driver Jimmy was safe. Great scenery and nice to escape the big city. I would highly recommend this tour.

Cotapaxi

vidya_p, May 2026

Jessica was a great guide, patient and informative. I would recommend people have protective layers as it gets pretty windy as you hike up to the refugee camp. The altitude is the challenge, so pace yourself.

Long day but worth it to...

Beale_J, May 2026

Long day but worth it to see the volcano. Guide was very sweet and helpful on the hike. Great experience

Was a cool experience...

Chris_M, May 2026

Was a cool experience hiking up to the Refuge Hut. Our guide was super friendly and communicated well.

Great day trip from Quito

Joanna_W, May 2026

Went to Cotopaxi National Park and had the best day. Our guide Jose/Joshua was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Had a nice relaxing drive to the park, hiked around Cotopaxi and the lagoon, and then a relaxing drive back. Thanks for the great time!

Fantastic tour to Cotopaxi

Raymond_L, May 2026

Our tour guide Josue is very kind and thoughtful and took great care of us on the hike up to Cotopaxi! I love this tour and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

SUCH a beautiful,...

Nikita_D, May 2026

SUCH a beautiful, breathtaking adventure! Irene our guide and Jonathan our driver were so professional and courteous. Big shout-out to Irene especially for being so kind, compassionate, and perceptive of everyone on the tour. Not only were her announcements phenomenal, but when I was struggling with the cold, she helped me recover to a non-shivering state. You will learn so much and see very beautiful things as you go to Cotopaxi, but I will always remember Irene's kindness. Other Notes: Itinerary: Great! The day feels like it moves by so quickly – on the bus, you pass several beautiful streets (e.g., Pan-American Highway) and you learn information about the national park; you visit a mini market for breakfast/snacks/tea/hats/gloves (optional - if you need it!); you visit Cotopaxi Information Center; you take on a hike to base camp; you visit a beautiful lagoon; you have a delicious lunch ($6). Note! The weather at Cotopaxi can be very volatile. Our hike occurred amid high winds, rain, snow, and hail. You can still do it, but make sure you are prepared, with the correct waterproof materials! If you are able to coordinate your tour for a day with good weather, even better, but know that it can be rather unpredictable! Our team had a memorable adventure with the elements.

A fun trip!

Shakir_S, Apr 2026

The drive up and the hike was fantastic. I found that the rest stops in the morning were excessively long and had they been a bit shorter we would have had more time at the Volcano. The guide and driver had high energy and were a pleasure to engage with.

Tough but worth every minute!

Christopher_B, Apr 2026

Really enjoyed this excursion. Our tour guide Jorge was so friendly and helpful. He remembered all of our names, and he was there to help every step of the way. The hike was tough but so worth it. You absolutely need to bring everything that was suggested. Hats, gloves, and jackets as it got pretty cold. I would get a good pair of hiking shoes/boots as well. Sunscreen, the works. You will need it! Food was good and the tour was appropriately spaced out. Such a great value!