Full-Day Tour Cotopaxi National Park - All included from Quito

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Quito, Ecuador

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

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

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Overview

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

Explore Cotopaxi Volcano on an excursion from Quito
Take a short hike amidst the beautiful Limpiopungo Valley
Climb ever-higher into the sky to visit the 15,800-foot (4,830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge
Cap off your day with a visit to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier
Optional lunch upgrade

What's Included

National Park fees
Transport by private vehicle
Certified English speaking guide
Menu lunch (only in private service)
Free hotel pick up/ drop off in Quito ( outside of the city has extra charge)

Personal expenses
Lunch (only in small group tours)
Tips

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Hotel pick up/drop off outside of the city has extra charge

Itinerary

Cotopaxi National Park

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Laguna de Limpiopungo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Cotopaxi

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Not wheelchair accessible
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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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)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Stephanie_W

We had a great visit to Cotopaxi with Daniel as our guide and Pablo as our driver! It was really nice to get out of the city and see the countryside while learning about the history and volcanology of Ecuador. The hike up to the Refugio was challenging but achievable. We’d flown in from the Galapagos the day before and struggled with the altitude, but all 6 of us made it up. It was a cloudy day but we still got a good view of the summit as the clouds moved while we rested. Overall a great time!

Reviews

4.7

based on 137 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Full-Day Tour Cotopaxi National Park

Nigel_F, Apr 2025

Excellent experience, Diego our guide was fantastic helping us all the way up the climb. The conditions. On the track up to the refuge were very loose and slippery but Diego helped all the way

Cotopaxi is Possible

Angela_A, Jan 2025

Hiking up hill is not my strength, however allowing me to go at my own pace made it possible to reach base camp. Super proud of myself. Tour guide was very patient with me. Thank you for an incredible experience!

I had a wonderful time...

Ivanna_L, Nov 2024

I had a wonderful time with the Ivan and Adrian. They are so fun and I got to meet so many wonderful people on the group. Highly recommend and definitely ask for those 2, Adrian and Iva, it was a great time

Hike to almost 16,000 feet!

Bret_A, Oct 2024

A fascinating day learning about Ecuador's volcanos and then hiking up one to almost 16,000'! Irene (guide) and Andres (driver) were the best!

Great time

Stacey_D, Oct 2024

The tour was great and the views were amazing. Alejandro was a great tour guide It was hard work and sometimes hard to breathe walking up the volcano but I’m glad we did it

Awesome experience, knowledgeable guide and amazing food

Pedro_O, Sep 2024

This was an excellent tour. We had a great time. The guide was really knowledgeable, nice, and passionate. I do not remember his name because it has been a while ago (I visited Ecuador on March 2024). The restaurant we visited was really good. And the Cotopaxi, it's really challenging, but it's a nice activity to do. I highly recommend this one if you are in Quito.

An adventure near volcano

Sanchita_M, Jun 2024

This tour was really an adventure. It needs lots of energy and determination. Our Guide Diego was an excellent human being. He helped us a lot to find the best way to go up and down . He explained the geography and the formation of the volcano . I’ll recommend this tour. Diego is very caring which we need most for this tour.

Physically challenging but totally worth it

FBI, Jun 2024

Great scenery and landscape, really stark and dramatic views throughout the trip. Interesting flora and fauna as well. Museum, coca tea stop, a real hard climb. I'm in my late 40s with my best athletic years behind me, but I found the climb really tough. Helped by guides Sebastian and driver Jimmy. Made it to the refugio Jose rivas. Counting it as an achievement! Tour group and most who made it up are in their 20s and 30s. Beyond that, it really depends on fitness and ability to deal with the hypoxic environment above 4000m Last stop before lunch is a beautiful volcanic lake. Lunch itself was very nice too. Dress appropriately, warm water proof gear and sturdy hiking shoes a must

View from on top of the world

Michelle_H, May 2024

The weather was perfect, scenery was amazing. Our guide Alejandro was knowledgeable and assisted us with any questions or issues. One of my best days in equador. I would highly recommend this tour.

Great experience

Polly_C, Apr 2024

We had a private tour with Diego Ch. It was fantastic. This was our first very high altitude hike. The beauty of the private tour was apparent right away as we needed frequent breaks. It took us an hour 20 minutes to complete a normally 45 minutes hike (according to Diego) up to the Refuge. In addition to stop along the highway so we could take pictures of the rarely seen tops, Diego also suggested we get water and snacks. Seriously those chocolate helped a lot with the hike. Thanks again to Diego with a great day.

Cotopaxi day hike

James_K, Jan 2024

The tour was great. Alejandro, the tour guide was fantastic. He allowed time to explore for those who were in better shape and stayed with the rest to help them make it to the refuge (base camp). I had a wonderful experience.

Fantastic Tour

Stefan_G, Jan 2024

The guide Irene was so fantastic. She teaches us a special spanish course with the “best” vocabulary during the bus ride :) Thank you for the great tour even if the weather was bad.

Great day in Cotopaxi!

Andrew_M, Jan 2024

Great day experiencing the Cotopaxi region and hike of the volcano. The hike is difficult but well worth it. Diego was a great guide for the day and we had a delicious lunch after our hike. Would highly recommend!

Excellent trip

Krishnan_G, Dec 2023

Nice trip. Excellent guide. Picked up on time and returned on b time. Very informative. No stress whatsoever. Highly recommend it

Well worth it!

Allen_C, Dec 2023

Thank you so much for an amazing day. I booked the excursion late at night, but the communication was amazing, and everything flowed effortlessly. Diego was the perfect guide. He was accommodating at every point. He was engaged and provided everything you could ask for in a tour guide. As far as the trip, it was an experience we will never forget. Base camp was awesome. The lagoon was also a great picture taking opportunity. Thank you again.

Don’t miss out. Book now!

Natalie_G, Nov 2023

Diego was an amazing guide from start to finish providing insights into the Ecuadorean life and the volcanoes. Pace was good and saw a lot, made the most of the time in Cotopaxi. Hard climb but worth it for the views.

Amazing trip! But prepare for the cold and the altitude!

Samuel_B, Nov 2023

Diego was a great tour guide! Would recommend bringing warm layers for the mountain if you plan to hike to the top--we brought gloves, hats, and ear warmers and were fairly comfortable. We are not hikers and the altitude was harder than we imagined, but we made it to the top! We spent the night before in Quito and took altitude sickness medicines with us to try and help with the altitude. We were lucky to be the only people on our trip and Diego picked us up promptly from our hotel. On the way, we stopped for gas and snacks. Once we got the the park, Diego gave us plenty of time to explore the artisan markets and visit the restroom before we continued into the park. Once we were there, he tailored our trip to our abilities and we spent some time at a lagoon before continuing up the mountain. He was incredibly patient with our climbing abilities (or lack thereof) and he gave us great advice about how to hike at altitude. At the top, he was so patient with taking as many photos as we asked for and helped to make sure that we were able to take in all of the sights.

Majestic, wild landscape

Robin_S, Nov 2023

My husband really liked climbing up to the Basecamp from the parking lot. I enjoyed the majesty of the volcano and also the walk around the lake, with it’s interesting, vegetation, and small creeks, running into the lake and the Paramo landscape on the slopes of the volcano. Daniel was a very good guide.

Great day!

SilviaMarlene_G, Sep 2023

The tour was really nice and the attentions were amazing, great tour guide. No regrets at all and would recommend to bring the right clothes and shoes so you can enjoy better.

Great Trekking Day

Gennaro_M, Sep 2023

The weather was perfect for trekking up Cotopaxi that day..Andrea was wonderful, and gave us all group 5minute limbering up exercises to warm our muscles up! Maurizio our driver for the day,was cool..made light work of driving up rough terrain to get to our starting point..and of course there is the friendships that are made on trips like this..was surprisingly a gruelling climb but made it all more satisfying!!

Excellent trip

Katerina_K, Sep 2023

I loved this trip. The hike is beautiful. Our guide Diego was great and gave us a lot of information on the way and made sure we were safe and comfortable throughout. I went as a solo traveller and definitely recommend this small group activity. If you can, take some warm and waterproof clothes, you can also buy ponchos, hats and gloves (definitely needed for the hike) on the way. Try the coca tea at the entrance and the hot chocolate at the base camp.

Memorable trip to Cotopaxi

Matthias_K, Aug 2023

Really enjoyed the small group tour with Marco - he shared a lot of information about the volcanoes, history, plants and animals in the national park. The weather was challenging but our group managed the hike to the Refugio lodge. It was not possible to go to the glacier though, which in the strong wind gusts and snow may have been dangerous as well. We enjoyed coca tea, hot chocolate during and an affordable lunch after the hike. Clouds often cover Cotopaxi so our group felt lucky when they finally lifted and the bus driver stopped to let everyone take pictures.

Thank you Christian for an amazing tour and guide to Mindo cloud forest

Aval_P, Aug 2023

Had an amazing tour with Christian. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. His attitude was that the day was all about what I wanted to do and gladly listened and made it so. The drive to Mindo was beautiful and done is a safe and timely manner. Thanks Christian!

A wonderful experience

Valerie_L, Jun 2023

We had a great experience with our tour guide Oscar and our driver. The pickup was pretty punctual; Oscar kept us entertained on the ride up with great information about the volcanoes that surround the city of Quito. He patiently took our photos and waited for us as we soaked up all the beautiful scenery of the mountains. Come prepared with the right gear as the hike up to the base camp can be a little challenging. If you’re traveling from low elevation, I’d also recommend adjusting to high altitude for a couple of days before taking the hike to make it more enjoyable. However, once you make it to the base camp, it’s very nice. The trip down isn’t hard.

Picture perfect

Jeremy_D, Jun 2023

This is an excellent tour. It was a clear day and the volcano was picture perfect. We even saw a small eruption. Be ready! The walk is strenous.

Over 16,000 Feet High!

Alex_B, May 2023

It was a great trip and definitely worth the time and money to experience. Our drivers and guide were great as well. I would recommend to anyone considering a visit to Cotopaxi. My only feedback is that I wish that the details for the trip online provided more information about proper attire. Also, it wasn't very clear about whether lunch was included or not.