Cotopaxi Full-Day Tour

This tour departs Quito at 8:00 AM. You'll drive south along the Pan-American Highway until you reach the Cotopaxi National Park approximately two hours later. During the ride, you'll see beautiful landscapes and tall Andean mountains.

Once you arrive at the park, you'll visit a museum and learn about the flora and fauna of the area, as well as other important information about the Cotopaxi Volcano. After you've had your fill of the museum, you'll walk to the Limpiopungo Lagoon, which will take about 30 minutes. Birds frequent this lagoon, and it's a great place for birding. Commonly sighted species include great thrushes, ground-tyrants, and speckled teals.

You'll enjoy a tasty snack before continuing on to a parking lot located at 15,100 feet (4,600 m); more excellent views can be had from here. If you're interested in additional exploration, a 1-hour walk to the José Rivas refuge can be arranged.

The tour will then return to Quito and arrive around 6:00 PM.

Home to one of the most iconic volcanoes in South America and spread a over wide-open alpine landscape, this national park is not to be missed. At a staggering 19,347 feet (5,897 m), the Cotopaxi Volcano is the focal point of the park.